Food, Photos and Travel

Honey-Ginger-Soy Turkey Sliders w/ Cucumber-Peach Relish

2010-08-08T13:52:00.004-05:00

Honey-Ginger-Soy Turkey Sliders

1lb Ground Turkey
1/2lb Ground Pork
1 egg
1.5c Panko Bread Crumbs

1/4c Soy Sauce
1/4c Hoisin Sauce
1/4c Honey
1tbs Ginger Garlic Paste
1tbs Chili Paste
1tsp Sesame Oil
Juice from 1/2 lime
salt and pepper to taste

small burger buns or dinner rolls

1. In a large bowl mix turkey, pork, egg and panko bread crumbs

2. Mix remaining ingredients in a second bowl, and blend into the turkey/pork mix until a good consistency is formed (not too wet/dry).

3. Form in to mini-burger patties

Cucumber-Peach Relish

1 large cucumber, peeled and cubed
3 large peaches, peeled and cubed
1 small white onion, finely diced
1tsp sesame oil
1/4c honey
1/4c sugar
1/4-1/2c unseasoned rice vinegar (to taste)
1tbs chili paste
1/4tsp sriracha sauce
juice from 1/2 lime
2tsp ginger garlic paste
1tbs corn starch
3-4tbs water
1-2tbs cilantro, finely chopped

1. In a blender lightly puree the cucumber and peaches.

2. In a sauce pan, heat sesame oil. Sautee diced onions until translucent.

3. Stir in remaining ingredients except for the corn starch.

4. Simmer on a low heat for 10-15 minutes

5. Mix corn starch and water separately, and whisk into the relish. Simmer on low for another 10-15 minutes.

6. Cool completely before cooling.

7. When cool, fold in freshly chopped cilantro.

Spicy Honey Mustard Sauce

1tbs Light Mayonnaise
3tbs Greek Yogurt
2tbs Dijon mustard
1tsp Chili Paste

Nun

2010-02-14T10:43:00.001-05:00

, originally uploaded by Rebecca-VT.

Angkor Thom

2010-02-06T19:56:00.001-05:00

DSC_4023, originally uploaded by Rebecca-VT.

Goddesses at Angkor Wat

2010-01-29T23:53:00.001-05:00

DSC_3971, originally uploaded by Rebecca-VT.

Bayon Temple

2010-01-29T23:52:00.001-05:00

DSC_4131, originally uploaded by Rebecca-VT.

2010-01-29T10:19:00.004-05:00

, originally uploaded by Rebecca-VT.

2010-01-29T10:19:00.001-05:00

, originally uploaded by Rebecca-VT.

Phnom Penh

2010-01-29T10:18:00.001-05:00

, originally uploaded by Rebecca-VT.

Caroline and the Snake

2010-01-28T10:50:00.001-05:00

, originally uploaded by Rebecca-VT.

Monks in Cambodia

2010-01-28T10:16:00.001-05:00

, originally uploaded by Rebecca-VT.

Caroline at Angkor Wat

2010-01-28T10:12:00.001-05:00

, originally uploaded by Rebecca-VT.

Bayon Temple

2010-01-28T10:11:00.001-05:00

, originally uploaded by Rebecca-VT.

Bayon Temple... My favorite place!

2010-01-28T10:10:00.001-05:00

, originally uploaded by Rebecca-VT.

Angkor Wat at Sunrise

2010-01-28T10:09:00.001-05:00

, originally uploaded by Rebecca-VT.

It was raining at sunrise. Terrible weather for photos, but a fun experience!

Ta Prohm

2010-01-28T10:07:00.002-05:00

, originally uploaded by Rebecca-VT.

Ta Prohm

2010-01-28T10:05:00.002-05:00

, originally uploaded by Rebecca-VT.

Something Ornate in Bangkok

2010-01-28T10:04:00.001-05:00

, originally uploaded by Rebecca-VT.

I didn't "see" much of Bangkok. It was so crowded, I was more focused on not losing anyone in my group.

More Monks in Thailand

2010-01-28T10:03:00.003-05:00

, originally uploaded by Rebecca-VT.

A Young Monk in Cambodia

2010-01-28T10:03:00.001-05:00

, originally uploaded by Rebecca-VT.

Offering New Robes to the Monks

2010-01-28T10:01:00.001-05:00

, originally uploaded by Rebecca-VT.

Hindu Temple. Kuantan, Malaysia

2010-01-28T10:00:00.001-05:00

, originally uploaded by Rebecca-VT.

Borobudur, Java

2010-01-28T09:58:00.001-05:00

, originally uploaded by Rebecca-VT.

Komodo Island

2010-01-28T09:49:00.001-05:00

, originally uploaded by Rebecca-VT.

Komodo Dragons

2010-01-28T09:47:00.001-05:00

, originally uploaded by Rebecca-VT.

Bali

2010-01-28T09:46:00.001-05:00

, originally uploaded by Rebecca-VT.

Balinese Barong Dance

2010-01-28T09:45:00.001-05:00

, originally uploaded by Rebecca-VT.

Singapore

2010-01-28T09:36:00.004-05:00

, originally uploaded by Rebecca-VT.

Little India, Singapore

Little India in Singapore was an oddly sanitized, yet authentic, version of New Delhi with lots of gold shops. I spent a morning getting lost on the narrow streets.

Other highlights in Singapore were the Asian Civilisations Museum and the Singapore Botanic Gardens.

.0007 Acre Farm

2009-06-08T16:44:00.002-05:00

After paying $5 for a single tomato at the farmers' market last summer, Jon and I were inspired to create our own vegetable garden. We have a small plot of land (1/3 acre), so I read up on Square Foot Gardening which is supposed to be a great way of harvesting a lot of vegetables in a really small space.

Since we are brand new to this, we are starting small. We built two 4x4' raised beds on our southeast lawn and filled them with a homemade blend of compost, peat moss and cow manure.

The bed on the left, if all goes according to plan, will grow Sugar Snap Peas, Cucumbers, Watermelons, Bush Beans, Lettuce, Radishes and Carrots. The bed on the right will have heirloom tomatoes, peppers, onions, leeks, swiss chard and bunching onions.

Spicy Rhubarb and Pork Stir Fry

2009-05-26T18:47:00.003-05:00

We've had an abundance of rhubarb in our weekly CSA shares. We've done the usual dipping it in sugar and eating it raw, plus I made a giant batch of strawberry-rhubarb crisp and some rhubarb raspberry muffins.

