I should preface these photos by saying this past week I was super busy, not to mention sick, most of the week, so I settled for taking pictures around my office during a lunch break. I really love the architecture and surroundings of our office, so it was hardly settling.
I worked on balancing the exposure of this picture because the tops of the trees were really blown out from the sun and the walkway in the background was really dark from the shadows. I think this is a happy medium. The natural curves of the bay window and the line of trees draw your eyes to the back of the picture.
This is another example of where I was trying to balance the direct sun and the deep shadows. I really wanted to capture the vibrant colors along our front sidewalk. As far as composure goes, I think the repetition of trees and the line of the sidewalk into the photo work well together. I think the background is a little busy. I also think this is a good example of where a graduated neutral density filter would be beneficial.
This picture was taken in our conference room where there is very dim overhead lighting. I took it midday when the sun was streaming in from the right of the picture. I adjusted the exposure until the colors were as accurate as possible. This used the Rule of Odds and is visually interesting to me because of the industrial mix of burlap and brick.
I recently started my second photography class. This particular course focuses on the elements that are required to capture an interesting photo. Each week we have an hour-long lecture and then an hour-long critique of the images we took based on the previous week's assignment. I want to share my images so I can see how I progress over the weeks and also to get feedback from all of you!
Week One Assignment: Composition
I used the Rule of Thirds by off-setting them and also tried to use the surroundings as a natural frame. This was part of my trial engagement shoot. More to come on my sweet friends Jared and Rachel! Southern Progress Campus, October 2011
In this photo, I used the walkway as a way to draw the viewer into the picture using the natural lines and curves of the image. Birmingham Botanical Gardens, Japanese Gardens, October 2011
I have really been interested in capturing pictures with natural sunlight, so when I saw the sun peeking through this tree I wanted to capture it. I again off-set the subject and captured the glimmer of sun in the trees. Birmingham Botanical Gardens, Japanese Gardens, October 2011
Let me know what you think! More to come on this week's assignment.
I almost forgot to share some really exciting news. Since my journalism days are now fewer and farther between, it is even more exciting to get an opportunity to write, let alone get published! Recently one of my really good Bham friends, Madoline, asked me to write a little piece for one of the community newspapers she edits.
Side Note: Yes, I said one of the papers she edits. There are three local papers: Village Living, The Homewood Star, and 280 Living, and she has stepped in as the managing editor. She also happens to have a fabulous blog, Maple Macaroni, that is a great source for tons of yummy recipes. Let me just say - it's great to have friends who are such great cooks and like to test out recipes on you!
Anyway, Madoline, knowing the interior designer wannabe in me, asked me to write something for a homes special feature she was working on. I had the opportunity to interview an interior designer who stages homes for open houses and parties. It was such a great experience and it reminded me how much I like to write. The article, "The art of home staging," ran in the October issue of 280 Living. Check out the full edition here and page 25 in particular!
I'm finally back to blogging again after a nice little cold I caught on my flight to Georgia. I'm still not 100%, but thankfully I've been going non-stop the past few weeks and have plenty of content to share with you!
At my office we take turns making birthday cakes and it just so happens that the majority of birthdays are in the fall, so we are in full cake mode lately! One co-worker asked if I would make another batch of cake pops for his birthday since they were a great way to control portions and, let's face it, who doesn't like the novelty of cake on a stick!?
So, I decided to give the cake pops another try. This time I did my research and talked with other people who had made them before. Here is the Bakerella (queen of cake pops) video I watched to prep my second try:
She makes it look SOO easy! I even went to Michael's and splurged on the colored candy melts and meringue powder (in case I decided to cover them in royal icing) and even the gel coloring. Here is what I did:
1. First I made a 9x13 Devil's Food Cake. After it cooled, I crumbled it into a large mixing bowl.
2. Next, I stirred in one carton of fudge icing until it was thoroughly incorporated. I then took the dough mixture and rolled it into balls about 3/4 to 1 inch thick.
3. I put the cake balls into the freezer for about 15 minutes to set up and slightly harden. In the meantime, I began melting down my candy melts in the microwave, starting with 20 second intervals.
4. Once the cake balls were chilled, I dipped each lollipop stick into the melted chocolate candy melts and inserted them into the dough about half way. I again chilled the completed pops to let the icing set and help keep the sticks in place.
5. Despite what these pictures may tell, the process was extremely long and tedious. Rather than the simple dip and remove process that Bakerella showed, I ended up with thick, gloopy chocolate that had to be spooned and/or piped on. I was on the verge of meltdown for most of the night, but I am so glad they turned out great in the end. We'll just blame the Southern humidity for the chocolate!
Thankfully I was happy with the result, but I know they still have a long way to come. I tried to distract from their imperfections by adding nuts and squiggly decor. So here they are . . .
And no great late night recipe attempt is complete without the giant mess that is left behind.
I'll have to keep working at it; it sounds like I might be recruited to make some Auburn-themed ones before the season is over.
Thanks for reading! More exciting projects to come . . .
Because the majority of my knowledge of homes and interiors came from my work as a magazine intern, there are certain companies that I always think of in groups simply because we used products from those companies together in one photo shoot. After a shoot, I always kept a running list at my desk of companies that I wanted to research more or products that caught my eye.
It turns out that some things never change! I still think about design in that same stream of consciousness way. Recently thinking of one company led to another and another and another . . . so here are some of the companies that have been on my mind lately:
Every product I have seen from this company seems like a little work of art. Everything, be it a clutch or a plate, has great detailed, almost hand-drawn looking, prints.
