Friday, August 31, 2012
Book Recommendation!
I just posted a thank you letter to Kirk Tuck on his Visual Science Lab blog. Instead of posting something different here, I'll simply repost the letter. I highly recommend the book by the way!
Hi Kirk!
I finally found out about Amazons Kindle software for PC yesterday, (a little behind?) so I checked out your books on Amazon and finally got to purchase "Minimalist Lighting: Professional Techniques for Studio Photography". Now via Kindle's pc software I can open and read it on my laptop! Hooray!
I am already about halfway through the book and have found it to both practical and informative, written in language I can understand! Thank you so much for showing that studio lighting is not as mysterious as it can sometimes be made out to be.
Although I already employ some of the techniques you explain there is a lot of info detailing (for me) new ideas, or old ideas in a new way, or just simply ideas that make me want to kick my own butt wondering why I didn't think about that!
I look forward to reading your other books in time, and learning even more!
Have a great day!
Lanthus Clark
www.thephotophile.com
You can purchase the book here: Minimalist Lighting: Professional Techniques for Studio Photography [Kindle Edition]
Hi Kirk!
I finally found out about Amazons Kindle software for PC yesterday, (a little behind?) so I checked out your books on Amazon and finally got to purchase "Minimalist Lighting: Professional Techniques for Studio Photography". Now via Kindle's pc software I can open and read it on my laptop! Hooray!
I am already about halfway through the book and have found it to both practical and informative, written in language I can understand! Thank you so much for showing that studio lighting is not as mysterious as it can sometimes be made out to be.
Although I already employ some of the techniques you explain there is a lot of info detailing (for me) new ideas, or old ideas in a new way, or just simply ideas that make me want to kick my own butt wondering why I didn't think about that!
I look forward to reading your other books in time, and learning even more!
Have a great day!
Lanthus Clark
www.thephotophile.com
You can purchase the book here: Minimalist Lighting: Professional Techniques for Studio Photography [Kindle Edition]
End Of Month View ~ August 2012
August was heralded in by the pink trumpets of the oriental lily 'Robina', which made its presence known by its scent, particularly noticeable on warmer evenings - well there were one or two! August was perhaps not quite as wet as the earlier summer months and the temperature rose. Finally there was more than the odd butterfly on the wing - one day last week saw a mass meeting of peacocks on the buddleja in the garden.
The least said about the allotment the better - please don't mention the word BEAN! I am now fast forwarding to next year and have already started to clear beds in preparation. There have been some enjoyable moments - lots of 'Anya' potatoes which although somewhat on the small side have proved delicious both hot and cold. We have enjoyed the first few apples. Still making my mind up about 'Katy' which produces the picture book rosy red apple that the wicked stepmother must have tried to tempt Snow White with. The texture once you bite into them is on the soft side though and I prefer a crisp crunchy apple. The tree that has been the most productive is 'Sunset' which will be harvested soon. The tomatoes are in full flow now but my earlier delight in the prowess of my cucumbers has been cruelly tempered. After an initial couldn't keep up with them fast enough phrase, I noticed that fruits were turning yellow when small and then withering. I'm not sure but think that this might be a result of overwatering. My cucumbers are growing in a community greenhouse and I suspect that other plot holders have been watering them too. However there are still some waiting for me to pick so all is not doom and gloom. There have been sporadic courgettes but no danger of a glut. The shallots and garlic have now been harvested and removed back home where they will no doubt be appreciated in the coming months.
Back to the garden and to my end of month view for May when I mentioned a new to me word - 'gabion'. In case you are wondering a gabion is a wire cage that can be filled with rocks, concrete or soil. They can be used in various situations including landscaping and retaining walls. After himself has shedded blood, sweat and nearly tears the pile of rocks (plus many more) which featured in my May end of month post ~
is now looking like this ~
On the far side of the wall is a small stream which forms one of the garden boundaries. We have never really tamed this area which sloped down to the stream. The level of the land has been built up and we now have a clearly defined formal edge and have reduced the risk of accidents. Himself has had to raise the inspection tanks for our septic tank, hence the concrete mixer but he is now nearing the end of the construction phrase. There has been talk of planting sempervivums to soften the edges of the walls and then we need to mull over what we are going to do with this extra space. Hopefully there will be planting underway next month and into October.
This months plant purchases - monarda 'Fireball', heuchera 'Circus', day lilies 'American Revolution' and 'Strutter's Ball' finishing of with a mentha arvensis otherwise known as banana mint.