This week I wanted to try something savory, and since I also got more bok choy, I immediately thought of a stir-fry. I broke out my copy of The Flavor Bible and found that pork would be a suitable meat. Duck, mild fish and game meats were also on the list. I sliced up some boneless pork chops, but I suspect something like a tenderloin would work better.

Spicy Rhubarb and Pork Stir Fry

2c Rhubarb, peeled and cut into pieces
1/3c Sugar
1-2tsp chili oil
2tbs vegetable oil
1tbs Fresh grated ginger
1tbs chopped garlic
1lb pork, cut in thin strips
3/4c Bok choy, thinly sliced
3/4c Red or orange bell pepper, thinly sliced
3/4c Red onions, thinly sliced
1tbs Rice wine vinegar
1tbs Soy sauce
1/4tsp red pepper flakes
Salt & Black Pepper
1/4c Green onions (garnish)

1) In a small saucepan, heat the rhubarb and sugar until sugar is melted and rhubarb is just tender (4-5 minutes)

2) In a separate, large frying pan, heat chili and vegetable oils and add pork in a single layer. Fry for 4-5 minutes and flip over.

3) Add ginger and garlic, and fry for a minute or two to infuse the flavor into the oil.

4) Mix in vinegar, soy sauce, red pepper flakes and salt and pepper.

5) Add bok choy, peppers and onions. Reduce heat, cover and cook until vegetables are tender.

6) Stir in rhubarb.

7) Serve over rice!

Curry Cashew Potato Salad

2009-05-22T16:33:00.005-05:00

Curry Cashew Potato Salad

2c Potatoes, cut in 1/2" cubes
1/2c Greek yogurt
1tbs Mayonnaise
1/4c Green onions, chopped
2tbs Finely chopped shallots
2tbs Chopped cilantro
2tsp Turmeric
1tsp Paprika
2tsp Curry powder
1/4tsp Cayenne prpper
1/4c Chopped cashews
juice from one lime
Salt and pepper to taste
1tbs Cumin Seeds

1. Boil potatoes until tender- approximately 10 minutes. Drain and cool.

2. In a bowl, mix together yogurt, mayo, green onions, shallots, cilantro, turmeric, paprika, curry, cayenne lime juice, cashews, salt and pepper.

3. Heat a small, non-stick pan over a high heat. Add cumin seeds and toast for a minute or two until fragrance is released. Add to yogurt mix.

4. Gently fold potatoes into dressing until pieces are well coated. Prepare at least 1 hour before serving.

Great with Tandoori BBQ chicken:

Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp w/ Ginger & Cardamom

2009-05-20T16:24:00.006-05:00

My take on a classic recipe.

Topping

2/3c Rolled oats
2/3c Flour
2/3c Brown sugar
1/4tsp Cardamom
1/4tsp Ground ginger
1/2tsp Salt
1 Stick of butter, well chilled and cut into 1/2" pieces

Fruit

4c Rhubarb, cut into 1/2" pieces
2c Strawberries, cut into 1/2" pieces
3/4c Sugar
2tbs Flour
1/3c Lemon juice
1/4tsp Orange essential oil (optional)
1/4tsp Fresh grated ginger

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

2. In a medium sized mixing bowl mix together rhubarb, strawberries, sugar, flour, lemon juice, and orange oil. Spread in 9x9" casserole dish.

3. Wash out bowl, and add rolled oats.

4. In a food processor add brown sugar and flour. Slowly blend in butter until coarse and crumbly. Add to rolled oats and toss together until well mixed.

5. Cover fruit with topping, and bake for 45 minutes or until brown and bubbling.

Tearsheet: New England Travel Magazine

2009-05-19T23:13:00.003-05:00

In case you can't read that, the photo was used to promote the Coventry Farmers' Market, in Connecticut.

Today's CSA share

2009-05-19T19:53:00.003-05:00

Vintage Pineapple Lamp

2009-05-17T11:36:00.002-05:00

I found this at a local antique shop and I needed it. My husband hates it. I don't know how antique it really is, but it was made in India, so I think it belonged to a governor or general in Bombay during the British Raj. Ok, not really... it was probably made in India and sold at Montgomery Ward in the 70's or 80's. But I still think it's pretty awesome:

2 Spinach Recipes

2009-05-16T19:23:00.006-05:00

We've had an abundance of spinach in our recent CSA boxes.

Spinach Pesto Pasta w/ Pine Nuts

1.5c penne pasta
2 1/2c fresh spinach, thoroughly washed and chopped
Olive oil
Garlic
Toasted pine nuts
Parmesan cheese
Salt
Pepper

1. Boil pasta, drain and set aside. Rinse and dry pan.

2. In food processor add 2 cups of spinach, olive oil (to your liking), salt and pepper. Blend until well chopped.

3. Heat pan and add pesto. Cook for 3-4 minutes to take the rawness out of the garlic.

4. Stir pasta back in. Add remaining 1/2 cup of fresh spinach. Remove from heat and sprinkle with parmesan cheese.

Roasted Butternut Squash and Spinach Curry

Roasted Butternut Squash
1. Slice one small butternut squash in half lengthwise. Scoop out the center and place face up on a cookie sheet. Add some butter and sprinkle with curry powder. I even like to drizzle it with some maple syrup.

2. Roast in the oven for at least 1 hour, or until soft in the center. Allow to cool, and scoop out the contents.

making the curry

2tbs vegetable oil
1/2 finely chopped onions
2tbs ginger-garlic paste
1tbs tomato paste
1/2tbs curry powder
1/4tbs extra hot chilli powder (or cayenne pepper)
1/4tsp cinnamon
1-2c fresh spinach, washed and chopped
roasted butternut squash
heavy cream to taste (I used ~2-3tbs)
salt and pepper

1. In a large, deep skillet heat vegetable oil and add chopped onions. Cook until onions are well browned.

2. Stir in ginger-garlic paste, tomato paste and spices.

3. Add butternut squash and mix and mash all together, adding heavy cream a little bit at a time until all of the ingredients are well incorporated. Heat and stir for 2-3 minutes.

4. Stir in spinach and cook until wilted.

Spring!

2009-05-08T08:46:00.002-05:00

I know, I haven't been blogging much lately. Hopefully some new photos will make up for it.

Madras Curry

2009-03-04T17:36:00.005-05:00

I have a cabinet (and drawer) full of spices, so I decided to try and blend my own curry powder. Using THIS recipe from Recipezaar as a guideline, I mixed some up in less than a half an hour. The resulting chicken madras curry was fantastic!

