tricks of the trade

I get a few questions in my classes, trade shows and book signings about my photography.

Way back when I left school I studied photography and worked as a cadet photographer - honestly at the time I didn't have what it took, I don't think I had the maturity or patience. I regret (slightly) not seeing my 4 year course through... I dropped out at the end of 2nd year and transferred across to another degree that I did finish...... much to my parents relief 

Live and learn !

Whats that saying - No such thing as mistakes only lessons learnt?

Flash forward a few years later (a few more than I am willing to admit) and I am back to it - I'm loving it. Images take time and patients and I get a kick out of it.

Today I was photographing a blood orange tart that I made. I was photographing it with the intent of blogging the recipe - hopefully in the next few days I'll get around to it.

Picture A

What I actually wanted to write about today was how I took the photo.

I like to use natural muted light, that way I don't need to mess around too much with my exposure. 

I used my fixed 50mm lens and set my camera to F/1.4* (*F stop or focal ratio).

Its worth having a read of your camera manual if all of that sounds like another language.

The next important thing is where to take your picture - as in whats in the picture.

To give you an example I have used an old door and painted it with a few different paints and techniques (picture 1)

Picture 1 - Old door painted

The top two panels I painted with a green paint. Letting the paint dry and then lightly sanding it back. I then painted white over the top of the top panel heavily and the second panel only lightly. 

I painted the bottom panel in the white, letting the white layer dry I sanded it back lightly and then added a blue layer on the bottom panel.

I chose sections of the door to photograph the tart (Pic A blue section, Pic B green section) 

Picture A

Picture B

and then used another part of the door for a nice flat textured surface shoot(picture C blue section) 

Picture C

I then used the top part of the door to picture one of my quilts hanging off it (picture D)

Picture D

I tend to be drawn to rough old surfaces, I think they are easy backgrounds to photograph? Maybe..... 

I'd love to see what you guys do and what types of areas or surfaces you use in your photos!

paste a link in the comments and I can have a stickybeak 

Xx Siobhan Rogers

Flourless Chocolate Brownies - Gluten Free

This is an oldie but a goodie - from a post in 2011

Chocolate Hazelnut Brownie

(gluten free)

380g Dark eating chocolate

180g Butter

1cup Brown Sugar

3eggs

1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract

150g Hazelnut meal

1tsp Baking powder

Heat the oven to 180C fan forced, and line a 

20 X 30cm tin with baking paper.

Melt butter and chocolate in a bowl, leave for ten minutes to cool. Beat sugar and eggs until pale in colour and creamy, fold through the egg mixture into the chocolate mixture add vanilla and mix through hazelnuts. 

Add in hazelnut meal and baking powder mix gently. 

pour into tin and bake in the oven for 35 - 40 minutes. Its ready when the skewer comes out moist but not wet. Leave the brownie to cool completely in the tin (it will continue to cook once out of oven), then cut into squares and sift icing sugar over the top.

I'm still here!

Its been a hectic fortnight here

Thought I would let you all know that all is well - just a tad busy!

I have had a few emails asking what I'm up too :) Its lovely especially when I'm busy to open up my emails and read that I'm missed or people wanting to know what I'm up to.

We have had another birthday - Which generally means lots of cooking & present preparation for me.

To prove how busy I was - I didn't even get a picture of the birthday cake! It was my first attempt at a ice cream cake and something I will definitely try again. Incredibly easy and delicious.

I'm enjoying the last of Autumn, its my favourite season for food and weather - not to mention the light for photos.

My husband picked up a box of fresh figs on the weekend and we ate them with everything!

best of all was on fresh made banana bread sliced & toasted with ricotta and figs on top......... Heaven

On the quilting front - I had a question about the rug that features in my Log cabin photo. Its a Danish design and made in Nepal.

Its has many names the original the rug was called Pinocchio named after a Danish lolly it has also been called the Freckle rug, smarties rug. Lots around if your interested in buying one.Just check that its a fair trade rug.

I have mountains of Fabric projects that I'm working on and as usual I cant show them........

below I have a sneaky look at a quilt I was working on for CLOTH Fabric in Sydney Australia. I love working with the light weight linens - so easy to sew. I like the extra width of the linen too.

I've also been doing a bit more photographic work which is really great 

hope your all ok and enjoy your week

Xx Siobhan