Thoughts on Food Styling & Photography

So, last year I purchased a fancy camera with intentions and high hopes for doing some food styling for this blog.  Yeah, well....

I had an epiphany this morning.  I like to eat and cook food, I like to grow it and pick it.  I like to read about it and try new things.  I am not a food stylist nor do I think I want to be.  I look at blogs that have lovely half eaten dishes, cutesy tableware and hands holding the "bounty" of whatever and think "THAT is just not me".  I am a real person that is trying to keep the dog out of the trash, a complete meal (hot, please) on the table that everyone enjoys, laundry, gardening, a blog, running multiple businesses, paying bills and possibly time for romance in my 23 year old marriage.  I won't mention children, parents, employees or political telephone calls.

I've decided I just want to share our food with you.  Recipes that taste great and get you interested in new foods, flavors or techniques.  I won't "highlight" any words for my recipes that will take you on a wild goose chase, I won't have perfectly plated dishes or perfectly grown vegetables, we have dishes that don't always match, weeds and bugs.  I will snap a photo with my hands holding the camera, not a "staging" area with lights and "props"....it's like human modeling for food.  Beautiful, but probably unrealistic in my realm.

I have a multitude of photographer friends that are amazing with a camera.  I don't think I love photography  enough to spend too much time on it, and I love food too much to let it grow cold or limp in pursuit of a lovely picture. It's all about balance.
 
If you're into food styling, great, go for it!  I love to look at cookbooks, magazines, etc.  Isn't life always about choosing what works and is right for you?  I hope you enjoy my less than perfect attempts at food styling and the recipes I share.  (Notice I didn't put any photos in this one! :))  

A snowy morning photo...

I just wanted to share a photo that I snapped from a snowy morning last week.  I'm not a photographer, I just can't seem to capture the magic.  I am always intrigued by folks that can find and capture wonderful photos.

I'm thankful everyday for auto settings...that whole aperture thing really confuses me!  So I have to share ONE amazing photo I took, no photo-shopping or editor.  (And the real beauty is that the snow has all melted!!) Enjoy!  Happy March 1st!

New stuff; the beauty and the beast...

I have reached the age that "new" does not necessarily mean good things!  "New" now comes with strings.  It means I have to re-learn, read labels, become accustomed to different smells, travel un-chartered territory.

In today's case, I am excited to learn new things!  I have been using a (gasp) point and shoot camera.  It shows.  My photographs are not something to be proud of, but they've had to work because I was not ready to learn how to use a new camera...with seven thousands buttons and a big lens.  Today I took the plunge, now don't get your hopes up too soon-one of my biggest secrets is....I don't know how to use the remote control on the TV.  It doesn't bother me that I don't know either. 

It's not all electronics, just the TV.  I also don't know how to make my phone blink different colors or change the fonts on my emails-I have teenagers for that stuff!!!  But the camera is a different thing all together.  I am reading the MANUAL!!!  I am ready to take beautiful photos.  I hope you will bear with me and feel free to send suggestions of your photo learning curves- I would love it!

I will refrain from adding a photo today!