Day 9 - Vegetable

I thought of paprika from the very start, when this word first showed up in the random word generator. So, after work I went by the store to pick up the prettiest ones I could find. I ended up buying one of each color (except green) and laid them out on my kitchen counter as soon as I got home. The only thing was, it didn't really look that interesting... Sure they were nice looking, but something was missing! That was when one of my cats gave me an idea.

You see, our cat Morris has quite peculiar taste when it comes to food - he loves chilies! When ever we're coking, he lies down on a plate where we usually keep them and just rolls, and rolls around on them like he thinks they're catnip! Gosh, he's such a weirdo! Anyway, adding the chilies was just what my shot needed. That little extra spice to turn things up a notch

Thank you Morris, you may be weird, but you're
the good kind of weird :)

/MrsHjort

Day 8 - Cholcolate

Shooting this I used similar techniques as when I shot tea, and soup a while back. Shooting food is a question of speed and preparation (not just of the food itself). Therefore I set up the arrangement before actually pouring the hot chocolate in. I was a bit worried the piece of chocolate would melt against the hot glass though. That's when I figured I'd put a nut behind it to lean against, and it worked like a charm.

When all was in place, I poured the drink and snapped away. Though I soon realized I'd need an other light-source in front of the glass - the subjects got too dark against that bright background. I immediately ran upstairs to get my flash, but when I got back, there was too much condensation already. So, I poured the chocolate back into the pot, to reheat on the stove, and took out a fresh glass to repeat the procedure. It turned out much better the second time, and it was yummy too ;)

/MrsHjort

Day 7 - Measure

It's not easy shooting stuff like this all alone! There are lots of things to coordinate at once - the rate of sugar poring down, the position of the scoop, the camera angle and the focus.

I had a little whoopsie today as I pored the sugar with my left hand while trying to compose with my right. I have to admit, the mess it made had me a bit annoyed at the time, but, as soon as I saw the result, I realized it was the best shot of the session! Isn't it wonderful how things turn out sometimes? I just love how playful it looks - as if a child was poring, helping its mother with the baking. Let it be our little secret that it was really just a clumsy 20+ Mrs, with an itchy trigger finger ;)

/MrsHjort

Day 6 - Pet

It's been a long day today! Don't get me wrong though, it's been a good one. I got lots of stuff done at the office, went to after-work with my colleagues, and had a couple of glasses of nice wine. Not too shabby! As I went home, I only had one thing left to do - take a photo of a pet.

Easier said than done! None of my cats were cooperative today! I chased them around for nearly an hour and never managed anything better than a few snapshots. I even edited some of them, desperate to make them into something better, but no matter what I did the results were subpar. After a lot of frustration my kitty got just as tired as I was, and then I finally managed to get a decent shot of her, as she drifted off to sleep. Good night dear readers, sleep tight, I know I will ;)

/MrsHjort

Day 5 - Leisure

Mr and I recently decided to turn part of our attic into a gym. I was a bit surprised at the suggestion at first, but hey, what the heck! I haven't been to a gym for years, and if I had one at home, it might just be convenient enough to actually go to. So, we set up a training bike up there, a bench press, some weights, dumbbells, and... a punching bag? Yep, we've really got one! I was the last person on earth to think Mr the type to go for one. Though, I have to say, I like that you can still get surprised by someone even after 11 years of living together.

So, now we've got our own little gym to go to, and the best part is; we get to pick the music :). Today was Metallica (Black Album), followed by Tiger Army (Music from the Regions Beyond). Good stuff!

Cheers

/MrsHjort

Day 4 - Pottery

As I went hunting for pottery in my home today, I found out that I don't have much of it (not counting porcelain of course). In fact, I was so discouraged, I went to several stores after work to see if there was any nice looking pottery to buy, only to find out that A. all stores had more or less the same stuff, and B. none of it was to my taste. Things seemed bleak... I couldn't shoot the tea pot again - I've done that before and it would be boring, neither would my plates do - too boring, nor my vase - too boooring!

That was when I remembered these little jewels, and bippety boppety boo, today's shot ended up featuring my living-room. Even the bad lighting ended up being a good thing - because that's why I decided to get down on the floor to steady my camera. Necessity really is the mother of invention haha ;)

/MrsHjort

Day 3 - Wood

This is a subject I just love and have used several times in the past. I never shoot the whole thing though, just bits and pieces of it. This is our grandfather's clock - a lovely piece of furniture with many little details, it's simply marvelous to shoot.

