A Traditional Hungarian Dinner

Christmas celebration #4 this year was at my Uncle Andrew and Aunt Julie's place. Julie made nokedli, and she let me photograph her in front of the blazing (only a minor exaggeration) stove while she cooked for our family and friends.

Nokedli is a hungarian dumpling dish that was, this evening, served with a beef sauce or pork sauerkraut. It begins as dough:

which is "grated" using a traditional hungarian cooking tool, over a large pot of boiling water until it cooks.

Served with a delicious cucumber salad, pickles, and bread, it was a delicious meal!

When asked her favourite food, my cousin Emma proudly answered, "nokedli!" That's the Hungarian in her coming out. Here we are enjoying the festivities:

I love Christmas--Canadian or Hungarian style.

Kelly Moore Bag: A Photographer's Dream

Something that a food blogger cannot live without is her camera. And something a camera cannot live without...is a Kelly Moore Camera Bag. I can't wait until I can get my paws on one!

Its a slow process, getting into the world of photography. It's so expensive that I have to save for this, and then save for that. Slowly but surely I have acquired a few lenses and (most recently) a new D90. Soon enough this little baby:

will house all of my equipment.

Now if I could only decide which colour I like best. Which do you like?

www.kellymoorebag.com

Meet Rosie

Welcome to the family!

I am so glad you're here.

It's about time!!

Wine and Cheese

It's Photo Time.

This morning I got the best belated birthday present: my new lens!

It arrived on Friday via UPS but the housing office at my school (which receives our packages) didn't call me, so I got a nice surprise this weekend when the online status of my lens read: Delivered.

Sa-weeeet! (Only took a month.)

Meet new pal, Mr. 35mm:

It is a Nikon 35mm f/1.8 (a fantastic prime lens.) It doesn't have any zoom on it, which I will have to get used to, but it does great produce awesome bokeah. (Photographer term, no big deal.)

Like this:

See how only part of the image is in focus, and there is blurriness everywhere else? Thats bokeah. It is a really visually appealing technique and it is used a lot when photographing weddings and...(drumroll) FOOD!

My specialty!

Look foreword to good quality photos (consistently) from now on:)

P.S. This isn't a plug, but if you are interested in getting into photography (or you already are), this is a great lens to look into!

First you will need a camera (of course), and I recommend the Nikon D40. It is the cheapest and simplest camera for those who want great pictures, but don't want all the bells and whistles. It is really a superb camera despite being the entry level Nikon digital SLR.

Now second to getting a great camera, you need some lenses. (Or in my case, just one lens for now, thank you.) And to get this look...

...you need to have a nice prime lens that has a f-stop of at least 2. (This one is f/1.8)

Am I confusing you yet?

Other lenses offered by Nikon and Canon (like the very popular 50mm f/1.4) are GREAT, but will not auto focus on my D40 camera. (Annoying. I know.) That is why this is such a great lens. It is like specially designed for the D40, 60, and I think 90. (Not sure about that one.)

Plus...a nice price tag.

So if you are looking into getting serious with your photography, I would recommend the Nikon D40, and one of these lenses in your collection.

Happy Early Birthday to Me!

UPDATE: It is with contentness that I announce that my G10 went back to the store of purchase. The decision to take it back (and to keep searching for a new lens) was largely caused by the G10s inability to take a proper picture of a moving subject on Thanksgiving weekend. Seriously, I don't think I am being too fussy to request that my camera take a clear picture of my adorable cousins whilist they play. No sir.

So a new lens it is!

My 20th birthday is coming up quick, and I don't know whether to be excited or dreading it. I mean, 20 practically means 30. And that means that my life is almost half over!

Dramatic enough for ya? I'd say so.


Enough of that. I'm almost 20 for goodness sakes. No more joking around. It's time to get serious, and to say what I came here today to say. And that is....

I got a new CAMERAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ahem.


It's an early birthday present, and I am kinda excited:) If you can't already tell.


I was shopping around for a new lens, as you may remember my old one broke, but then I stumbled across this little baby:

It's a Canon PowerShot G10, and it is like a digital SLR, without the lens replacing capibility, but with waaay less bulk. Like here:

And it's retro...sigh.


So I am preeeety excited about all of the possibilities. I get the best of all worlds with a light portable camera with excellent photo potential. (AND video, by the way.) Now I've just gotta learn how to shoot with it. :)

Anyway, I just wanted to let you know what's new in my world. The birthday festivities have started early this year! You can expect nice 14.7 megapixel resolution photos any day now.


Photo courtesy of: http://theonlinephotographer.typepad.com/the_online_photographer/
images/2008/10/15/canon_g10_photo_003.jpg and

Orchard Fruit

An apple a day keeps the doctor away, right?

Well here are two pictures of apples...will that do?


Alllrighty then!

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In case you were wondering, I'm currently shooting with a Sony HD video camcorder. Just until I get my new Nikon 50mm f/1.4 lens, then I'll be back in business!

But the video camera isn't half bad! Wouldn't you say?