I intended to put this post up last month--on the 30th to be exact, but I decided to observe blog silence; but, then I forgot, better late than never I suppose.
I would like to say that I am a student of photography, but really I just point and shoot and try to figure things out as I am going along. There are so many great (exceptional, really) photographers in our "little" knitting community, they are inspirational (especially the professional ones). I wonder if they read manuals to understand their cameras...I should try this manual reading thing, it seems like a plausible road to success. In any case, I am trying to figure out how to take non-blurry close-up shots working with available light. I think it might be more of a lens issue (ISO, what's that?), with some of the pictures I have taken, but whatever. In an effort to take some close-up shots while also highlighting "the good, better, best" nature of my April, I am giving you three photos.
The good:
buttons, green buttons for some green goodness... It took me a while to find the right buttons for my little project. Happiness is finding appropriate buttons, my friends.
Striving for better:
truly better than some past iterations of this scarf; better than my last try, at least.
The best way to end any month? Well, food. I make things for people. Besides the knitting there is food, I cook for people, sometimes for no reason at all, most times because they can't cook for themselves, for whatever reason. And you know, people have to eat. So last weekend I made dinner for some friends who had a baby. They asked me to make this cake for them. I am known in my circle for this, the best of chocolate cakes. It's flourless, it's sinful, it's easy, well, sort of.
I want to take better food shots. I wish I could convey through a photograph how good this cake is. It's called la bete noir, French for "the black beast." In French or English, this cake is just good, no the BEST. I guess you will just have to make it for yourself if you don't want to take my word for it.
Those buttons are great! I have some similar lavender ones on a fleece jacket that Maam S. made me. Except she put two on one way and the third on upside down! Funny! Anyway, what are the buttons going on, may I ask? Scarf looks great! I can't wait to start mine! And, that cake...YUMM-O!
Posted by: Amy S. | May 03, 2007 at 04:40 PM
Wow. That chocolate cake looks simply sinful and amazing. I am so printing out that recipe! The buttons are the perfect color - they really pull the green tones out of the sweater..
Posted by: stacey | May 03, 2007 at 05:00 PM
Wow, I think I can tell from that picture how good that cake is. I'm jealous :)
I like the new scarf! The colors are going together well.
Posted by: Kristy | May 03, 2007 at 05:25 PM
I never thought much of photography until I started my blog a couple of months ago. I bought a digital camera and my whole outlook changed. Now I try to carry it with me everywhere just in case. I still take 29 horrid photos just to get the one that will be pretty!
Posted by: Felicia | May 03, 2007 at 07:00 PM
Whenever I buy a new camera, I've already read the manual cover to cover (maybe even twice) before the batteries are charged.
People tell me they take bad pictures, how can they take better pictures - the first thing I ask them - have you read the manual? How can you expect to know how the camera works (especially digital cameras because a lot of things that various film used to do you now have to set the camera to do - like ISO) if you don't read the directions?
So yes. I read the manual. I still refer to it occassionally too.
Posted by: Cara | May 03, 2007 at 08:59 PM
Oh man, like I need any of that! eek! I'm with Cara on reading the manual! It takes forever to play around and find all of the features and options of your camera.
Posted by: Elinor | May 04, 2007 at 01:03 AM
I want to lick my screen right now for the bete noir.
Posted by: Liz K. | May 04, 2007 at 01:20 AM
You're pretty darn good at photos! From the sound of the above comments I need to read my camera manual!! The scarf is looking good! Thanks to you I just placed an STR order!
Posted by: Diana | May 04, 2007 at 01:40 AM
Oh I don't know - I think you're a pretty fantastic photographer and blogger!
Posted by: tiennie | May 04, 2007 at 03:02 AM
OMG! You're making me drool with the cake and the great photography in blogland. I definitely want to get better at it too.
Posted by: yaiAnn | May 04, 2007 at 04:02 AM
I like to tell myself my crappy photography is because of my crappy camera, but that's probably not the case. :) But trust me, the dense chocolately gooey goodness of that cake *definitely* comes through in your picture. Oh. My. God.
Posted by: pamela wynne | May 04, 2007 at 04:37 AM
You have conveyed the extraordinary deliciousness of that cake very well in your photograph!!
I've got to go read my camera manual...
Posted by: Pat | May 04, 2007 at 11:25 AM
Thanks for the kind photography words, but truly - I just shoot photos everyday. I think it's practice that trains your eye. More importantly - the freakin' chocolate cake! Holy....Um, yeah. I'll be making that. Unless you wanna cook for ME??!! Love the chevron colors.
Posted by: john | May 04, 2007 at 01:28 PM
The cake looks so rich & delicious! I think you've captured it perfectly.
Posted by: brooke | May 04, 2007 at 02:42 PM
I agree. There are amazing photographers in blogland (including you). It is very inspiring for a little novice like me.
LOVIN' the new Chevron!
Posted by: kara | May 04, 2007 at 03:22 PM
Thanks for the links. I hadn't been familiar with all those great knit-photographers.
Posted by: Theresa | May 04, 2007 at 05:28 PM
Beautiful. I am now intensely craving some chocolate.
Posted by: Christy / Not Hip | May 04, 2007 at 05:47 PM
Beautiful capture on that last shot - you have successfully conveyed the cake's delicious-ness :)
Posted by: Nora | May 04, 2007 at 06:50 PM
I think that your photos are great!
I too love your new colors for the chevron!
Posted by: leslie | May 04, 2007 at 08:41 PM
Hi Nova--Everything looks good! I think you have hit upon an excellent chevron duo. Third time's the charm. That cake looks amazing. The genache is perfect! I may have to make a little homemade hot fudge sauce for frozen yogurt this evening.
Have a great weekend!
Posted by: Brenda | May 04, 2007 at 10:35 PM
Nova, what amazing shots you are taking these days! And cake. Mmm, cake.
Posted by: diana | May 05, 2007 at 12:09 AM
A post full of yum AND beautiful photos!
Posted by: knittingphilistine | May 05, 2007 at 08:08 PM
A friend of mine makes something very similar to la bete noir that she refers to simply as "Sin" because, yes, it is just that evil. *smile*
Boo! I'm your Sockapalooza pal. I'm very excited to get working on your socks - I think I've got the perfect yarn picked out, but am still waffling on the pattern.
Any hints you want to drop, feel free to send them my way! I'll be checking in here as often as I can, but I've a fair bit of traveling coming up so if you don't hear from me for a bit, don't worry - I'm still paying attention!
Posted by: Can't Tell | May 06, 2007 at 03:17 AM
Um...the scarf looks awesome and all but where the devil can I get a piece of that cake??!? Your photo conveyed to me that I would like it very much. :)
Posted by: Erin | May 07, 2007 at 05:52 AM
Yummy yummier yummiest, this shot is all of them, I LOVE chocolate cake and you have taken a magnificent photo of one of life's major pleasures..(can you tell I love chocolate cake?) Well done to you!
Posted by: Liz | May 07, 2007 at 11:55 AM