What do you do when you don’t happen to have a string quartet around you and you need to create a CD cover? The problem whirled around in my head this past week, and then like often, an idea comes out of nowhere. I’m pleased with the concept, but wonder if the thread bobbins should be in other colors? Maybe primary ? Maybe a set of tonal nuances ?
Thoughts anyone?
Remember “Highlights” magazine for kids? Especially the game where you had to find hidden images within a drawing? Well have some fun finding what I saw here : )
PS – part of the P52 project (vision statement)
So here’s the image I submitted for Project 52 – 2013 Assignment 4 “Tear Sheets”. We were asked to make an image which reflect other images we’ve seen that we like and would like to do.
The review I received was spot on: I knew I should have removed the top right corner, but I did not see that the napkin is too busy as is the sharpness of the lower left corner. Other than that, it seemed to be appreciated.
I made the shot with my DIY tilt-shift lens, which albeit is fun to shoot with, you need to takes lots of images to be sure that one will really come out as you imagine (at times way too out of focus to use).
So on to Assignment 5 — a bit more challenging, but I’ll keep you posted.
Hello there,
It’s been a while since my last post, but life can be that way. So! Onto better things: I’ve committed myself to Project 52 for 2013 and will be sharing with you here my entries for each weekly photographic assignment.
This past week we were asked to shoot “ingredients for a recipe”, and since I had lots of fresh farm eggs in the kitchen, I thought that a classic Cheese Soufflé would be a fun idea to shoot. I’m pleased with the resulting image, but the whites did not make it into the hot oven (not even as meringues!).
If you’ve not tried making a cheese soufflé recently, it’s really easy-peasy, and is a great “light” dinner with a green salad.
Bon Appétit!
I know, I know, the “New Year” is old news already, especially on the Mayan Calendar. But it was my birthday a week ago, and I kind of use that day as my personal “New Year”.
As 2012 became 2013 I read numerous posts across the web relating all sorts of genuine desires for resolutions, plans, projects and wishes for something “more” and I hope that most of what people wish for comes to pass.
Thank goodness we have the beginning of a calendar year to remind ourselves to check-in and see what’s going on in our lives, as it’s not always so easy to remember to do the same on a regular basis. It’s often either New Year’s or some “dramatic” event which suddenly presents itself into our daily routine and unbalances it for us to take stock of what we have and what we want. When I speak of “have” I refer more importantly to our recognition of all the good and positive things which compose our lives. They can be vital elements such as having a job and good health, or it can be a small thing such as the happy look in the eyes of your pet.
I think for me the best way to set resolutions is to have “big” plans and to break them down into medium and smaller bite-size pieces. I’m a visual person, so putting all down in ink on paper helps me to focus. I will take this year and set goals for 12 months from now, break them into halves or quarters, and again into monthly mini-goals. A to-do list of 12 little things, one a month, is more achievable than targeting your Mount Everest without preparation.
As we all know, the clock continues to tick; the days, weeks, months fly by. What I hope for this time next year is not necessarily solely to have “more” than exactly what I have now, but to look back and see that the steps I took led me to learn and grow in some way. In that essence, yes, I want “more” and “better”, I want to know I accomplished something. Even if my “big” plan is not fully completed in a year, if I follow little steps consciously, I will be that much closer.
I recently read a quotation which in essence expressed that finally achieving a goal does not mean you’re done, it just means that it will take you to the next goal. I like that!
Welcoming 2013 with a new outlook, aspirations and projects. Getting off here with a free desktop wall paper download you can find on my Flickr stream here.
Enjoy!
I had a really fun day yesterday preparing Junglefrog’s latest “Orange Photography” challenge.
Since Simone posted the assignment with a gorgeous pumpkin-bowl soup image, I’ve been trawling the web for recipes for orange coloured food which also evokes the feeling of Fall. I thought I’d have a go at making some Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Brown Butter and Sage. This being my first attempt at home-made gnocchi I am pleased with the outcome: they’re perhaps not the cutest gnocchi you’ve ever seen, but the consistency and flavour are spot on. The rest of the batch is in the fridge for a dinner party I’m throwing, which funnily enough is made up by chance of “orange” coloured dishes: Sweet Potato Gnocchi, Chicken Curry with Wild Rice, and a Hazelnut Cake with Saffron Cream and Fresh figs! It should be fun and I’ll let you know how the cake comes out.
In the meanwhile, here’s the recipe:
Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Sage Butter
(source Bon Appétit)
2 lbs (450g) sweet potatoes, rinsed, patted dry, pierced all over with fork
12oz (340g) fresh ricotta cheese, drained in sieve 2 hours
1 cup (85g) grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons golden brown sugar
2 teaspoons plus 2 tablespoons salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
2 3/4 cups (about) all purpose flour
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
6 tablespoons chopped fresh sage plus whole leaves for garnish
Cook the sweet potatoes (either microwave or peel and boil). Mash once cooked. In a large bowl, add to the mashed potatoes the ricotta, Parmesan, brown sugar, 2 teaspoons salt, and nutmeg; mash to blend. Mix in flour, about 1/2 cup at a time, until soft dough forms.
On a floured surface divide the dough into pieces and roll into long rope. Cut each rope into 1 inch pieces and roll each piece over with a fork to indent.
Bring large pot of salted water to a boil and working in batches, boil the gnocchi about 5 minutes (they float when ready). Cool completely. (Can be made 4 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature.)
Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium-high heat until butter becomes brown (but not burned!), swirling pan occasionally, about 5 minutes. Add the chopped sage and remove from heat. Season the sage butter with salt and pepper.
In a large skillet over medium-high heat, sauté half of the gnocchi until heated through, about 6 minutes. Empty into an oven-proof baking sheet and place in warmed oven to keep while sautéing the remainder gnocchi.
Divide gnocchi and sauce among shallow bowls. Garnish with sage leaves.
Passing by one of the village houses, I noticed that the remaining wisteria branches made a lovely “umbrella” at the entrance way and wanted to capture the image.
No handbag meant no “real” camera on hand (a “real” camera just takes pictures: it does not have multi-functionality of phone, scanner, toaster). This being said, I LOVE my iPhone and think it takes great pics for me (I even managed to hold it up to a keyhole and shoot inside a church with some awesome light streams coming across the altar!). So please don’t get me wrong all iPhone Photographers, I am with you all the way.
The other day I was making a Greek Salad and thought a yellow pepper would add sweetness and zesty colour to the mix, so I sliced one open. To my surprise I found a “heart” shape amongst the seeds – can you see it? Actually I think this is a sort of neat shot with the light illuminating the spherical spaces from behind, adding another dimension to the “heart” imagery. Have you ever come across a fun coincidence with food? Let me know!