2 tbsp coriander seeds
1.5 tbsp cumin seeds
.25 tbsp mustard seeds
.25 tbsp fennel seed
1 tbsp ground cinnamon
1 tbsp peppercorns
.25 tbsp ground nutmeg
.25 tbsp whole cloves
.5 tbsp ground cardamom
.5 tbsp turmeric
.5 tbsp ground ginger
.5 tbsp fenugreek seeds
.25 tbsp salt
.25 tbsp garlic
.5 tbsp ground paprika

Directions

1. In a dry skillet over very low heat, place the coriander, cumin, mustard, fenugreek and fennel seeds. Roast the seeds gently, shaking the pan occasionally, until they begin to pop. When about half the seeds have popped, add the cinnamon, peppercorns, nutmeg, cloves, cardamom, turmeric, ginger, salt, paprika and cayenne.

2. Continue to heat and stir gently until the mixture is quite hot but not burnt. Pour into a dry blender or food processor, or use a mortar and pestle. Grind into a fine powder. Pour into a clean, dry jar, seal, and let it cool before using.

Major Grey's Chutney

2009-02-26T13:38:00.006-05:00

Since the economy is conspiring against any future world travel plans I may have had, my only means of "getting away" these days is with food. We've been eating an abundance of spicy curries with this tropical mango curry, which is just what I need to survive the rest of this snowy winter.

Major Grey's Mango Chutney

• 4 cups prepared mango, about 5-6 medium
• 1 cup dark brown sugar
• 1 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 cup yellow onion, chopped coarsely
• 3/4 cup golden raisins
• 1/2 cup lime, seeded, chopped
• 1/2 cup gingerroot grated
• 1/2 cup peeled, seeded and chopped orange
• 1/2 cup molasses
• 1/4 cup peeled, seeded and chopped lemon
• 3 cloves garlic minced
• 1 tbsp. mustard seed
• 1 tsp dried red pepper flakes
• 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground cloves
• 1/4 tsp ground allspice
• 2 tbsp finely chopped fresh cilantro

Directions

1. Peel, pit and coarsely chop mangos. Measure 4 cups.
2. Fill boiling water canner with water. Place 6 clean half pint mason jars in canner over high heat.
3. Combine mangos, sugar, vinegar, onions, raisins, lime, gingerroot, orange, molasses, lemon, garlic, mustard seed, red pepper flakes, cinnamon, cloves and all spice in a large stainless steel or enamel saucepan, Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Boil gently, stirring occasionally, 30 minutes.
4. Place snap lids in boiling water; boil 5 minutes to soften sealing compound.
5. Add cilantro during the last 10 minutes of fruit-vegetable mixtures cooking time!
6. Ladle chutney into a hot jar to within 1/2" of top rim (head space). Remove air bubbles by sliding a rubber spatula between glass and food; readjust head space to 1/2". Wipe jar rim removing any stickiness. Center Snap Lid on jar; apply screw band just until fingertip tight. Place jar in canner. Repeat for remaining chutney!
7. Cover Canner; return to boil, process 10 minutes at altitudes up to 1,000 ft. Remove jars. Cool 24 hours, Check jar seals. Sealed lids curve downwards.
8. Store in a dark cool place!

recipe from http://www.grouprecipes.com/54548/major-grey-chutney-for-the-mar-a-lago-burger.html

Stuffed Dum Aloo

2009-02-20T12:21:00.003-05:00

One of my favorite dishes in India was Dum Aloo. Typically it was whole new potatoes cooked in a creamy curry sauce, but occasionally the potatoes would be stuffed with a mixture of nuts, raisins, paneer cheese, and other flavorful goodies.

Stuffed Dum Aloo

Potatoes

3 Russet Potatoes- peeled and washed (try to get evenly shaped, oval ones)
1/4c Golden Raisins
1/4c Chopped Cashews
1/2c Paneer Cheese Cubes (I believe ricotta is a decent substitute)
1-2tsp Coriander Powder
1-2tsp Cumin Powder
1tsp Garam Masala
Handful Chopped Cilantro
1tsp Chilli Powder
1-2tsp vegetable oil
Salt to taste

1. Cut each potato in half, and scoop out contents so they resemble little cups (save the potato that you scoop out). I cut a little on the bottom too, so they sit flat.

2. Deep fry the potato cups until they are light golden brown. Drain on paper towels and set aside for later.

3. Deep fry paneer cheese cubes and the pieces of potato that were scooped out, until light golden brown. Drain on paper towels.

4. In a food processor add fried potato pieces, paneer cheese, raisins, cashews, coriander, cumin, cilantro, chilli powder, oil, and salt. Grind to a coarse, chunky paste.

5. Stuff each potato cup with filling. Set aside.

Gravy

2-3tbs Butter Ghee (or vegetable oil)
3 Bay Leaves
4" Cinnamon Stick
1T Cumin Seeds
1.5c Finely Chopped Onions
2T Ginger-Garlic Paste
1/4c Ground Cashews
3/4c Tomato Puree
1T Turmeric
1-2T Curry Powder
1T Chilli Powder
2tsp Cumin Powder
2tsp Coriander Powder
1tsp dried Fenugreek Leaves (methi)
1-2c Water
Salt to taste
Heavy Cream to taste

1. Heat Ghee in deep wok or karahi

2. Heat bay Leaves, cumin Seeds, and cinnamon stick until seeds start to crackle and sputter

3. Add onions, sprinkle with salt, and continue to cook until onions start to brown. Make sure onions are well cooked.

4. Stir in ginger-garlic paste

5. Add tomatoes, cashews, turmeric, curry powder, chilli powder, cumin powder, coriander powder, and fenugreek leaves.

6. Continue to simmer over a med-low heat, and slowly add water.

7. Add stuffed potatoes (stuffing side up) and cover with sauce. Cover, and let simmer for approximately 10 minutes, stirring in heavy cream approximately half way through.

I know, I know...

2009-02-18T13:31:00.002-05:00

It's been a long time since I have blogged. There's not a whole lot to talk about in January. It's cold, and there's lots of snow outside. That pretty much sums it up.

I've been spending the past few months slowly going through my images from India. I thought I would post some of my favorites...

Happy Holidays

2008-12-26T09:51:00.002-05:00

I'm just going to pretend I didn't stop blogging three months ago, without so much as an update. I want to wish everyone out there a wonderful holiday season. I hope you had a wonderful 2008 and I hope you have an even better 2009.