As I hinted at in a comment yesterday, it's really getting dark up here in Sweden now. Sun rises at 7:30 and sets at 4 pm. Ugh! I just hate the darkness of the winter. Anyway, this means that you'll have to plan ahead when it comes to daylight, and therefore I shot this just before I had to run off to get to work, haha.

I hope you like it.

/MrsHjort

Day 2 - Stream

It seems things aren't quite going my way this time - nature didn't provide this day either. I left work early today - in order to go and shoot a stream while there was still daylight - but when I got there, it was all dried out! Massive facepalm! So, sadly I didn't get the shot I wanted, and had to fall back on my backup plan. So, instead of cascading water, you get to see this birdie instead. It's not nearly as dramatic but it's way cuter ;)

Hopefully things will go my way tomorrow instead. Let's hope that the third time is the charm.

/MrsHjort

Day 1 - Grass

So! November has finally arrived! This month I will be following a list of words as my theme. The list was created using a random word generator and I think it makes things more interesting and challenging than simply shooting random stuff on a broader theme. So, the first word of the month is "Grass".

I had thought of doing a shot like this today, but unfortunately, nature didn't provide - it was both dry and cloudy. However, nothing can stop a trigger happy girl with an itchy index finger, and thus I thought - "If you can't make it, fake it". And so, my neighbors ought to have been a bit surprised by seeing me today, with a spray-bottle in my hand and my backside in the air as I was crawling around right in the middle of my lawn haha. I hope you like it :)

/MrsHjort

Vistas of Madeira

I never sease to be amazed by the dramatic beauty of Madeira. It makes my heart sing. I wonder if you could ever grow immune to it, if you lived there. I'm guessing; no! My home is situated in a relatively flat area in comparison, and yet, I find myself marveling at the view quite often. Every landscape has it's own charm I guess, no matter where you are. Though, I've always preferred mountains and lush green hills. That's part of why Mr and I keep returning to Madeira I think.

One of the other reasons we keep coming back is the wine. Madeira wine is quite unique in taste and ranges from rich (sweet) to dry. If you're ever on the island, make sure you taste a Bolo do Mel de Cana (a sweet kake). It should be accompanied with a rich Madeira wine, and it's an excellent way to end the evening.

Speaking of ends, as this month draws to a close, I'm getting more and more exited about the next. You see, next month the 30-day challenge is on again. I missed it last time, due to workload, but now I finally have the time to do it. I'll be shooting each day, and you'll see my top pick here, every day. Fun fun fun! I love how the intense shooting gets your creative juices flowing. The previous challenges have really helped me develop as a photographer, and, they've been a lot of fun too. I can't wait :)

So, see you Sunday for my first post.

Cheers

/MrsHjort

High Tides

Water has always fascinated me. You see, I grew up just a stone's throw away from Sweden's second largest lake. It's called Vättern and it's is sort of like a small sea - sometimes its waves are several meters high and it's deepest point is at 128 m. It's a very cold lake, even during the summer, and the temperature very seldom rises above 20 degrees C. That didn't stop me though, no siree! I was in more than I was out growing up, and when I finally came out of the water I was full of goose-bumps with clattering teeth. Nowadays I (mostly) limit myself to shooting water from afar though. It's more comfortable that way :).

Waves are such a joy to shoot. I love the contrasts you get from the foam and the beautiful natural lines. This shot in particular is very special to me. I shot it from Cabo Girão, Madeira, which is the second highest sea cliff in the world (approximately 580 m). Let me tell you, the view from there is breathtaking! It's so high up, that some days you're right among the clouds.

The top picture was shot using my Sigma lens. It's shot straight down, at maximum zoom (300 mm). I'm very glad it turned out so crisp, and I just love the angle - it really brings out the drama.

The photo to the right is shot with the Nikon lens at minimum zoom (18 mm). It allowed me to get the whole scope of the place. I had to wait a while for the clouds to clear a bit though, but I think they add a whole new dimension to the shot - landscapes tend to look flat in pictures, and they very often loose their drama. This way however, the size becomes more tangible. I just love the context a cloud or two can bring to a shot.

I've started carrying both my trusty lenses lately - ever since I got a small lens case that I can wear on my belt. I just love the flexibility you get that way. I've been thinking of getting a one legged stand too - they're not as bulky as the tripods are, and it would fit my trekking habits a lot better. Maybe I'll put it on my X-mas list ;).

What's your favorite gear?

/MrsHjort