With thanks as always to Helen over at 'The Patient Gardener's Weblog' who hosts the 'End Of Month View'.
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Building in Tivoli Gardens, Copenhagen
Nikon D90, Nikkor 18-105mm kit lens at 18mm with VR off, Velbon Sherpa tripod, f/10, 6.0s, ISO200, edited in Corel Paintshop Pro X4.
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Monday, August 27, 2012
Chinese Lanterns - Tivoli Gardens, Copenhagen
Nikon D90, Nikkor 18-105mm kit lens at 18mm with VR off, Velbon Sherpa tripod, f/10, 4.0s, ISO200, edited in Corel Paintshop Pro X4.
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Re-doing daughters room…In the making.
This is one of those promises from last Christmas…
A room re-do.
She found the note…under her bed while she was cleaning last week. Dayum.
I’m being held to the promise.
Started this weekend.
Walls painted Benjamin Moore cloud white ~ Check
New curtains…bamboo blinds for underneath need to go up too~ Check
New linens…working on it.
slipcover loveseat…yep working on…
Rugs…
or maybe more along these lines…
Do you guys notice that when you look up a rug or something on Overstock.com it seems to follow you all over the internet...little ads reminding you what you looked at...
like those creepy eyes that follow you in a painting?
Will do something with the dresser…
and SOMETHING with the boatload of ribbons
This used to be a mirror
how ya lookin’?
WHAT does one do with them…so I googled.
I LOVE what our friends Madison and Marion over at
Life Tastes Good did…
clever, eh?
or maybe…
a la Polohouse blog
There are even folks that will turn your ribbons into Quilts and bags and picture frames!
Eeegads. Who knew?
I dunno.
The favorite thing I have heard is donating them to Special Equestrians or another Equine
Therapy program.
Where they re-use/ re-gift them.
LOVE this.
Sold.
**I will post some finished pics of the room…when it is done.
Don’t be holding your breath or anything…
Saturday, August 25, 2012
The Fountains in Tivoli Gardens, Copenhagen.
Friday, August 24, 2012
Show - Stoppers
Have you noticed how that each flower show seems to have its own signature plant? This year at the Southport Flower Show, monardas or bergamot were very much the flavour of the day. They were leaping out everywhere you looked and were most enticing in a variety of hues of pinks, red, violet, lavender, purple and white. Sadly some of the specimens for sale were almost triffid like in their proportions - far too long and leggy but we eventually managed to track down some short and sturdy plants. I came home with a couple of plants of monarda 'Fireball' which you can see above. 'Fireball' is apparently a compact plant which is not as susceptible to mildew as some of the other monardas. My plants are now ensconced in the holding bay. I already have a couple of monardas - 'Gardenview Scarlet' which grows at the allotment and 'Prairie Night' and have clocked another couple for the wish list.
As well as providing invaluable late summer colour, being bee and butterfly magnets, monardas have most deliciously scented foliage. In her book 'Cottage Garden Flowers' Margery Fish wrote ; "The foliage of bergamot has a most beguiling perfume. It does not need to be picked up or touched to fill the air around with its haunting fragrance. Even in the depths of winter it makes its presence known if one is working in a border where it grows, when very often there is scarcely a leaf showing. I often feel that one ought to make more use of this gift from Heaven. True one can put a leaf in the teapot and change the flavour of ordinary tea into something more exotic, a few sprigs among the sheets with give lasting fragrance, and it gives the necessary bite to pot - pourri that nothing else can supply." You can add chopped leaves sparingly to salads and use them to flavour jams and jellies. Finally if all that isn't enough reason to find room for a monarda in your garden, the birds enjoy the rounded seedheads come the autumn.
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Tivoli After Dark
It's a great place to take photos after dark, I highly recommend it!
Nikon D90, Nikkor 18-105mm kit lens at 18mm, Velbon Sherpa tripod with VR off, f/10, 15.0s, ISO200, edited in Corel Paintshop Pro X4.
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
One more "Why I Like to Shoot After Dark" photograph:
Taken in Tivoli Copenhagen about 40 minutes after sunset. Still lots of blue light left in the sky but it is dark enough to balance nicely with the lights on the building and in the pond.
Nikon D90, Nikkor 18-105mm kit lens at 18mm with VR off, Velbon Sherpa tripod, f/10, 2.0s, ISO200, edited in Corel Paintshop Pro X4.
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