India- pt. 2

2008-10-06T08:18:00.004-05:00

Dungarpur was a great place for bird watching. I was amazed at the number of different birds could be seen and heard there. I wish I had a book to identify all of the different types we saw. The palace itself had a rather large bird sanctuary featuring ostriches, peacocks and some other very exotic looking birds (which is no doubt part of the Maharajah's private collection.)

In the hills above the small city, is the very well preserved and unoccupied Juna Mahal (or Old Palace). This was probably one of my favorite palace or fort that we saw. The outside wasn't overly decorative or massive, but the inside was spectacular. Many of the rooms contained lots of intricate paintings and glass and mirror mosaic walls. From the top you could see the entire city and the lakes and hills in the distance. The best part, is we were the only people there.

From Dungarpur, we drove to Udaipur- the White City. Udaipur is a smallish city in India, with about 500,000 people, the highlight of which is the City Palace, built on the shores of Lake Pichola.

The City Palace is a massive property, with 2 hotels, the private residence of the Maharajah of Mewar (more about him in a moment), plus the shops, museums and preserved ares of the palace open to the public.

One evening in Udaipur, Jen and I took a boat to Jag Mandir, an island palace in the middle of the lake. There is a grand courtyard, huge carved elephants and a great restaurant (which I'm sure is original to the 17th century design). We were drinking tea in the courtyard waiting for our reservations, when a group of Indian business men wanted photos with us. Each one took turns standing with us, while the rest snapped away with their cell phones. They quickly lost attention, however, when the Maharajah showed up. Soon everyone was rushing to have their photo taken with the king.

(this was the best photo I could get without my paparazzi gear)

From Udaipur we traveled to Kumbhalgarh, which is this huge fort in the lush mountains of Southern Rajasthan. We stayed at Aodhi Lodge, the old hunting lodge of the Maharajah (still owned by the aforementioned king). The rooms were a little damp (everything was damp), but had lots of character. In addition to a pretty enormous fort, Kumbhalgarh also has a huge wildlife sanctuary. I would have loved more time to trek around the area for a couple of days!

Holy Cow

2008-10-01T08:23:00.004-05:00

I've been home for 5 days now, and I'm still finding it hard to put the experience in to words. I just fell in love with India immediately. From the moment we stepped off the plane we were just engulfed in the sights, and colors, and aromas. I want to blog about the whole trip, but it was long, so I'm going to have to do it over several posts. We did and saw so much, and I don't want to forget anything!

We arrived in Delhi late at night, and were met at the airport by our driver and taken to our hotel: The Hotel Palace Heights in Connaught Place. It was a clean and modern hotel with a fantastic restaurant. Delhi is an insane city. There is just so much of everything: people, cars, rickshaws, tuk-tuks, shops, noise, smog, and did I mention people? On our first full day we did some sightseeing around the city, seeing the Amber Fort, Chandni Chowk market in Old Delhi where we took a bicycle rickshaw, Humayan's Tomb, and the Gandhi memorial.

The next day we woke up early for a morning flight to Ahmedabhad where our driver was waiting for us (he had left the day before to get there for us). We drove several hours to the Udai Bilas Palace in Dungarpur. The palace was like a time warp. Everything was straight out of the 1930's and 40's. Furniture, old photographs, and even old hunting trophies (including a few tiger heads from the 1930's). The maharaja still lived in the private portion of the palace. My room was this big round room, with a huge bathroom (complete with claw foot tub) and a balcony overlooking the lake temple.

Our second evening in Dungarpur, was the conclusion of the Ganesha Chaturthi, an annual festival to the God Ganesha. Jen and I walked into town that evening, and a local family invited us to the roof of their home to watch the festival. As the sun went down, the fireworks and singing began, and these huge fruit bats were flying above us. It was an awesome welcome to India.

One of my favorite photos of the trip came from the market area in town. I love how her Saree matches the wall:

to be continued...

Studio Closing

2008-08-28T14:07:00.002-05:00

I'm leaving for India soon, so I just want to give a heads up that I will be closing the studio from Sept. 9th to Sometime within the first week of October (depending on how long it takes me to recover from the jet lag).

I am currently booking for October.

Vintage

2008-08-13T00:40:00.002-05:00

Nature's Perfect Food

2008-08-12T12:32:00.005-05:00

Buttermilk Cupcakes with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting

twenty-four 2 1/2-inch paper muffin cup liners

4 cups cake flour (not self-rising)
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, softened
2 cups sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
4 large eggs
2 cups well-shaken buttermilk

1) Preheat oven to 350°F. and line muffin cups with paper liners.

2) Into a bowl sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In a large bowl beat together butter and sugar until light and fluffy and beat in vanilla.

3) Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition, and with mixer on low speed beat in buttermilk until just combined. Add flour mixture in 3 batches, beating until just combined after each addition.

4) Divide batter among muffin cups (batter will fill cups) and bake 20 minutes, or until golden and a tester comes out clean. Cool cupcakes on racks 5 minutes and remove cupcakes from cups. Cupcakes keep in an airtight container at room temperature 2 days.

Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting

1 package of room temperature cream cheese
1.5 cup fresh whipped cream
1 cup confectioners sugar
1tsp vanilla extract
3tbs lemon juice (optional)

Fold together until well mixed, and pipe on to cupcakes.

Some recent photography

2008-08-10T19:18:00.002-05:00

I've been a pretty bad blogger lately. I've been quite busy in the studio this summer, finishing up several of my largest projects to date, and I've wasted quite a bit of time daydreaming of India (which is coming up soon!).

Here are some shots I did recently for HollyBeth's Natural Body Products. This was a fun series of shots to do because I got to take the set outside to the back yard. I love the romantic combination of the roses and lavender, white washed wood table and the sunny green grass.

Tattoo

2008-07-02T10:48:00.003-05:00

I got my third tattoo yesterday. It's an all white tattoo (no outline). It's still new and crusty looking, but I thought it made for an interesting photo subject.

It's the ancient chinese symbol for Photoshop:

(it's actually the symbol for Travel)

Good Morning!

2008-06-08T09:18:00.001-05:00

The conversation I woke up to this morning between my husband and 9 year old son:

Jon: You need to take a shower this morning.
Quentin: Why?
Jon: Because you stink.
Quentin: But it's Sunday!

