Project 2012 -- Week 4

Project 2012

Week 4 -- January 22-28

1.  Take pictures
2.  Share at least one--and up to seven!
(Click on the graphic above if you're interested in joining us!)

I was holed up at home for most of the week, so I got Ellie out to take some photos of food I was preparing.  Since I cooked a lot last week, I ended up photographing tons of food!  So this will be Food Week for most of my featured photos.  Drooling is allowed.  ;)


My favorite photos

I finally picked up my camera mid-week, wondering what in the world to take pictures of.  I'm tired of being cold and didn't want to go outside at all (I'm not a winter girl!).  It's not even that cold out, either!  I started making dinner, then realized I should "document" my recipes.  I'm planning on putting all the recipes and photos on my family blog.

[22] Potato leek soup and pumpernickel croutons

[23] Salad with pumpernickel croutons

[24] Whole nutmeg

One morning, instead of making my usual oatmeal, I found some brown rice in the fridge and experimented with rice "pudding" recipes.  I don't know if this is a true rice pudding, but it was yummy.  I wrote everything down and will share the recipe soon!

[25] Brown rice pudding

This cake was a special request by Jacob, who turned 21 on Friday.  The image is not composed very well, but at least it's yummy looking.

[26] Cookie cake

I captured Joe reading by the fire at our friends' home.

[27] Winter reading

Saturday night was Fernando's company awards banquet.  I got dressed up in my only black dress, and actually styled my hair.  It took only 15 minutes or so, and it turned out decently enough that I was super-tickled pink to have done it myself!  This is as fancy as I get--I usually stick a barrette in my hair and Fernando says, "Oooh!  You did your hair today!"  *lol*  In addition to my front, I took some "back" pictures, too.  My 18yo Danny pressed the shutter, but I set everything up.

[28] Fancy

I promise to post recipes on my family blog; I'll update this post with links as I post the recipes.


Treasuring life's moments,
Christine

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Project 52 -- I Dreamed A Dream

I'm linking up with Darcy--(click her Project 52 button above to see what it's all about!


This week's challenge:  I dreamed a dream


My photo:

Reason I chose this photo:

This week's challenge was a...well, it was a challenge!  I'm not a dreamer by nature, though I sure do have dreams.  But to take a picture of one of my dreams--to travel to France, for example--would be impossible because I haven't done it yet.  (That's why it's a dream!)  My 18yo son has done some neat stuff with my camera, but that's his fun, not mine.

Finally, the colder weather inspired me when I saw the empty fireplace and knew that that would be the shot.  Most of what's burning is paper (our wood was wet!), but the scene reflects a typical fireplace scene in my home.  I do love sitting and staring at the flames and letting my mind wander and ponder.  It's one of the few times I actually sit and just be still.  When I dream/think/ponder, it's usually about things I want to do or purchase when/if we can afford it (a trip or even a camera lens!), and I dream for my boys--their futures, wives and families, and such.  Our oldest has autism, and I dream a lot for him.  He's still home with us but we hope and dream that someday he will have a steady job and a fulfilling life.  I feel that my image reflects well my state of mind as I sit and dream.

The setup:

It was dark in our home, which is good because that reflects the feeling I wanted to portray of dreaming.  I used my tripod, since I knew it would be a slow shutter speed.  After several miserable attempts at a shot, I moved the tripod right behind me so I could reach the remote shutter without using the timer.  I also set the ISO high (1600), since I knew I wouldn't mind noise (again, the feeling of dreaming).  The above shot was in the first set of my second attempts.  It ended up being a matter of choosing one with a nice fire--though it is a little bright!  In post edit, I adjusted the white balance, did some other minor tweaking, and vignetted the image more than I usually do--again, to reflect the theme.

Camera Settings:

• Canon 40D
• ISO 1600
• Manual mode
• 17-85mm lens at 24mm
• f4.5
• 1/13 sec. shutter speed

Treasuring life's moments,
Christine

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