Plate to Pixel: Lessons In Food Photography

I love to study food photography in cookbooks, magazines, and online. Tartelette has always been one of my favorite foodie blogs. Helene Dujardin's photography is exquisite and she inspires new ideas for cooking and styling.

 What I have learned in my own experimentation is that food photography isn't easy. It is hard to make that slice of apple pie look as yummy as it does in the magazine spread. My  pares in a bowl don't look as artistic as the cover of the book.

 I just finished reading Dujardin's new book Plate to Pixel: Digital Photography and Styling. Below I have posted a collection of food photos from my practice sessions. Take time to visit her blog Tartelette. You can find it here.

 

Dujardin suggests showing ingredients or steps to making a recipe.

 She suggests looking at coordinating colors. Mom's Fiestaware works well for that! Other things I tried were

going simple by squeezing a lemon,

paid attention to outdoor light,

natural indoor light,

and the rule of thirds.

Maybe My Favorite Place to Shop!

Some women love to shop for shoes. Some love purses or new jeans. Me? I love to shop for plants. Nurseries are one of my favorite places on earth to visit.

 Yesterday on my way home from Kellogg I stopped and spent an hour surrounded by the beauty of bedding plants, smells of summer, and the misty air in the greenhouse.

 I know if some on you won the lottery you would go on a cruise, buy a fancy car, or buy diamonds.

 Me? I would go and buy more plants! Here is the back of my car loaded up!

Dinner for the Moms

It is always good to return to Kellogg, but yesterday it was added fun to see my niece Z2 go off to the prom and have my other two nieces help prepare a Mother's Day dinner for my sister and mom. My nieces are turning into quite the chefs' assistants.

First we said farewell to Z... she was off to the Masquerade Ball.

Next we started on dinner preparations. Kiki Aru was in charge of the Greek Watermelon Salad.

The Princess was preparing the Garlic Cheddar Biscuits.

I had to be the Sangria taster.... darn.

They also helped serve the pie after dinner. Happy Mother's Day!

There's No Place Like Home

 My favorite place to be in the whole wide world is my own home and garden. My second favorite place to be is my Mom's house. I did one of my favorite activities today. I lounged around in my childhood living room in my flannel pajamas drinking coffee and visiting with my mom most of the morning. What a relaxing day!

Now I am preparing dinner for my two favorite moms.... my mom and sister.

Come Rest Awhile

Come, rest awhile, and let us idly stray
In glimmering valleys, cool and far away.

Come from the greedy mart, the troubled street,
And listen to the music, faint and sweet,

That echoes ever to a listening ear,
Unheard by those who will not pause to hear­

The wayward chimes of memory's pensive bells,
Wind-blown o'er misty hills and curtained dells.

One step aside and dewy buds unclose
The sweetness of the violet and the rose;

Song and romance still linger in the green,
Emblossomed ways by you so seldom seen,

And near at hand, would you but see them, lie
All lovely things beloved in days gone by.

You have forgotten what it is to smile
In your too busy life­come, rest awhile.


Happy Week-End!

Lucy Maud Montgomery

Tulips Are My Favorite Spring Flower... Well....Maybe This Week!

 I don't remember tulips growing up in Kellogg. Early spring is a bit of a blur. We seemed to go from winter to a long gray period with smelter smoke/fog surrounding us, to summer. Somewhere in there the lilacs bloomed, but I don't remember much else until we put the petunias and pansies in the bed under the kitchen window. I do remember tulips at Grandma's house in Spokane. Tulips always reminded me of Holland and wooden shoes and windmills. I like seeing tulips in storybooks. They were always so bright and cheery. Now I can enjoy my own tulips. We do have spring. We found newer colors last fall to plant and I really love the results. Enjoy!