Next Destination: India

2008-05-27T08:04:00.004-05:00

With some extra money and spare time coming up in September, I have been diligently researching where to go for my next trip abroad. Travel is a bit like crack. Once you get a taste of it, you can't imagining spending the rest of your life with out it. You can see it in the eyes of the young, spaced out backpackers who wander the streets because they can't afford to actually do anything once they get there. You can see it in the eyes of the older, "Abercrombie and Kent" travelers, with their brand spanking new cargo pants and sun hats. Although these groups are worlds apart, they share the common love of leaving everything you own at home for some far-flung destination, never to return home the same.

My first thought was to go back to South East Asia. I truly love Asia... the masses of people and motor bikes, the food, the scenery, and the history all combine in a slurry of exotic perfection. I initially set my sights to Thailand, since the cheapest plane tickets are to Bangkok, but where to go then?

Burma. A couple of years ago, I was searching through travel photos at PBase.com, a common passtime of mine, and I stumbled upon a photo of Bagan at sunset. If you've never seen or heard of Bagan, please do a search. You will be rewarded kindly. This particular photo showed an ethereal, misty landscape dotted with hundreds of conical-shaped golden temples. It's the type of image that will be burned in my memory forever.

Unfortunately, shortly after I started researching the moral and physical logistics of traveling to such a country, they were struck by the devastating force of Cyclone Nargis. My heart just breaks for the people of Myanmar.

The next destination I decided to research was Cambodia and Laos, which are also very accessible from Bangkok. These are two countries that I very much want to visit. Luang Prabang, in Northern Laos, gets rave reviews from fellow travelers and is still relatively undiscovered (although that is quickly changing). And of course, in Cambodia, there is the famous Angkor Wat. My plan was to go to Laos to do some trekking to some of the more remote hill tribes in the northern mountains, and then fly down to Siem Reap and spend some time at Angkor Wat and on the beaches of Kep, Cambodia. The problem with this plan was that September is the height of the rainy season over there, which normally wouldn't be a problem if it weren't for that trekking part. Hiking through the tropical jungles of Laos with all of my camera equipment, in the middle of the rainy season, is a little too adventurous... even for me. I will go there though. And soon.

I toyed briefly with the idea of taking a group photography tour to China. I was lured in by the promise of being able to hug a Panda Bear at the reasonable rate of $150 per minute. I just couldn't get past the idea of doing a group tour. Not. Fun.

So, all of this is a really long away of saying that I finally decided upon India for my next destination. Because it is the end of the monsoon season there, I chose the northern desert state of Rajasthan. I will be flying in to Delhi on September 11th, and spend the next 17 days in the cities and villages of the area, ending it with a visit to iconic Taj Mahal. As the dates near, I will post more information about my itinerary and the places to which I will be traveling.

One Blue Moon

2008-05-24T10:15:00.003-05:00

My photos are like children in that I try not to make favorites, but some of them are always a little more attractive then others and you just can't help but to like those ones best!

I just love this new set of photos that I've taken for One Blue Moon Charms. She told me she wanted a vintage (but not doily) look and this is what we came up with:

Volunteer Travel

2008-05-23T08:44:00.004-05:00

Want to take an exotic holiday, meet new people from all over the world, and make a difference at the same time? Check out GAP Adventure's group of volunteer travel tours. These trips are available to a host of different countries in South America, Africa and Southeast Asia. You can help put together wheelchairs in Cambodia, help a village in Africa start an organic farm, or even work with Sea Turtles in Costa Rica (I plan on doing this one with my family next year!). The trips seem to be well split up between volunteer time and holiday time, and would be a great way to help out a community and really see the side of a country that tourists rarely see. And the prices are very reasonable! I traveled with Gap to the Galapagos Islands in 2005, so I can personally vouch for them.

Sleepy Moon

2008-05-22T08:32:00.004-05:00

Recently my friend Winter from Sleepy Moon Soaps contacted me about doing some product photos for her. You might recognize her soap from the Coventry Farmers Market photos I did last summer. Winter and her husband just purchased a fabulous new home in eastern Connecticut, and she had the brilliant idea of incorporating her new farmhouse into her business image. The property, complete with extensive rock walls and stone bridges, flowering trees and even a waterfall, made the perfect backdrop for some on-location photography. I always say that the best photos come about when the client brings strong ideas to the table, and these photos are a perfect example of that.

Irony

2008-05-17T09:32:00.003-05:00

For some odd reason, if you do a search for "photographer's copyright statement" on Google, my site is #2 in the results. I get at least 2-3 hits to my site from people using those search terms. So on a whim one day, I ran that page through Copyscape and found several instances of people using my exact wording for their own COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMERS! Seriously. Am I going to need to create a copyright statement for my copyright statement?

New stuff

2008-05-03T19:56:00.005-05:00

These are some recent photos I did for Andrea Kane of Signature Scents by Kane. I really enjoyed this photo shoot because it gave me the opportunity to work with a black background, which isn't something I do very often. I love how the colors pop, and they work great on her website.

Long haired hippy

2008-04-18T19:44:00.005-05:00

Quentin is in serious need of a hair cut.

Costa Rica- Manuel Antonio

2008-04-13T19:01:00.004-05:00

Part 2

On our fourth day we traveled from Monteverde to Manuel Antonio, which is a small, touristy beach town on the central Pacific coast. The drive was long (about 5 hours), but we were rewarded with breathtaking views around every corner. Along the way, our driver stopped to show us some of the local vegetation, including cashew trees (who knew they grew from small, peppery tasting fruits?).

We also stopped to see some Crocodiles, basking in the hot sun:

In Manuel Antonio we stayed at a great little budget hotel called the Hotel Vela Bar. Our rooms ranged from $45-55 per night, and though they weren't anything spectacular they were clean, and thehttp://beta.blogger.com/img/gl.photo.gif
Add Image location was perfect (right in town within walking distance to the national park and the beach). My room, for $55 per night, had a small living room area, a separate bedroom and a private patio which I shared with the monkeys:

On our first full day in Manuel Antonio, we went Waterfall Repelling. This was, quite literally, one of the best days I've ever had. It started early in the morning, with a brief drive outside of city. Here we left our comfortable van for the back of a 4x4 pick-up truck. The drive to the waterfall was about 45 minutes into the jungle down a pretty bumpy dirt road. Along the way, our guide picked various plants and fruits that any perfumer would be envious of, including lemongrass, cloves, citronella, cinnamon, and ylang-ylang. It is utterly amazing the sheer number of botanicals to be found in that country.

