Broccoli Salad

Posted on January 27, 2012 by Natalie

I love a good broccoli salad. And I should be harvesting broccoli from my garden right now, but, alas, I never got it planted. Luckily, the grocery store has a pretty good supply.

I’ve been hungry for broccoli salad, and I had the perfect excuse to make it this week, because broccoli was the veggie I had chosen for the “In Season” page of the magazine. I needed to photograph it and set the amounts for the ingredient list. I got the recipe from my sis-in-law Brandi. She cooks like we do–rarely following an exact recipe, so when we share a recipe, it’s usually just a list of ingredients. It works fine for us, but when I want to post a recipe here or use it in Texas LIVE, giving a list of ingredients instead of exact amounts probably wouldn’t be very popular.

Here is my slightly adapted version of the recipe:

Broccoli Salad

2 heads of broccoli, cut into bite-size pieces
1/3 red onion, finely diced
1/2 cup pineapple, finely diced
3/4 cup dry cranberries, diced
1/3 cup salted sunflower seeds
6 slices cooked bacon, diced
1 cup sharp cheddar, finely shredded
1/2 cup coleslaw dressing (I used the plain Lighthouse brand. If you can find the pineapple version that Brandi recommends, you can skip the diced pineapple.)
Zest from one large lemon

Combine all ingredients. Chill, serve, and enjoy!

Photography Notes:

Camera: Nikon D300
Lens: 24-70 mm f/2.8 G
Focal length: 70 mm
ISO: 500
Aperture: f/2.8
Shutter speed: 1/320

Notes: I shot these on our back porch. It was bright and sunny outside, so this is all indirect light–perfect for many situations. Our kitchen is on the north side of our house, so even on a sunny day in the winter, there isn’t much light for photographing food in there.

I knew I would need a vertical shot for the magazine, so that’s mostly how I composed my shots. I thought I would take a few horizontal shots (since they are better for online), but I didn’t like them at all. The last two were my favorites. You can see I tried several different angles. I had the food sitting on a large cutting board, and I ended up turning the cutting board to a long direction so you can’t see any of the table in the last few pics.

I waited to put most of the dressing on until after I was finished with the pictures.



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Beginning Photography: Your First DSLR

Posted on January 26, 2012 by Natalie

I have a few friends that just got their first DSLR, and I’ve promised to give some tips and mini-lessons when I have time.

I’m starting with a few basic tips, and I’ll follow up with a post that can help with composition. If you’re just beginning with a DSLR and feel overwhelmed, hopefully these will help you transition from a point-and-shoot to a DSLR. And don’t worry about shooting in manual mode yet. You have plenty of time to learn, and it’s easier if you start with some basics and get comfortable with your camera.

1. Have Fun

You got the bigger camera because you’re either in interested in photography or you just want better pictures to document your life. Or both. Either way, you’ve got to have fun with it, or it will just end up collecting dust or feeling like one more obligation. So, relax and capture what you love. Even if it’s something that others won’t “get,” take pictures of whatever inspires you. The pictures might not be exactly what you want at first, but you’ve got to start somewhere.

I (kind-of) wish I could find one particular photo I took the summer before we got married. Harper had just bought our first house, and we were re-doing and fixing it up. I knew nothing about gardening, but I loved nature and appreciated beautiful plants. We ended up buying two pink mandevilla vines for our front porch, but I didn’t really know what to do with them, so I just set them on the porch in their black plastic pots. Then I photographed them–black plastic pot glory and all. It inspired me. In fact, I even put the photo above the kitchen sink so I could look at it often. And I promise you, there was nothing artistically beautiful about the photo–it just made me happy because it was a pretty plant growing on our new front porch (even if it was still in its black plastic pot).  Mind you, I already had a degree in photojournalism, but I just hadn’t made that crossover that all my photography should be treated like “real” photography. I was still just taking snapshots when I was at home. But I was photographing what inspired me, so that was a good start.

