boston photography

a mix of photos + filters + my favorite places.

October 17, 2012

This post is mostly a collection of photos filled with a mishmash of places and moments from this weekend. I took my camera everywhere I went and snapped pictures when I felt like it and was present in the moment when I felt like doing that, too. I think I’ve finally found a balance in the capture.

Here are some of the views worth sharing…

These two neighborhoods, Beacon Hill and The South End, are two of my most favorites in this city. There are always new pockets to discover, but for me, the highlight is always about visiting the most loved and most familiar. I’m a sucker for routine, a creature of habit– and this weekend, these photos, are no different.

I could walk down these brick lined streets a thousand times, in winter, spring, summer, or fall—

and never, ever tire of it.

P.S. For those of you who’ve asked, I take my photos with a Nikon D3100 (above) and my iPhone 4. Lately, I’ve been filtering all my photos through the VSCO cam app on my iphone. I love the tones and the feel it gives to my pictures. My dream is to someday get Photoshop, but for now I’m just sticking with the freebies.

P.P.S. For those of you who’ve given compliments on my photography, THANK YOU. Thank you, thank you, thank you. It always makes me smile and it really and truly means a whole awful lot. ♥

{all images © anna e. burns | please link with love.}

17 Comments · Filed Under: boston, boston photography, fall, life ·

on welcoming fall and bike riding dreams.

October 9, 2012

Well, fall. I guess you’re here.

And I guess we’ll keep you.

Yesterday was one of those rare (but sacred) Mondays where teachers everywhere got the day off. Now I don’t believe that Columbus should get any of the credit, but I do believe in a day off every once in awhile, so I went along with it. Hopped right on board that Columbus Day train.

This day yesterday was all about bike riding dreams and chocolate nutella covered waffles and loving Boston. This day was just what I needed.

I feel like I’ve been in kind of an inspiration rut since summer ended. It happens to me every year. It kind of feels like the day after Christmas. Or your birthday. Or an awesome weekend with your favorite friends. You know the feeling, right? You are so excited and the anticipation is amazing and then it (whatever it is) happens and you’re loving life and the experience and the world and then, BAM. The next day it’s over and that’s it.

Over and done and you kind of feel blah.

Well that’s how I always feel when summer ends and fall hits.

Just kind of blah.

I don’t like being cold and I don’t like how it gets dark so early and I just don’t like having to wear so many clothes.

Aaaaanyways. Enough complaining.

This weekend was good. It was chilly and it got dark early and I had to wear a lot of clothes, but it was good. My sister and I rode our bikes all the way into Boston. We breathed in the fresh air and chatted throughout our ride. We took a walk through the North End and walked into shops and stopped for some food (we tried Saus, per Rachael and Bridget’s recommendation), we met up with our old roommate (and awesome friend) Lauren, and we basically just had a day filled with good in this city that is ours.

Boston has a way of doing that. Giving you a reason to love the seasons.

The trees are turning and there is beauty simply everywhere you look. And I don’t like cold, but I do like cozy. So there’s that.

I guess I’ll keep you, fall. I’ll keep you and your colors and your weekends for bike riding through the city.

I’ll keep you til Christmas and it’ll be good.

Cozy and very, very good.

14 Comments · Filed Under: boston, boston photography, fall, life ·

a post full of happy.

July 20, 2012

THIS DAY.

Oh, this day in Boston.

It was just happy. It was the kind of day that makes you stop and think, I wish everybody could be seeing what I’m seeing right now. Then the whole world would be smiling.

This part of Boston is nestled right between Back Bay and the South End. By the Christian Science Church there is a wonderful little fountain with a glorious view. It’s straight up picture perfect.

My sister Meg is working for a family in Boston this summer, too, and so very often we get the girls together. It’s fun for the kids to have play dates and Meg and I would happily spend the whole day hanging out if we could. It was one of those scorchers last week (which one wasn’t, right?!) and rather than shrivel up from the heat we made the last minute decision to head to the fountain together to cool off.

These faces??!

I think that they are priceless.

It is in these moments that I am thankful to be a picture-taker. I take pictures because it makes me happy and I take pictures to capture this city, these warm summer days, the happiness that is singing from these girls’ hearts.

P.S. Tonight is the night of our backyard summer BBQ. It’s really happening and I am so excited! Then Saturday I am heading down to Connecticut to spend the weekend and some of next week with my family. Lots of book reading and relaxing, which is just what I’m in the mood for. I’m throwing a mini trip to NYC in there, too, because why not? I love that place!

What are you up to this weekend? Whatever you do, I wish you a happy one!

12 Comments · Filed Under: boston, boston photography, children, life, summer ·

blogger meet-ups and must-do-in-life-lists

May 18, 2012

There is so much to see and do in life sometimes it blows my mind.

In Boston alone, which I consider to be a pretty small city, there are still things I am discovering all the time.

Do you ever think, how on earth will I ever see it all?

I do. But Lord knows I’m willing to try.

This weekend, for instance, this very minute actually, I am waking up in New York City getting ready to stroll the streets of Brooklyn. I’m checking things off on my must-do-in-life-list as we speak! (This list? I haven’t actually written anything down yet, per say, just merely making it up as I go.) This weekend I’m letting the good times roll with my high school girlfriends at The Great Googa Mooga Festival in Prospect Park. I don’t know much about it yet except that it’s going to be AWESOME.

Speaking of awesome, let’s talk Blogger meet-ups.

I love ’em, guys. Seriously, I do.

But I think you already know that about me at this point.

Last weekend Natalie, Melissa, Smita, Elizabeth and I planned to meet up Sunday for a little blogger get-together. This time around we did breakfast and then spent the morning browsing the goods at the SOWA Open Market in the South End.

And interestingly enough this all came together after I posted about my love affair with the South End last Friday. Love it when things work out perfectly like that.

We started off at The Buttery (a personal favorite) and then worked our way over to SOWA, the cutest little market you ever did see. If you’re ever in Boston on a Sunday you should seriously consider checking this place out. It’s vintage market, craft fair, farmer’s market and food truck heaven all rolled into one.

Yes, PLEASE!