To market to market...

We absolutely loved the Queen Victoria Market. Which our friend later told us is built on an old graveyard, which wikipedia corroborates! Let's not let that get in the way of a good day out.

So much yummy goodness to photograph! I won't bore you with them all, but you can click through to my photostream to see some others, if you like.

some kiwi kiwifruit

hanging meats


more hanging meats






super expensive bananas!

In print (2)

Last week Briscoes was having a mad sale on photo frames- 60% off! I was in buying a wedding gift for some friends and couldn't help buying some for myself too. Then we had to go to another Briscoes store so I could get some more (I cleaned them both out!).

I ordered some prints of photographs I've been meaning to frame for oh, 3 years, and some more recent ones of Michael, myself and Pedro. They looked great in the frames! (Note the use of past tense here.)

I used those sticky 3M hooks, carefully followed the directions and waited the allotted time before hanging my masterpieces. About 30 seconds after this photo was taken there was an almighty crash and the frame hit the floor, splintering into pieces, glass flying everywhere. I was very mad.

I quickly took down the other frames I had hung before they could career off the wall too.

I can talk about it now (just), but don't ask me to laugh.

So if you'll excuse me, I'm off to buy some of the old fashioned hooks that make holes in your walls.

In print

I published a calender using photos I took last year in my kitchen, and the snapfish service.

The paper is thick and shiny, quite good quality. I had a coupon so it was just over $20 delivered to our local chemist. They often have specials on different things (just like Briscoes!) and you can sign up for their mailing list. You can make a 12 or 18 month calender, starting with any month.

I wish there was more than one option for the calender part on the bottom half, it would be nice to have something a little 'lighter'.

I enjoyed choosing and positioning my photos. Then I went through and added captions. They've got several to choose from and I chose this one that looks a little like it's been handwritten.

It fills this gap in my kitchen quite nicely. Now I've just got to fill those holes in the other wall!

Photographising

I met the lovely Sarah from BobbyRobin and her super sweet daughter Zoe (best advertisement for having a baby ever!) a fortnight ago and took their photos. You can see the results on her blog. Is there anyone else out there in Auckland who might like me to take some photos for them?

Camera's back!

My camera is back from the shop (again!), and I bought an extension tube in Christchurch, which turns my wee 50mm/f1.8 OM lens into a macro. Fun!

These images aren't anything spectacular- it will take a bit of getting used to using. Christchurch update coming soon!

Swap Goodies

Tash from Knitsch Yarns and I did a swap this week- her parcel arrived in my letterbox today.

Sock yarn in 'Beauregarde', yummy! I plan to knit this Lace Ribbon Scarf with it. Also included were two sweet wee stitch markers that Tash is about to start selling, from SuperVery! I was so excited to see the little cow. Now I need to knit something that requires markers!

My camera is at 'the shop', it was having troubles processing every second image I took. It feels so strange to be using my point a shoot again, and I crave the creative control, manual focus and custom white balance my dSLR has. Here's hoping it will be easy (and cheap!) to fix. Otherwise I might be in the market for a new one....

Welcome Autumn

When we woke up this morning, it was certain. The cool weather has arrived. Bringing with it, the beautiful light.

The kind that makes your dirty windows look beautiful at 5pm,



And improves the wall with the peeling wallpaper no end.

Peace my friends. xx

Photography

Thank you to everyone who has left such kind comments about my photography over the last couple of months. I've been asked a few time which camera I use, and it's a dSLR, the Olympus E-410. However I don't think you can buy it anymore, and in any case, I don't know I would recommend it, more on that later.

What I do really like about is the easy to navigate menu it displays on the back screen, which makes it really easy to get to, and change, all the functions, something I found a little difficult when 'test-driving' other cameras just over 2 years ago.

And while I'm no photographer, and haven't had any training (other than that night class at Hagley College) there are a couple of things I think have made my photos better.

One feature I know you can manipulate, whether you have a fancy-pants camera or a point and shoot (which are not to be underestimated, by the way) is your white balance, and I just wanted to show you three photos I took, seconds apart, using all the same settings, except for white balance. I've written on the photos which setting I used for each.

I really think you should read this article on white balance, and dig out your camera manual and work out how to change the setting on your camera if you don't already know. The top photo is the most colour accurate, but sometimes that's just not the look we're going for! Have a play around with different settings under different light sources. If you'd like to share, post them on your blog, and leave a comment here- I'd love to see what you're up to!

A wee bit random

My computer is not behaving today, so I can't upload the photos I planned to post. I had these on the agenda for later in the week, but I don't think you'll mind seeing them today? You're good like that!

Birthday roses (from a fortnight ago. Have I really been 23 for 14 days?!) and the tomato relish.

And some fresh dinners we have been eating from the garden, I haven't shown you many of those lately, have I?

Chicken, corn and potato pie with carrots and beans in butter. Yum!

A riot of salad colour- lettuce, silver beet, carrots spring onions and tomatoes. I especially love the pink stalked silver beet in a salad, I chop up the stalk separately for extra colour and crunch!

What are you eating from the garden at the moment?

Picnik and Flickr

Have you used picnik? It is a neat photo editing website linked through to flickr. It's got lots of cool editing features, you don't need to use flickr, you don't even need to sign up to begin editing! I bought a month-long premium membership, mainly because I wanted to try out some layering (a premium feature) on some photos I took of a friend's engagement ring. But don't let that put you off, there's TONS you can do with a free membership!

Grab a photo and upload it- I promise you will lose track of the time and find a creative side you never knew existed! It really puts photoshop effects into the hands of everyone!

Dreamtime

Early evening light is the best

A few more photos from my shoot with the blossom trees.

Hyacinth

::Outside::Inside::

Orange Marmalade

Our orange tree is covered in oranges. They're not quite ripe yet, perfect for sticky marmalade. Unfortunately, I barely made a dent (Michelle, would you like some?) After scouring the internet for recipes, I simply chopped up some oranges, added the same volume of water, boiled till the rind went soft, added an equal quantity of sugar (next time I would use a cup or two less) and boiled till the setting point was reached. It is sticky and sweet, and ever so slightly bitter. Yum!

Photo time.

I haven't shared one of the Christmas gifts I got from Michael. (Late late I know!)



A closeup lens (actually a filter), you can find one here.



A substantially less pricey version of a macro lens, this screws onto the thread at the front of your lens, like a normal filter. I don't even take the UV filter off my lens!