2. Take Your Time and Take More Pictures

The only way to get better is to take LOTS of pictures. Sometimes your favorite picture will be one of those accidental shots where everything just came together. Sometimes the best ones will be the very last ones–the ones you almost didn’t take. But if you’re only taking a few photos, you might not get any that you love. For every photo I post on this blog, there are hundreds (literally) that you don’t see. Some of them are good, a lot of them are just okay, and many of them are nothing great. (I took about 10,000 photos in 2011. I was bound to get a few good ones!) The last post I did included 20 photos, but I took 120. That’s a lot of outtakes! I’m not paying for film and processing, so I might as well shoot as much as I want. I can always delete, but I can’t have that moment back to take more pictures.

1. Hold the Camera Properly

It’s important to learn the right way to hold your camera. If you’re used to shooting with a small point-and-shoot camera, it’s going to be an adjustment to get used to the weight and bulk of a DSLR. It might be awkward at first, but once you get used to it, the point-and-shoot will feel awkward. You’ll want to cup your left hand under the lens while your right hand is controlling the shutter. This support under your lens will help to steady the camera and give you sharper photos–especially in low light situations or when you’re trying to capture action.

2. Use Your Camera Strap

Securing your camera to your body is also very important. Your nice new camera is an investment, and you don’t want to ruin it. I remember feeling dorky at first putting the camera strap around my neck, but looking like a dork was less important than the thought of dropping my camera, so it just became a habit. Often I will wrap my arm through the strap several times instead of putting it around my neck.

3. Don’t Worry About Reviewing Each Image

Don’t waste time constantly looking at each shot in your LCD screen. If you are just learning, you probably have the camera set to fully AUTO mode, so there’s no reason to keep checking your images since you don’t (yet) know how to adjust settings that would change your exposure. If you spend a lot of time pausing to review shots between clicks, there’s no telling what you’re missing right in front of you.  Right now you should just be getting used to composing the shot in your viewfinder.

The exception to this tip would be if you are practicing on some type of still life photography (flowers, an interior scene, etc…) rather than shooting people/animals. You wouldn’t have to worry so much about missing something, and stopping to look at your last shot could help you make changes to how you’re composing the next shot.

4. Find Natural light

The best way to improve your images is to start seeing light the way the camera sees it. You want to use your on-camera flash as little as possible, because that will make your photos look like snapshots no matter how beautifully they are composed. (If you’re taking snapshots, don’t worry if they look like snapshots, but if you’re trying to get more artsy or candid images, forget about the flash.) Since you’re probably shooting in Auto mode, you’ll need to be outside or in a room with a lot of windows to have enough light. You might have noticed that most of the shots I share are taken outdoors. I still take some inside–mainly food or candid moments of play, but I prefer shooting outside with plenty of light.

This photo documented Tice’s first food. I knew it would be special, so I wanted “good” pics, which meant natural light. We took him outside on the porch instead of the kitchen, and it was worth it. I’ve done the same thing for food pics when the indoor light just wasn’t adequate. Below are a couple of examples.

We’ll talk more about light later since it is the most important thing in photography (in my opinion), but I had to mention it here.

5. Ask Questions

Don’t be afraid to ask questions! There are no dumb questions, and anything you’re having trouble with is probably something that more experienced photographers had trouble with when they were beginning. We all start at the same place! I know a lot about photography, but I definitely don’t know everything. There is ALWAYS room for improvement, and I’m still learning just like everyone else. So, if you have a question, don’t be afraid to ask me or someone else!

If you have questions or other tips for beginners, please leave a comment!

Next up, tips on improving composition.

Posted in Photography | 7 Comments

A Teachable Moment

Posted on January 22, 2012 by Natalie

My camera is usually nearby. You might think it would be a pain to always carry it around, but it’s mostly just a habit. I never know when there’s going to be something I want to capture, and often when I don’t have my camera, I miss one of those moments.

