Around Here
Bunting and cupcakes at the Spring Fair...a 1kg steak and a freaky movie...an amazing photography workshop...and a milestone...all things happening around here :)
Found this post that was meant to go online automatically whilst we were away! So, a little bit out of date but never mind :) Since we got back things have been a flurry of unpacking, downloading photos, catching up, and preparing for Christmas....and here we are already at Christmas Eve! Wherever you may be...cosy & snuggled with a view of winter outside your window, or enjoying the late sunsets and warmth of the sun like we are...I wish you the merriest of Christmases...and look forward to being back online in early 2014 :)
I discovered a sweet little red brick church perched on the crest of a hill...known as The Old Church On The Hill, by way of their Spring Fair. It was a storybook-esque afternoon...including fairy floss and toffee apples, pop-up vintage shops, handmade crafty stalls, and a selection of homemade jams and relishes to browse. With a veggie garden out the back (that included a good old fashioned Aussie sausage sizzle)...a picket fence...bunting fluttering in the afternoon breeze...and cupcakes by this lovely lady...let's just say it was impossible to resist :)
Luke competed in an athletic event called Stampede just outside of Melbourne...so we celebrated with a dinner at Papa Goose afterwards. It was the perfect place for him to celebrate not having to deprive himself of all treats in the name of fitness...and there was a 1kg steak on the menu! I asked our waiter what the deal was...he said it was a meal designed for 2-3, with extras such as yorkshire puddings and the like on the side...but some bodybuilder types apparently rock up to slam down the entire steak themselves. Hmmmm...quite a feat if you're into that kind of thing?! Dinner was so good...they classify themselves as `Modern British Fare'...discovered via Twitter...totally recommend going if you're within traveling distance. We saw Prisoners with Hugh Jackman at Kino Cinemas afterwards. Normally I love those tiny little movie theatres...but this movie was intense. We couldn't stop talking about it on the way home...I spent a lot of the movie watching Luke watch the movie...watching the whole cinema tense up and gasp out loud...it was crazy good/freaky.
I did an "Angie Baxter Love Your Camera" workshop at the Abbotsford Convent in Melbourne! I have been wanting to sign up for one of these for so long but kept putting it off...I'm not sure why....but it has been one of the best things I've done this year.
I did photography in high school before digital cameras were everywhere. We learned on film cameras...I promptly forgot most of it as soon as I got a digital camera with an auto setting. Three digital cameras later and I have a "proper" manual SLR which is also fully automatic. Guess what I did? Kept falling back on the preset scene settings....and there's nothing wrong with that if that's how you love to use your camera...but I just wanted to play more. Even though I had general grasps on the concepts of ISO/Aperture/Shutter Speed...I hadn't really ventured into Manual Mode where all of these things are balanced by you to create the shot you're picturing in your head. Honestly, it scared me a bit. I read plenty on paper...bought e-courses...but it just didn't sink in. I really just wanted to know what she sets first, second and third on her camera in any given situation...and then what she changes to get different types of shots. What settings does she never change and why? How to pick the best light and make it work for your photos rather than relying on editing to get them to where you want them to be (although editing always plays a part...I can't separate from Photoshop...I love it too much!)
A day with Angie and a small class of others in a beautiful setting and I can now say I get it...I have my process down, and with practise it will hopefully become second nature. She is an amazing portrait photographer whose style I have admired from afar for awhile...but she's also just a lovely warm person who explains & demonstrates things simply...no matter what brand of camera you use or what level you're at. It's 100% doable :)
We said goodbye to Melbourne for awhile...and celebrated our ten year anniversary :)
What have you been up to lately?
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