Month: July 2010

Garden Faces

I am sending you my warmest greetings from my Mom’s garden.

Yes…I am still here…house sitting for my parents…and it seems that it will last some more days.

If you wondered what I am actually doing here then I’d like to let you know that I am relaxing and enjoying every single minute of these days.

It’s so lovely and calm here.

Actually, it’s kind of a vacation for me – a couple of days being spent off my usual routine.
 
 

Yes, most of the time I look like this.

Then, when I feel like doing something more productive, I grab my camera and find myself a project to shoot and to show you.

This time I’ve decided to chronicle my Mom’s new addiction – recently she’s been really fond of acquiring various creatures with eyes for her garden.

And I love it.

Well, I’m her daughter.
 
 

I remember the times when my Mom used to say she never wanted to have things like these in her garden.

Ever!

But then, one special day, someone gave her one of these guys sand I suppose it pushed some major button in her brain that she didn’t even know existed and things started to happen really fast…
 
 

Every time I come to visit I find two or three new pieces of this rapidly growing collection.
 
 

Today I’ve found out that of all the animals or creatures frogs are most frequent here.
 
 

With mushrooms being a close second.
 
 

And snails – there’s a lot of those, too.
 
 

Look, another one.

Oh, I really love the attitude of the carried frendo.

Who knows where they’re going.
 
 

And this mole – he seems to be pretty pleased by having the opportunity to live in this garden as well.
 
 

Another pair of mushrooms.

They have already grown perfectly into this environment.
 
 

Mama frog and a baby frog.

Cute!
 
 

Don’t get scared.

It’s just a tree.

An old and smart tree.

It gives lectures every other day.

I sit and listen.
 
 

Dad likes to know everything about the weather by just looking out of the window.

Thanks to this helpful and colorful buddy, the direction of wind is clear.
 
 

I am completely in love with this little one.

He’s just lovable.
 
 

It’s clear – Mom adores frogs.

Don’t they look like real ones?

In fact, I gave my Mom this present and she loved it.

At least she said so…
 

Well, dear friends, I hope you enjoyed this crazy, head-spinning tour.

And of course, there’s more colorful and lovely stuff coming soon.

With love,

Petra
 

Share via

Would You Like a Cup of Coffee…Granita?

coffee granita recipe with step-by-step images

These hot summer days call for rather unusual measures.

The heat is so high that recently I’ve been finding myself freezing various things just to stay cool and within my senses – there’ve been popsicles (strawberry or yogurt), there’ve been tea and coffee flavored ice cubes, there’s been delicious orange granita…and now, coffee granita.

Though I feel a little cooler now there’s one thing that makes me feel a little uneasy.

In fact, my urge to freeze things has developed into such a state that I am becoming a little afraid…of myself (so, just for the sake of your own safety, if you don’t feel like ending up in a freezer, please, don’t come too close to me these days).

coffee granita recipe with step-by-step images

There’s nothing easier than making your own homemade coffee granita.

1. Just prepare two cups of your favorite coffee – espresso or instant, both are yummy.

2. Add 10 teaspoons of sugar…and pssst, just for kicks, pour in some flavored liqueur (coffee, vanilla, cream…anything that makes your soul happy).

3. Allow to cool.

4. Pour this coffee mixture into a larger, shallow container and use plastic wrap to cover the top.

5. Place the container into the freezer for about 1 hour.
coffee granita recipe with step-by-step images

6. After one hour, remove the mixture from the freezer and, using a fork, break up the ice crystals that have formed.

Hm, now I see what making granita is all about…it’s about a vigorous and aggressive fight against the crystal structure of ice.

7. Cover and return the container back to the freezer.

coffee granita recipe with step-by-step images

8. Repeat this procedure four more times – every hour, until the mixture is thoroughly frozen. Be sure to break any big chunks and keep your granita fluffy.

9. Keep frozen until ready to serve.

coffee granita recipe with step-by-step images

Yummilicious!

coffee granita recipe with step-by-step images

I am sure you or your guests will highly appreciate this interesting twist on coffee or dessert.

Enjoy, dear friends.

See you soon.

With love,

Petra

Share via

Gosh, What’s Aperture?

what is aperture, explanation, tutorial with images

I am going to try to keep this easy, all right?

There’s no need for you to close this site, pack your things and flee to a secluded island.

Don’t let the aperture scare you!

Actually, the aperture is a good friend, it can serve your needs quite magically.

If you are using a point-and-shoot camera, you don’t even have to worry about anything – the camera does it all for you. But if you’re a ‘big’ DSLR camera user, then you might want to have a look into the magical world of the aperture.

So, what is that aperture?

Basically, it is the hole in you lens, or the eye of your camera – opening and closing as you wish.

See? I told you it’s not difficult.