When we arrived at the repelling "facility" we were fed a gorgeous breakfast of fresh fruits, coffee and pancakes and I was given a complimentary hair braiding. Then we donned our repelling gear and set out across a bridge straight out of Indiana Jones:

(I only took my son's small point and shoot for this excursion, so excuse the crappy photos)

At the other side, we spent a few minutes swimming before getting down to business. After a quick lesson on the "practice waterfall", THIS is what we discovered we would be repelling down (a 150ft waterfall):

It was a little scary, to say the least, but once I got going down, it was absolutely thrilling. It was the dry season, so the waterfall wasn't flowing as fast as I would have liked, but it was exciting nonetheless.

Here's Jen and Tina on their way down:

After repelling, we got to relax for a bit under another waterfall, before heading back:

That evening, I got to watch (and photograph) the sunset from Manuel Antonio beach:

The following day, Jen and I went on a full day white water rafting tour. The scenery was beautiful, however, after experiencing class 4-5 rapids in Bali, the class 2-3 rapids were a bit wimpy. Jen and I were a little bored, so we resorted to telling our rafting guide wild tales of my crocodile wrestling skills (I'm quite an accomplished crocodile wrestler, in case you didn't know).

On our final day in Costa Rica, it was time to move on to the city of Alajuela, so we could be a little closer to the airport. On our way, we stopped at the Old Bridge over the Colorado River, for bungee jumping (see the videos below). Of the three of us, I was the only one who ended up doing it (twice!). It was one of the most thrilling experiences of my life. My back is still angry with me. You've seen the video, but here is the bridge I jumped from:

I loved every minute of Costa Rica, and plan on going back there as soon as I have the chance. My husband and son would both love it. Whether you are a backpacker, on a honeymoon, with your family, or are looking to retire to somewhere warm and tropical, I would highly recommend it.

Costa Rica

2008-04-07T09:28:00.004-05:00

Part 1: Monteverde

It's been a week since I've returned home from Costa Rica, and I'm finally starting to get back into my normal routine. I always seem to go through a bit of a depression period when I return home from traveling, but I've learned how to manage it and work through it.

I don't even know where to begin in describing Costa Rica. As my friend Jenn said "I've been to some pretty cool places, but none have pulled on my heart as much as Costa Rica", and I couldn't agree with her more. It is a stunningly beautiful country, with mountains and beaches, friendly and happy people, great seafood, perfect weather, and lots of adventure. I can see why so many expats and retirees make it their home.
Our first three days were spent in the cloud forest of Monteverde. I've spent some time in a cloud forest in Ecuador, and the environment was very similar. We stayed at a fantastic little lodge called the Arco Iris. The rooms range in price from $25 for a small budget room to $140 for a cabin large enough to fit 4. Everything is made from gorgeous teak wood, and there are lovely little Costa Rican carvings dotting the grounds. The lodge is in an excellent location, in the town of Santa Elena, but it feels like it is away from it all. On our last evening there we were treated to this:

In Monteverde there are several companies offering "Canopy Tours", or what we Americans would call "zip lines". Each person wears a harness and zips from tree top to tree top through a series of cables. At the end of the course, there's a huge tarzan swing, where leap from a 15 meter high (at least) platform and swing out into the jungle. Our first day there, we went to Selvatura Park. Jen and I enjoyed it so much we went back a second day to 100% Aventura for another round.

Miss Jennifer on the zip line (look at how long and high it is!)

Me (photo taken by the aforementioned Miss Jennifer):

The views in Monteverde are nothing short of spectacular.

On our way to the beach:

Bungee Jumping in Costa Rica

2008-04-03T09:10:00.002-05:00

I DID IT!!

I even went back a second time:

A full trip report is coming soon!

Countdown

2008-03-20T13:56:00.002-05:00

In only 4 days I am off to Costa Rica and I couldn't be more excited! Although I have some work to do while I'm down there (stock and product photography), I am meeting a couple of friends for a week of warm weather and adventure. The first half of our week will be spent in Monteverde, a cloud forest reserve in the central-north region of the country. Here we plan on doing a zip line and canopy tour, and hopefully a little horseback riding. Then we're off to the beaches of Manuel Antonio Parque Nationale, where we will be white water rafting, waterfall repelling and, to top it all off, bungee jumping.

The studio will be closed from Mar. 24th- April 2nd while I'm away.

Check back soon for a full trip report!

Commercial Photos

2008-03-17T13:00:00.003-05:00

Some recently completed photos for Bella Lucce's new bath and body collections:

New Lenses!

2008-03-03T15:10:00.002-05:00

My camera bag has had a bit of an overhaul lately! First lens to go? My Tokina 12-24 f/4. Last year sometime, I dropped this lens and the autofocus stopped working. It was a great lens, and still looked almost perfect cosmetically, but I really didn't use it all that much, so I sold it.

Next, I was in a bit of a quandary trying to figure out what lenses to bring on an upcoming trip to Costa Rica. When I travel, I rarely bring anything longer then my 85mm lens. I tend to be more of a wide angle shooter. However, Costa Rica is known as a birder's paradise. My longest lens was a Nikon 80-200 f/2.8. While it is a fantastic lens, it's also very heavy (too heavy for me to carry around by myself all over some hot, tropical country). 200mm is also a little short for wildlife. So, I started looking into the newly released 70-300VR. I had previously owned the Nikon 70-300D, and it was a pretty horrible lens, so I didn't have high hopes for the VR version, however after doing some research the reviews were surprisingly favorable and I ordered a copy. The lens surprised me in every way. So much so that I realized I no longer had a need for the 80-200 so up for sale that went! Don't get me wrong, the f/4.5-5.6 aperture of the 70-300 in no way replace the f/2.8, but like I said, I rarely shoot above 85mm anyway, so there was no reason to have both of them and the size of the 70-300 makes it a much more enjoyable lens to use.

My next new lens is the 17-35 f/2.8. This is a sweet lens. I had a copy of it a couple years ago, but like an idiot I sold it and I have regretted it ever since. After selling the 12-24 I needed to replace it with something on the wide end, and the 17-35 was my first choice. I got a great deal on one from a seller on Nikonians, and I will be receiving it soon!

Memory Lane

2008-02-22T22:19:00.005-05:00

I was digging around in some old baby photos today, and discovered these two photos. As you can clearly see, my DNA dropped it's pants and pooped all over my husband's:

Me in 1977:

Look at that swing, btw. I bet my dad made it out of a couple of fishing poles and a tarp.

