Do you sometimes have a day when you set out to do something, and then it ends of as something completely different? That's how my day was today.Inspired by a recent photo I had seen of afternoon tea in a lavender garden I made a batch of Melting Moments from my Mum's recipe that I used to help her make when I was a child. It is a happy memory I have from my childhood, pressing the top of the biscuits with a fork to make the pattern.
While the biscuits were in the oven I set up the chairs and table in the garden.
It's nice to use pretty cups sometimes don't you think?
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And a comfy chair and a magazine to read.
Along the way I was caught up by my spray of hydrangeas I had picked from my front garden. I don't usually do soft, but today was different. I will let the hydrangeas tell the story. I've put them in a jug that belonged to my Mum.
A shallow depth of field using an Aperture like F/4 is perfect for a shot like this to blur out the background. If you're camera is set to Auto look for the flower symbol. Aperture priority is a great place to start when experimenting with manual settings. Look for Av on your camera dial. Just remember a small number like F/4 equals a shallow depth of field.
In this shot the light cloud cover acted as a wonderful natural diffuser. On Aperture Priority the camera sets the shutter speed so it might decide you need a longer shutter speed to get the shot in low light, so use a tripod, and a shutter release cable (if you have one) to steady the shot.
And a bit of treatment in post-processing.
And finally...I have my new computer, and a new Photoshop Elements 13 - so I have edited the photo with a texture from Kim Klassen - "Downton Abbey - Violet". I am enjoying Season 5 of Downton Abbey - are you?
I haven't done much texturising of images over the last 6 months or so - perhaps I will start playing around with it again. There is so much wonderful inspiration over at Kim Klassen - why don't you go over and have a look.
It is just a short post from me today, but I hope you have enjoyed it. Thank you so much for stopping by. I value your comments and look forward to hearing from you. I will try to visit your blogs in return. Have a wonderful week.
I am linking up to the link-ups below. Please click on the links to see fabulous contributions from around the world - virtual touring at its best!
Mosaic Monday
Our World Tuesday
Texture Tuesday with Kim Klassen
Wednesday Around the World at Communal Global
Agent Mystery Case
What's It Wednesday
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Hi Jill,
ReplyDeleteWhat pretty flowers and photography! You've set such a charming table, too. Do you also celebrate Mother's Day on the 15th of March in Australia, as they do in the UK? If so, hope you had a very Happy Mother's Day!
Poppy
Hi Poppy, no our Mother's Day is in May.
DeleteOh Jill as usual you have presented such a beautiful post - made me feel like I was there with you. Loved the hydrangea shots as mine are still brown skeletons in the garden with just the tiniest of leaves beginning to bud out. . .
ReplyDeleteSince I blog about tea regularly I did enjoy this post very much Jill. You created a welcoming tea table with pretty teacups and flowers that always make a table special. The hydrangeas are a lovely shade of pink.
ReplyDeleteThank you for linking to MM.
They are very beautiful shots and yes I enjoyed it. I especilly like them in colored.
ReplyDeleteJill those Melting Moments look yummy...I have never seen these and the tea looked lovely especially that hyfrangea.
ReplyDeleteAhhhh, fresh flowers! I can hardly wait! Just thinking of going out into the garden to pick fresh blooms right now is a treat. We still have four feet of snow on the ground. Thanks for the thoughts of summer. The hydrangeas are so beautiful. Those cookies look yummy too... Mmmmmm...
ReplyDeleteWonderful flowers and those biscuits look delicious.
ReplyDeleteHORTENSIEN!
ReplyDeleteherzlich Pippa
I visted your other blog before now never seen this one. Hydrangeas are something I can't grow in my garden, they just won't grow. Thanks for visiting my blog, pop back again sometime
ReplyDeleteThe hydrangea photos are beautiful. I prefer the ones in colour.
ReplyDeleteSo a shallow depth of field is similar to macro where the background is also blurred, or zooming in and focusing on one tiny thing and the background becomes blurred or out of focus? My camera is set on auto all the time because I don't know what difference the other settings make. The photos I take with other settings all look as if I took them on auto, maybe I just don't know what to look for as far as differences go.
ReplyDeleteYour tea setting is gorgeous, the hydrangeas are lovely.
