My Camera Journey (…so far)

camera comparison, food blogger camera and lens tips and advice

Who knew I’ll be into cameras and photography?

I didn’t.

At least until the time about one year ago when I decided that I needed to get some more beauty and color into my life and a camera seemed to be the best device to help me in that quest.

Grabbing a camera might have been a really tiny step for a mankind but to me it was huge.

I don’t really understand how it might work but through the lens of a camera beauty gets magnified, colors become richer, little worlds get bigger, unknown reveals itself and, as a sweet result, a soul gets happy.

Amen.

 

My camera journey started with a cute little blue point-and-shoot from Olympus called Mju: 600.

I love the name.
camera comparison, food blogger camera and lens tips and advice

When I started to take photos with the point-and-shoot I knew completely nothing about photography.

Still, that little blue thing allowed me to take rather lovely pictures.

Like this one.

camera comparison, food blogger camera and lens tips and advice

Or this one from our vacation in Hungary.

camera comparison, food blogger camera and lens tips and advice

But when it came to food – which meant getting very close to the photographed subjects – it didn’t look optimal.

The pictures were blurry.

Even if I had a sufficient dose of caffeine and my hands weren’t shaking.

I just knew I needed more.
camera comparison, food blogger camera and lens tips and advice

Since I am a very lucky person in general, I remembered that my boyfriend had bought a big solid camera a couple of months back.

It was Canon 1000D (in US known as Rebel XS).

I knew he loved his camera but I also knew I needed it.

So, what would a decent girl do in such a situation?

She steals the camera and snaps away like no one’s business.
camera comparison, food blogger camera and lens tips and advice

This is the first picture that I took with my new camera.

I made it after I’d received one minute’s worth of camera-operating instructions from my man.

One minute of instructions, that’s what I asked for because my attention can’t take any more.

Nevertheless, I was impressed with the result.

The pictures were crisper and more professional looking.

I loved it.
camera comparison, food blogger camera and lens tips and advice

As time went by (and my boyfriend went slightly mad) me and the camera became good buddies.

When the light was sufficient we were able to do wonders.

camera comparison, food blogger camera and lens tips and advice

But when there was little light and I had to bump up the ISO to its full potential – which is 1600 – then that nasty grainy noise appeared.

I hated the noise.

You can clearly see it in the background of the above picture.
camera comparison, food blogger camera and lens tips and advice

The noise mostly was the reason why I, again, wanted more.

And since, as you already know, I am a very lucky person, the family board (consisting of me and my boyfriend) agreed to buy me this Canon 550D camera (in US known as Rebel T2i).

To make the family board agree it only took a little – basically we are talking about six months of throwing myself regularly on the floor, a lot of high-pitched screaming and many different forms of threatening toward the other member of the family board.

Easy.
camera comparison, food blogger camera and lens tips and advice

When I got the camera I took a few pictures and then I died.

Then I took some more pictures and died again.

 

The camera had quite a few wonderful features.

I especially appreciated that it had 18 megapixel resolution (the Canon 1000D had only 10 megapixels).

And the second thing which makes me almost cry is its unbelievable 12800 ISO.

That ISO means that you can carelessly stand in the darkest corner of your kitchen on a gloomy rainy day with no lights on over a pan of frying cauliflower and take the most wonderful pictures with your ISO working at only one quarter of its potential.

That’s gorgeous, my friends!

But do you want to know what’s even more gorgeous?

There’s almost no noise!

Oh. My. Gosh.
camera comparison, food blogger camera and lens tips and advice

I just love this camera.

I love it from the bottom of my heart… up to the top of my heart.

Next time, I think I’ll show you my lenses.

I love lenses.

I want many.

I think it’s a dangerous game.

 

Apple Cake

apple cake recipe with step by step pictures

I’m in love with apples and cinnamon.

Forever.

I’ve noticed that I can go without some treat from the cinnamon-apple realm for about two days.

Hm.

It seems that I have issues.

Wonderful and delicious apple-cinnamon-fall issues.

 

Anyway, as I was searching for the right recipe I found out there were loads and loads of different variations of the apple cake.

I borrowed a little from here and a little from there and created this ultra-simple and easy version.

Luckily, everything turned out perfect and the cake tasted just as I’d wished it would have.

Yummilicious!

 

 

apple cake recipe with step by step pictures

Here’s what you need if you want to make it too.

Which is highly advised!

 

 

apple cake recipe with step by step pictures

1. Preheat the oven to 375 F (190 C).
 

2. Then prepare your dry ingredients.

In a bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and salt.

 

 

apple cake recipe with step by step pictures

3. Now, in the bowl of your electric mixer, whisk the butter and 1/3 cup – 70 grams (!) of sugar until light and fluffy.

Please notice that I am using only half of the sugar amount for the batter.

The other half will go on top of the cake.

 

4. Add the whole egg and mix just until blended.

 

 

apple cake recipe with step by step pictures

5. Add the flour mixture in three additions, …

 

 

apple cake recipe with step by step pictures

6. …alternating with the milk, beating until just combined.

The batter is done.

Easy.

 
 

apple cake recipe with step by step pictures

Now we need one apple – any kind, sweet or tart.

 

 

apple cake recipe with step by step pictures

7. Peel the apple.

 

 

apple cake recipe with step by step pictures

8. Cut it in half.

 

9. Using a sharp knife, remove the core.

 

 

apple cake recipe with step by step pictures

10. And slice the apple.

 

 

apple cake recipe with step by step pictures

11. Grab a round pie pan (it should have the capacity of 4 cups/1 liter) and grease it with some butter.

 

12. Pour the batter in the pan and even out the surface.

 

 

apple cake recipe with step by step pictures

13. Lay the apple slices on the batter in concentric circles, starting at the outside edge.

 

 

apple cake recipe with step by step pictures

14. Now, for the final touch we need the remaining sugar (1/3 cup – 70 grams).

Combine the sugar with the cinnamon in a bowl…

 

 

apple cake recipe with step by step pictures

15. …and sprinkle the heavenly fragrant mixture over the apples.

Just like this.

While baking, the mixture will turn into a lovely sugary crust.

If you are not a huge fan of generous sugary crusts, use just about half of the mixture.

 

 

apple cake recipe with step by step pictures

16. Bake for 25 minutes.

 

17. Remove the cake from the oven and let cool on the wire rack.

 

 

apple cake recipe with step by step pictures

Oh, yum!

You can serve this cake as is or (OR!) with a scoop of vanilla ice-cream.

I thank heavens for that combination very, very often.

 

Enjoy, dear friends!

(This recipe was vastly adapted from SimplyRecipes.com.)

 

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