This week I tried a couple of times (unsuccessfully) to get a pretty picture of some bright sunflowers that Harper bought me the other day (for no reason. I know–I’m a lucky girl!). Even though my photos didn’t do the flowers justice, I caught some other moments that made the attempts worthwhile.

There’s nothing particularly beautiful about this–except it’s the first egg the fat ladies have laid in a long time. I was so excited about it that I texted a pic of it to Harper while he was at work. We have missed their eggs!

It was a nice sunny day, so I let the hens out of their enclosure so they could soak up some rays. Sunning and dirt baths (or dusting) are the way that chickens keep clean and bug-free.

If you’ve never seen chickens sunning, it can be a shocking sight. Sometimes they fall asleep while basking, and when they’re all spread out like that, they can easily be mistaken for dead. When we’ve had friends or someone doing work at the house witness the sun-bathing beauties, they’ll invariably ask, “What’s wrong with that chicken!”

 

I love this picture. I was just a spectator as Tice was playing. He’s leaning over with a toy on the seat of a metal bench, and my lens is peeking through a two-inch gap between the metal slats of the seat back. You’ll be able to see the bench in some of the photos below, and it looks like there wouldn’t be room for a fat lens to get much of a shot between the slats, but I tried it, and it worked. From any other (easier) angle, I wouldn’t have caught this look of concentration. I was also kind-of hidden behind the bench, so I was easy to ignore. You can see the dark blur (the slats) on each side of the photo framing his moment of play.

The next day, it was overcast, so I attempted the sunflower pics again. Still didn’t like my results, but I caught this little story between Tice and Queso…

She came out as soon as he went on to something else. And she sauntered over and rubbed on him before he even knew she was there! It happened so fast, I pretty much missed it with the camera. Then, the pursuit started all over again…

After the whole episode, I gently explained to Tice that that’s just how it is with girls. They purr and shake their tails in your face and run off when you chase them. Ignore them, and they come back and act interested–until you start following them again. It was quite a teachable moment. The first of many, I’m sure. I’ve got this whole motherhood thing down pat.

(P.S. When I was a little kid, I always thought all cats were girls and all dogs were boys. Also, all horses were girls, and all “cows” were boys. Hmmmmm… )

Here are a few of my other favorites from the week.

 

Posted in Family, Yard Birds | 1 Comment

Chicken Scratch

Posted on January 20, 2012 by Natalie

I wrote this for a 2008 issue of Texas LIVE Magazine, but I’ve never published it here…

Chicken Scratch

So, which came first, the chicken or the egg? For this wide-eyed fourth-grader, it was definitely a chicken. To be more exact, it was a red hen. I found her while visiting some friends that lived on a busy street in our small town. She scuttled away from the other kids, but she seemed to trust me. When I caught her, I just knew that God had placed that hen in my path for a reason—why else would a chicken be in the middle of town?

I artfully wove words of appeal to my mother, hoping she would allow me to keep the bird, but she had already practiced years of gently vetoing various, and often exotic, pet pleas. After making some calls and posing for a few photographs with my new companion, we headed for the country to give her to friends that had a perfect place for another chicken. The patient hen had been wrapped in my arms all afternoon, but as we rode in the van, she suddenly became resistive and even flapped her wings. I whispered reassurances about her new home to calm her fears. When we finally arrived, I tenderly adjusted her before crawling out of the van. Suddenly, the dread of saying goodbye turned into amazement as I realized why she had become so restless—an ivory egg rolled off my lap and settled on the seat next to me. She had left me a parting gift!  The journey home was bittersweet; through tear-filled eyes, I stared at the most perfect egg ever laid.