And what does that hole/aperture do?

Well, primarily, there are two types of situations when the aperture can serve you well.

First, when the light conditions in the place where you’re taking photographs are not so good (low-light situations) you can open the aperture wide thus letting more light into your camera allowing it to work more effectively.

And the other kind of situation, the one that I am actually demonstrating here with the pictures, is using the aperture opening to influence the depth of your photographs.

Come, have a look at what I mean, there are plenty of examples here…

what is aperture, explanation, tutorial with images

This is where I demonstrate the depth of the photograph (people usually call that the ‘depth-of-field’).

The picture on the left-hand side has the front subject in sharp focus while the subjects in the background are out of focus. This is called the ‘shallow depth-of-field’. It is so aptly named – you see shallow, you don’t see deep.

On the other hand, the picture on the right-hand side can be described as one with the ‘great depth-of-field’. See? It really is deep – the subject in the foreground is almost of the same sharpness as the ones in the background.

And you know what?

It’s under your control to decide what kind of picture you want to take – whether it’s the shallow one or the deep one.

Isn’t that awesome?

And yes, it has something to do with the numbers I’ve pasted into the pictures.

what is aperture, explanation, tutorial with images

The ‘f/number’ that I’ve pasted into the pictures for you is meant to describe the aperture setting I had used while taking the particular picture. In photography, the ‘f’, or ‘f-stop’ or ‘f-number’ is used when the aperture is being discussed.

To practice the control over your camera’s aperture, all you need to do is to search you camera manual and find the little article on the aperture.

Once you find it and learn where that little button is, just do this: go for the lowest numbers (like 2 in my picture) if you want the shallow depth-of-field and go for the highest numbers (like 22 in my picture) if you want the ‘deep’, all-focused pics.

Your lowest and highest numbers might be different than mine since lenses differ in this aspect.

what is aperture, explanation, tutorial with images

So what’s this again?

Petra?

Deep or shallow?

Yes, it’s deep, because I had my camera set at a high number – 22 in this case – making everything from the foreground to the background being in focus.

what is aperture, explanation, tutorial with images

This is another example.

Three happy apples posing just for you.

what is aperture, explanation, tutorial with images

The front apple is enjoying the focal attention while his friends are standing in the background being out of focus.

what is aperture, explanation, tutorial with images

Here, all three apples enjoy being in focus.

I’d call this picture ‘One for all, all for one’.

what is aperture, explanation, tutorial with images

Here, some peas also want you to see what the aperture is all about.

That’s so kind of them.

what is aperture, explanation, tutorial with images

Low number – shallow depth-of-field.

There are times when you want to isolate your subject…when you want it to be in sharp focus while having the background out of focus. Portraits or food photos are good examples of these situations.

what is aperture, explanation, tutorial with images

High number – great depth-of-field.

There are different situations when you’ll definitely want to have as many details in focus as possible. Just imagine taking a picture of a landscape, for instance, with all its trees, animals, hills, river, clouds…everything crisp and clear.

Note: I really need to let you know of this fact – the smaller the f-number the wider is the aperture opening. A little technical detail that you can remember or forget right now. I give you the permission.

I hope this all made at least a little sense and was of some help.

I wish you a lot of fun while playing with your aperture.

Go and have fun!

See you soon.

Love,

Petra

 

Share via

Pink and Green

pink leopard wellington wellies boots on dark green grass

As I let you know last week, we are currently moving…and I am lucky enough to be spending this ‘precious time’ house sitting for my parents, thus delegating all the moving on my beloved boyfriend.

He’s one fortunate guy.

Thank you my dear boyfriend for being so strong and brave. You are truly precious!

Just imagine, he’s already done about 80 per cent of the work.

Awesome!

And now, what does that have to do with the rain boots?

Well, this house where I am staying right now is just full of colorful things – for some reason my Mom is really into colors.

So I got the idea that I might post a few pieces to color up your day.
 
 

pink leopard wellington wellies boots on dark green grass

I’ve spotted these boots the other day and since it was raining all day today I thought it was the perfect time to capture their uniqueness.
 
 

pink leopard wellington wellies boots on dark green grass

My Mom usually wears them when she goes to discos on Friday evenings.

Not!

She puts them on when she goes to her garden!

Those are definitely the most chic gardening shoes I’ve ever seen.
 
 

pink leopard wellington wellies boots on dark green grass

I had to make a picture of them (or two, or twenty) – the color combination of the gorgeous pink and the lush green seemed too beautiful and irresistible for me to overlook.

Oh, and the neighbor saw me – taking pictures of rain boots – in the rain – under an umbrella.

Hm, he said nothing…

Bye for now, dear friends, I will be back with more colorful stuff soon…

Have a wonderful week!
 

Share via
Send this to a friend