My son in 1999:

Forest

2008-02-15T11:34:00.003-05:00

A Poem by Quentin Picard

I was walking
through the forest.
The trees were going
wild slash swing swish.
It was like the
trees were having
a fight. Smack wack
crack snap.
Some branches
fell to the ground.
A twig almost
hit me in the
head. I fell when
I dodged it. It
sort of hurt a
little bit. I
got a scratch
and my hair got
stuck on a tree
I pulled and
pulled and finally I
got unstuck. My hair
ripped a little.

Quentin was 8 years old when he wrote this.

Winter in Vermont

2008-02-14T13:43:00.002-05:00

We have been bombarded with snow this year. Especially compared to last year when we had barely a flake before March and 70 degree days in January. I guess global warming is taking a year off.

Last week, after several days of snow, everything was covered in a blanket of fresh white snow. It takes a lot to get me outside to take photos in the winter, but this was too beautiful to pass up, so Jon, Quentin and I loaded up the car and took off for a drive. Unfortunately it started snowing while we were out, so most of photos look like they were taken through a white screen. I did get a few that I was happy with...

January

2008-02-12T09:40:00.000-05:00

I can't believe it's been over a month since I've last posted! Actually, yes, I can believe it.... January is a lazy month of recovery, so many things get neglected this time of year.

Soo... what have I been up to? I started my third class at the Art Institute. The classes are online, and last 5 weeks each so they go by quickly. We are required to participate 4 days a week, so they take up a lot of time. The class I'm taking this session is Electronic Design, and it covered a lot of material, from creating newsletters, newspaper ads, magazine ads, and even designing logos and a 4 page website.

On the business side of things, it's been a slow month, but it usually is in January since most of my clients are recovering from the holidays. It's starting to pick back up, and I expect to be back in full swing very soon.

One of my friends from the Soap Dish Forum got married at the end of December. As a gift to her, a whole bunch of people pitched in to buy her product photography for her business, Faerie Made Soaps. In total, they raised almost $800! I was amazed at the outpouring of friendship. My gift to her, was to donate the rest of the project, to give her a set of completely custom photos just for her! We aren't finished yet, but here's a sneak peek of what I've created for her:

Playing with Adobe Illustrator

2007-12-26T11:45:00.000-05:00

I have been using Adobe Photoshop for about 10 years, but I am brand new to using Illustrator since going back to school this year. Although there are some similarities between the two programs, they are quite different, and I have a long way to go. The designs below, as well as the ones I've posted here over the last couple of months, were all done using some pretty basic Illustrator functions.

Merry Christmas

2007-12-25T13:30:00.000-05:00

Fundamentals of Design- week 5

2007-12-09T17:55:00.000-05:00

What happens in Amsterdam....

2007-12-06T12:29:00.000-05:00

We arrived at Schipol airport early Thursday morning after a red-eye flight from Newark. From the airport, we took a shuttle bus to an area close to our apartment (look for the Connexxion vans outside). Our place was a lovely little canal view flat up three flights of treacherous stairs, located on the outskirts of the Red Light District. I pulled my chair up to the window for an afternoon of dozing and people watching.

My favorite thing to do in Amsterdam is to just wander around the city stopping along the way at shops, cafes or coffeeshops of interest. The tram is an easy way to get around when your feet get tired. The Van Gogh Museum and the Rijksmuseum are a must for anyone in the city. Close to Centraal Station the Sex Museum on the Damrak is a fascinatingly raunchy look at the history of sex and porn.

Buy Handmade!

2007-12-06T11:37:00.000-05:00

Beyond the world of Wal-marts and shopping malls, there is an amazing community of artists and designers creating original, handmade products. Supporting small artists and local businesses is a great way to spend your money.

If you've never shopped at Etsy, now is a great time. People are adding new items every day, and you can find almost anything you are looking for from vintage to handmade. You can even get cookies and fudge!

Travel Update

2007-12-04T18:27:00.000-05:00

Logging on from the Newark Airport....

I apologize if anyone has tried to e-mail me this past week and it has gone unanswered. I rarely use my laptop, and when I logged on in Amsterdam to check my e-mail it wanted to upload EVERY e-mail I have gotten since March (the last time I checked my e-mail on this computer). Well, as much as I enjoy e-mail communication, I didn't have time (or the inclination) to wait for 19,000 e-mails to be uploaded so I could check my more recent ones. I know there's a way to do it, without getting the huge backlog, but, well... I was in Amsterdam. Brain power wasn't on my side this weekend.

Anyway, I will be home soon and will get back to anyone who has been waiting.

Fundamentals of Design

2007-11-27T01:49:00.000-05:00

Baked

2007-11-24T00:28:00.000-05:00

I just finished up some photos of some of the biggest, cutest sugar cookies I have ever seen from Blue Flour.

This one has made it's way into my portfolio and can be seen in my commercial photo gallery

I liked this one but not so much from a commercial point of view:

Tiny Tales

2007-11-23T18:20:00.000-05:00

Photos for Tiny Tales

Tea?

2007-11-23T18:14:00.000-05:00

Promotional photo for Herb + Ginger tea company.

Closing

2007-11-21T17:15:00.000-05:00

It's been a long time since I've posted! It's been a VERY busy month.... lots of photos to take, AND I'm going back to school for the first time in 12 years. I promise I'll post some recent work soon.

Just a heads up to let everyone know that I will be closed from Nov. 27th-Dec. 6th since I will be out of the country enjoying the beautiful city of Amsterdam.

Fall Landscapes

2007-10-23T12:24:00.001-05:00

Purple Shoes

2007-10-15T22:14:00.000-05:00

There are few things in this world that inspire me to actually swoon, but swoon I did when I got new purple shoes. Not just purple, but deep, rich, gorgeous shade of plum. In suede. And, they are comfortable.

I do, however, think I went to far when I asked my husband to pet them.

Want to take better product photos?

2007-10-12T10:43:00.000-05:00

Or just learn more about me and my services?

On Monday, October 15th from 3:00-4:00pm, join me and Donna Maria Coles on the Indie Live conference call where I will be discussing my business and giving tips on how to take your own product photos.

Get a sneak peak of the interview here and learn out to participate: http://www.indiebusinessblog.com/indie_business/2007/09/eye-spy-with-my.html

Fall Portraits

2007-10-01T14:38:00.001-05:00

Here are some fall portraits of Kiki...

Fred wanted his portrait taken too...

I am currently booking for fall portraits! Call me at 1.866.670.9049 or e-mail me at info@rpicardphotography.com to book a session today!