Yes, a macro setting on your camera (a flower symbol) will give you a shallow depth of field. Otherwise go to Aperture Priority (Av) and experiment. You set the depth of field, and the camera sets the shutter speed. Have fun!
DeleteThose Hydrangeas are absolutely gorgeous. I always thought of them as being blue or violet in colour, so the hot pink was a nice surprise. It reminds me of my Grandmother who had a favourite Hydrangea plant in her garden. Your table setting of morning tea in the garden looks very inviting. Wish I could have joined you for a cup of tea and a melting moment. :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely post and magnificent photography!
ReplyDeleteWishing you a wonder filled week,
artmusedog and carol
Love hydrangeas, especially the colours you've captured. Great photos. Thanks for linking up for Worth Casing Wednesday.
ReplyDeleteShort post, long post....I enjoy all of your posts, Jill! When you mentioned the slight cloud cover being a natural light diffuser it also reminded me of something I learned from you a long time ago. I believe you had said the best light is in the earlier part of the mornings and the later part of the afternoons versus straight up noon. The first thing I ever learned from you was to always have natural light whenever possible! Because Phoenix got ill (a year ago this month) I still have not gotten back to my home food photography with all that expensive equipment I bought. I will get there! Your photos are gorgeous as always and I love getting the virtual photography lessons from you whenever possible! Have a great rest of your week :)
ReplyDeleteI am glad you are enjoying my little photography tips Mike and I hope you get back to some food photography soon, though I must say meals you have posted about on your recent trip looked delicious!
DeleteLovely flowers (and biscuits!) with the great editing, too.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely place to sit and have a biscuit, and yes, everyone should use a pretty cup once in a while. Your hydrangeas are beautiful! My favorite is the 'go softly' image, so soft and pretty. It was nice to 'meet' you today. :) Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteI love the name of those cookies! Melting moments! How sweet!
ReplyDeleteWhat beautiful flowers! Your photos are gorgeous. Thanks for stopping by my blog! :)
ReplyDeleteJust lovely! I believe you enjoyed your tea time! The cookies look very yummy, I'm getting hungry (and it's almost 11 p.m. here)...
ReplyDeleteBeautiful images, I love the scene with the cookies and tea cup, looks so perfect
ReplyDeleteMollyxxx
Lovely photos... I love hydrangea...
ReplyDeleteMy very favourite flower, I bought two one Christmas, they lasted two weeks, major fail. Your photography is not only beautiful but exquisite x
ReplyDeleteAmazing images :D
ReplyDeleteJill, these are so elegant and I enjoyed this post so much at this time especially. My mother adored Hydrangeas. I love the different showings of this beautiful flower that you have offered our eyes to enjoy. The little biscuit cookies, do look delicate and yummy. I would love the recipe. I spy a touch of lavender lying upon your table. Oh soon Spring shall arrive at my door step. Thank you Jill~
ReplyDeleteLove the vignette of the garden with tea and fresh cookies, so beautiful and inviting! Hydrangeas are one of my favorite flowers too and one day, I hope to have a garden full of them :) For now, I'll sit back and enjoy your pretty photos of them. My favorites are the black-and-white and and the soft pink blur.
ReplyDeletelovely hydrangea photos!
ReplyDeletebeautiful pictures.... and absolutely perfect setting so elegant and peaceful! and that ¨hortensia¨ ( in spanish) is absolutely beautiful and delicate. THanks fo much for the tutorial! I will try to follow your lead!
ReplyDeleteHi Jill, your cookies looks delicious and your tea table looks so so charming. And the hydrangeas are simply lovely. I love your soft shot. The textured ones looks so beautiful as well. There's something so calming, so soothing in your flower shots.
ReplyDeleteYour tea and flowers look so lovely. Perfect for my first day of Spring :-)
ReplyDeleteVery pretty. Thanks for the photography tips among your beautiful photos. Your tea set up looks a bit like a Downton Abby afternoon/ morning tea. I haven't been watching it by the way but I can't wait for it to come out on DVD, the only way I ever get to see the shows I want to watch.
ReplyDeleteThe "go softly" is such a work of art. I just adore it.
ReplyDeleteHydrangeas must be one of the best flowers to photograph - the colours and shapes are awesome as they are, but with your superb processing they're sensational!!
ReplyDelete