Look what 2011 treated me with.....

Before bidding farewell to 2011, I want to do a quick retrospect of the events gone by. Year 2011 has been an awesome year, both on blogging front and on personal front. Talking about blogging, after taking six months break from blogging I did my comeback in Feb…you people cheered and welcomed me back…thank you for your constant love and support without which I could have gone into long hibernation….Here is a look of what 2011 treated me with….my 'kitchen flavours’ captured through my lens…preserved in my blog with love……

Fabulous Feb:

I made my comeback with a tikki recipe…a heart warming recipe…a recipe which brings backs the good times shared between me and Valarmathi.

Marvelous March:

Apart from being busy with my little one…I took out the time to share out the recipes which I cook on day to day basis. Only one thing which I kept in my mind is I have to post something or other to make my blogging go on. As blogging has not only given me a chance to share my recipes but also gave me friends for life…a new identity and a new dimension to my life…..I met Sra and Deepa, bubbly and cheerful food bloggers.

Awesome April:

Summers been always special to me….not only because they bring holidays, but also because of Mangoes…one of the seasons best loved fruit…..This summer of 2011 has been awesome….by India winning cricket world cup….bringing the glory back after a wait of 28 long years….I can still feel the spine rush which I had that day…..it called for an celebration between me and Deepa. More on I got Washington Apples home delivered for tasting along with recipes demonstrated by Chef Ratnani. April being the month where I learnt to make a new recipe with Baby corn….credit goes to Prathibha.

Mighty May:

I call it marvellous because, May is the month when I started my series of guest post on Food Photography. A much talked and talked subject among food bloggers. Namitha Manoj is the first one to start the series by giving tips and technicalities behind food photography.

Juicy June:

Started with simple okra recipe….then I posted how to create a facebook page for your blog in simple steps a pictorial step-wise post….the month where I won cookbook @ Vazhayila and then a beautiful guest post by Kulsum on Food Photography.

Just July:

Started with ramblings on Bangalore….then a simple one pot meal….my first press mention….a little fame to me and my blog in Bangalore Times….then a food photography guest post by Nisha.

Adorable August:

I call it adorable because of two reasons….one it’s been a holy month…a month full of fasting and feasting….Time when I call upon the food bloggers round the globe to come and share there food, cultures and stories about Ramadan…..through an event called Joy From Fasting To Feasting…..and the second one is because my little angel turned one year. It’s double the celebration to me….A spectacular guest post by Nits on Food Photography.

Sweet September:

I say it sweet because….the month started by celebrating Eid…and then announced winners for the participants of Joy From Fasting To Feasting –IV…..glorious guest post by Harini on Food Photography.

Overdose October:

Two more months and we will step into yet another year….time just flew….simple recipes…which go with my blog tag line….easy to cook, good to eat….and then a stupendous guest post on food photography by Nags.

Nostalgic November:

Winter warming recipes….which are hot, spicy and gratifying…..perfect to tantalise your taste buds….much talked Bangalore Food Bloggers Meet….a chance to meet and greet talented faces behind blogs…..along with a adorable guest post on food photography by Deeba.

Delightful December:

December a month to celebrate…a month which gives a chance to sit back and think what you did the whole year…whether you stood on your resolution or not…a month which brings in holidays…fun….and a warm thought to bid farewell to the old year and welcome a new year….new thoughts, new beginnings, new resolutions…….a month where I promised to share a recipe with red sorrel leaves and just vanished…..promises are promises….I will come with the recipe soon....guest post by Sandhya on Food Photography.

It’s been an incredibly fabulous year…though I have not blogged much recipes….I am happy that I took time to carve my passion for food and food photography. A big thanks to Prathibha….who’s constant encouragement and evergreen chat messages cheered me up…..thanks to Deepa….who always take out time to drop by with wonderful goodies…and pampers me with hot and delectable goodies whenever I go to her place….and finally to Priti….who understands me when I runaway suddenly from chatting….You girls rock….Hopping to there place to check what girls has cooked and clicked in 2011......A heartfelt thank you to all the readers who follow my blog through various media's.....Wish you a fabulous year ahead.....Happy and prosperous 2012 to all of you.......

NOTE: You can find the respective post details by clicking on the month names or on the links mentioned in the posts.

What's Next?

The below picture goes to Susan of The Well Seasoned Cook, who is hosting B&W Wednesday - A Culinary Photo Event. Come click food in B&W and celebrate......

Red Sorrel Leaves popularly known as Gongura in Telugu and Ambada in Hindi.....is what my next post's is all about......so stay tuned.....

Guest Blogging - Food Photography #8

When I started this series on food photography....I was like no idea that there is lot's and lot's to be discussed on this subject....Food photography is every food blogger's passion and recently everyone are hooked to click good pictures.....Food photography is a topic of utmost discussion when you meet fellow food bloggers....starting from camera to lenses to plates, cutlery, backgrounds, props and much more...An online school can help teach photography techniques to share with others....Till now we have seen how improve our food photography even though we are not having an DSLR. As I am not a user of DSLR...I always made it a point to my guest post authors to make a post which can be understandable to point and Shoot Camera users....

Here is yet another fabulous post concentrating on tips and styling of food photography.... coming from very charming Sandhya....popularly known as Sandy....Sandhya's Kitchen is an virtual treat where she shares her passion for cooking and clicking.....When I asked Sandy to make a guest post on food photography she was busy with her packing and shopping as she was going on a vacation....but once she is back from vacation she promised me that she will make a post...Thank you so much for keeping the promise and bestowing your tips and tricks on Food Photography....Scroll down to see what Sandy has to say......