Over a decade later, I moved from Austin to Brenham and decided to embrace a simpler lifestyle. I had not thought about raising chickens since that fateful day in fourth grade, but as I fell in love with gardening, I decided that it would be quaint to have a few chickens in the yard. Besides being charming, they could help with the bugs, fertilize the flowers, and provide fresh eggs. For months, my fashion and home magazines were replaced with hatchery catalogs. An unimaginable variety of size, color, and temperament made it difficult to select just a few, but I finally chose my modest flock. Later that summer, my day-old chicks arrived.

Safely caged in a corner of our unfinished guestroom, I watched the chicks grow daily. Their fuzz was gradually replaced with feathers as they all developed their own unique personalities, and I learned the true meaning of “pecking order.”  Within a few months, it was time to move them outside to an old coop that a friend had given me. Checking on the birds before and after work became part of my daily routine. My husband even bought a cedar bench so I would have a comfortable place to observe them. I chronicled all their “firsts” like a proud mom—the first time my rooster crowed, the first egg, the first time they had free-reign in the yard.

Last week, my two-year-old niece came for a visit; she bypassed the toys and TV and marched straight to the backyard to see the chickens. From the other end of the yard, the hens saw us approaching. They raced to greet us, and only their fluffy feather petticoats slowed them down.  Katie clapped with glee as the chickens scratched at the food she had thrown to them. I noticed one of the hens had made a late entrance, and I knew where she had been. After some gentle leading, Katie discovered the ivory prize. With sparkling eyes, she examined the perfect egg. In that moment, I recognized why my backyard chickens were such a pleasure. Despite the busy pace and daily stress that easily squelches the imagination, there is still a child-like wonder that is awakened by those simple creatures that share my garden.

Posted in Yard Birds | 1 Comment

I Miss Fall

Posted on January 18, 2012 by Natalie

Photos taken in mid-December

I always get a little sad after the holidays–they go by so fast!

Anniversary. Thanksgiving. Christmas. Birthday.

Then, nothing but winter blah. The yard is naked and vulnerable without the cover of leaves. Everything looks dead, and it feels like we are all just waiting for spring.

It makes me miss fall. Especially this year–the color was more beautiful than ever. I never remember our pecan trees looking so golden. I suspect it had something to do with the drought.

I’m trying not to dwell on the winter deadness. At least we had such a beautiful fall. And  our winter has been mild compared to last year. The yard might be ugly now, but the weather is nice enough to want to be outside. The great outdoors are good for my soul and for curing these winter blues. It’s good for Tice’s soul, too. Kids need to be outside as much as possible. (I’m an expert, and that’s my professional opinion.)

Here are the last fall photos I took before the leaves fell…

These are cuttings from a Chinese Tallow. It’s a horribly invasive weed tree that just pops up in the yard and flowerbeds, but the fall color it displays makes it almost worth keeping it around. It seems like I always miss one or two of them each year, and my reward is autumn hues that are usually rare in our part of the country.

Even though I’ve been familiar with the weed for a while, I never knew what it was called until I took these pictures and wanted to include it in a post. I went to my good friend Google and typed “Texas weed tree looks like aspen.” And then I thanked Jesus for the interwebs, because I immediately found out that it is Chinese Tallow. I became an expert, just like that (I just snapped my fingers for emphasis. Not really, but I thought it.).

Oh, and it really does remind me of Aspen–not just because of the fall color, but the grayish-white trunk, the way it spreads by shallow (but strong) runners, and the way the spade-shaped leaves rustle in the wind.

If it wasn’t so invasive, I’d just let it grow. But, to give you an idea of its nasty nature (if you haven’t already battled it in your own yard), it spreads by berries and runners, but it also has an evil trick up its sleeve–its decomposing leaves (that were just so beautiful and golden-red) are toxic to other plants! This beast isn’t playin’ around.

Supposedly the tree doesn’t mature enough to make berries until its third year, so as long as I cut it down or dig it up before then, some of its invasive nature is kept at bay.

And these leaves shouldn’t poison any other plants as long as they drop on our copper bar top.

Only 63 days till spring. Not that I’m counting or anything…

 

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