Odd Surprise

2007-09-29T16:10:00.000-05:00

I was strolling through Barnes and Noble today, not looking for anything in particular, when I look down on a table and see this:

I thought "hmm... that flower looks familiar". It was a stock photo I took last summer.

With Royalty-free stock, I rarely know where my photos are going to end up. Because I do a lot of photography for the bath and beauty industry, I do come across them every so often. The chances of one of them making the cover of a book, however, is pretty slim. The chances of me finding it? Even slimmer...

Harvest Moon

2007-09-28T22:07:00.000-05:00

9/25/2007

Featured!

2007-09-19T13:07:00.001-05:00

Read all about me in the latest edition of the Indie Business Blog.

Brattleboro's Finest

2007-09-13T18:38:00.001-05:00

Driving home from dinner tonight, we saw this...

nice...

Bobe Bath Essentials

2007-09-12T08:41:00.000-05:00

Here are some recent photos I took for Bobe Bath Essentials, a bath and body company from Canada. I love how the colorful labels really stand out against the bright white background.

More Farmers' Market Photos

2007-09-08T18:35:00.000-05:00

This time they are from my own market... the Brattleboro Area Farmers' Market. I usually have a whole collection of photos from the market by this time in the season, but I've been kind of neglectful this year. Finally, I have a few worth showing...

First Day of School

2007-09-04T11:22:00.000-05:00

When I was pregnant with my son, people loved to tell me how quickly he would grow up. I remember one day, after hearing that for the 5 billionth time, I said to my husband "people make it sound like we're going to all of a sudden wake up one day and be 50 years old". We had a good laugh over that.

Little did we know.

Quentin started third grade today. I look at him every day with astonishment at how fast he has grown up. It's such a cliche, but it really does seem like just yesterday that he was a tiny baby drooling and burping his days away...

Peace!

Commercial Photography

2007-08-31T16:50:00.000-05:00

I recently finished a set of high-end commercial photos for Winks & Co. They specialize in fabulous whipped body butters. Both shots were set up using a small softbox to the left and behind the set as the primary light. This gives the orange a beautiful glowing effect. A large softbox to the front and the right provides a little extra fill. Her website will be incorporating black into the design, so with that in mind, I deliberately kept the shadows deep and dark, with lots of contrast.

Out of Commission

2007-08-24T21:03:00.000-05:00

I hate being sick. I have spent my entire week in bed with some kind of nasty virus. It brought me to tears a couple of times. In the end, I have kicked it's ass and am feeling much better, thank you very much.

A side-effect of above said virus is that I am a bit behind on work, so if you are waiting for photos or an e-mail, you'll hear from me soon.

On a lighter note, I recently booked tickets to Amsterdam for November. It was completely spontaneous, but just what I need. It's been 3 years since I have last visited my favorite European city and I can't wait to back. My partner in crime, Jen, and I have booked a funky little apartment smack dab in the middle of the Red Light District. You know, in case we feel like an after breakfast peep show, or something. 3 months seems so far away....

Suds in a Bucket

2007-08-19T21:12:00.000-05:00

These are some fun photos I just finished up for Suds In A Bucket, a bath and body company featuring a full line of luscious and colorful products!

Help for Peru

2007-08-17T17:58:00.001-05:00

As many of you probably realize by now, the central coast of Peru was recently hit by a magnitude-8 earthquake. Our hearts go out to the victims of such a devastating natural disaster.

If you would like to help, you can make donations through Planeterra, and GAP Adventures has generously offered to match any donations received. Even $5 or $10 can make a difference.

To donate, please visit Planeterra's website:

Front Page

2007-08-16T18:42:00.000-05:00

One of my prints made the front page of Etsy today. This is the third time I've had the honor. Thank you to Nectar Jewlery for choosing me :)

It's Market Time!

2007-08-13T10:55:00.000-05:00

I had a great day yesterday working at the Coventry Farmers' Market in Connecticut. This is my third time photographing their market, and I love being a part of it's growth and success. I have a soft spot for farmers markets and we have some great ones here in New England.

My previous visits to the market were in May and October, so yesterday welcomed me with a variety of new fruits and vegetables. I love how each season brings it's own colors and atmosphere.

Some of my favorite shots of the day:

Here's Miss Jaiden Hathaway enjoying a fresh pickle:

Visiting a farmers market is a very "hands on" experience:

Mmmmmm.... corn....

See the entire gallery of photos from the market HERE. If you are in the area, be sure to check out the market in person... it's located on Rte. 44 in Coventry Connecticut!

Visit their website for more info: http://www.coventryfarmersmarket.com/

Creating a photo border in Photoshop

2007-08-09T17:03:00.000-05:00

Create a white border with a drop shadow in Photoshop. Using these basic techniques, it can easily be customized. Click on each image to see a larger version.

1) Open your photo in Photoshop

2) Resize image for the web. Uncheck “Resample Image” and change the DPI to 72. Re-check “Resample Image” then change the pixel dimensions to 600px on the longest side. (600px is kind of arbitrary, but I find it’s a good size for posting to the web).

3) Layer > Duplicate Layer (This layer is called “Background copy”)

4) In Layer Palette select the “Background” layer.

5) Image > Canvas Size. With the “Relative” box checked, increase the height and width each by 25 pixels.

6) Select > All (still working in the “Background” layer, there will be a dancing ant line around your image), then choose the Rectangular Marquee tool.

7) Right click on image and select “Stroke”

8) Choose 3px for the width, Black for the color, and check “Center” or “Inside” for the location

9) Right click and choose “deselect”

10) Back to the Layers Palette, choose “Background copy” layer

11) Layer > Layer Style > Drop Shadow

12) In the Drop Shadow dialogue box, adjust the angle, opacity, distance, spread and size to suit your preferences

There you have it! A border with a drop shadow:

Playing catch-up

2007-08-08T13:35:00.000-05:00

I have to apologize to both of my blog readers for not updating in a while. It's been a busy month full of gallery shows (ok, just one), copyright infringement cases, a proposal for a porn shoot, and being harassed by crazy scrapbooking fanatics. That's not to mention the actual work I've had to do.

A couple of new photos:

The simple composition of this shot will work great for postcards or the front page of a website. The negative space is just begging for a logo or promotional text.

Here's a beautiful Picture Jasper and Turquoise necklace:

Clean and Modern

2007-07-05T23:07:00.000-05:00

Is how I would describe this new set of commercial images:

Weeds

2007-07-02T17:44:00.000-05:00

even more strawberries...

2007-06-24T19:39:00.001-05:00

White Flower

2007-06-23T20:15:00.000-05:00