Hiya ….

I was quite overwhelmed when Lubna of Yummy Food offered me to do a guest post .. Then when I went on to read the second bit… reading “ Food Photography” .. I was dumbstruck… thinking can I write one ? I grabbed the opportunity readily but told Lubna , It would be after a few months… I m quite grateful to her for being patient with me….

Let me first say .. I m an absolute amateur , no specialist and just learning every day … Practice ,Practice and Practice is all I would say … Leave no stone unturned to click the best picture…Need not b food , it could be scenic or a portrait or your little one.

My pictures have been really horrid if ever you glance at my blog at my initial days.. And I used to b extremely pleased with them thinking that this is one of the best picture .. We get better with every post.. Don’t you ?? Am sure this would b the scenario with many of us… But as and when I started spending more time working on my pictures , I am learning to improve my deficit areas …

Our delicious tasting food needs to be transformed into an appealing professional picture .

Few thumb rules that I follow :

Light is everything all about. Be it P&S or DSLR .. pictures clicked in day light speaks a thousand words. Use natural Light.

No Flash please…..

Less is more … Uncluttered pictures grabs attention….

Click until you lose your back … I used to click anywhere between 100 –120 pictures earlier.. Now there is a slight improvement in the number.. Pre plan the table layout in mind ,decide on co-ordinates like background , napkins ,cutlery , plates & food and click an approx. of 25- 50 pics.

Don’t hesitate in post processing your pictures if it requires to.. Its no crime !!!

PROPS:

A good prop can make or break an image .. Prep plan your food and co-ordinates. Even though we plan to blur the background and concentrate on the subject , props matter a lot.

• Use what you have got .. Look around the house , we definitely have basic props in our kitchen. White plates , bowls of different colors ,Cutlery ,Few Napkins , table runners , wooden chopping boards, kitchen linen, table cloth ,muffin cases , baking tins & trays, ribbons from presents , present papers & more..

If you dissect the above picture with me , I have used

1. 2 glasses
2. a wooden board – this is my little ones puzzle board
3. coir mat is from my withered grocery bag
4. white background is a white bed sheet

• Source : ASK Friends, Neighbours & Family … if ever they plan to dump Cutlery / Kitchen stuff , to call u first… For get together's, make sure to pick loveliest of the napkins... and save some for your blog.. CHeeky isn’t it?
• Visit Recycle yard and grab wood pieces.. They throw a rustic effect .The picture below is an example from my timber background . Props used below is a White tea towel with blue stripes . blue napkin , white plates & forks.

• Experiment with different background linen , textures , colors
• For reflectors , use thermocols from packing or use your white throw /sheets and support it with large pillows .. ( not kidding at all) .. The cheapest option to buy I will suggest is buying foam boards.

BACKGROUNDS:

Backgrounds create quite a theatrical effect to your pictures…Sometimes we concentrate on clicking the main subject , that we forget the soo called visual noise . Pay attention on clearing the distractive backgrounds while getting ready for the picture shoot..

Two Type of backgrounds go in any picture .They are of the supportive kind and distractive backgrounds… Supportive backgrounds just gel with the main food. It enhances the presence of the main subject.

TIPS FOR A SUPPORTIVE BACKGROUND :

• Using the same food in the background ( See image 2 )
• Shallow Depth of Field. (shallow depth of field is when the foreground is in sharp focus and the background is blurry).

• Dark sheets under white plates or vice versa
• Raw food , Herbs

Something ABOUT DISTRACTIVE BACKGROUND :

• Contrast Backgrounds that grabs attention and distracts the main subject. Black sheet is quite distractive with respect to the main food.

• Wrong Backgrounds make the main subject ( i.e. the food to be showcased ) weak .
• Objects that do not co-ordinate with the main subject contribute to a distractive background. The little coloured cups in this picture below just don’t match with mango cake … and are grabbing attention.. .SO its a distractive background.

What are we waiting for ?? Lets dive in and reap the boundless gain after clicking the portfolio shot….

Enjoying the scrumptious meal that has been in the limelight !!!

Above all , Experiment & Feel free to shoot your pictures with self taught experiences ….

Reference:

E book by http://www.learnfoodphotography.com/ and Plate to Pixel

You can find Sandhya @

Blog : Sandhya's Kitchen

Facebook : http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sandhyas-Kitchen/141608849189963

foodgawker : http://foodgawker.com/post/archive/sandhya-hariharan/

TasteSpotting : http://www.tastespotting.com/profile/sandhyahariharan/submissions/1

FoodEpix : http://www.foodepix.com/author/sandhyaskitchen/

In case if you have missed the entries under this series, here are the links to the posts...

Guest Post- Food Photography #7 by Deeba of Passionate About Baking.

Guest Post - Food Photography #6 by Nags of Edible Garden.

Guest Blogging - Food Photography #5 by Sunshinemom aka Harini Prakash of Tongue Ticklers.

Guest Blogging - Food Photography #4 by Nithi Rajasekaran of The 4th Sense Cooking.

Guest Blogging - Food Photography #3 by Nisha of Look Who's Cooking Too.

Guest Blogging - Food Photography #2 by Kulsum of Journey Kitchen.

Guest Blogging - Food Photography #1 by Namitha of Collaborative Curry.