White Balance and ISO

With all the photos I have taken in my life, I have never learned how to use the settings in my camera. There are many things that I know help take a better photo. The digital photography course I am taking this spring is going to be extremely helpful for me. The first class we were taught about using white balance and ISO. Below are some sample photos I took of beginning to understand how to use the different settings and features of my phone.

This photo was taken in my living room with tungsten lighting.
The white balance was taken off of auto, and set to CHECK SETTING.
This photo is much warmer than the actual living room setting. It makes the shot seem very inviting.

This photo was taken in my living room with tungsten lighting.
The white balance was taken off of auto, and set to CHECK SETTING.
This photo is much cooler than the actual living room setting. It makes the shot feel almost snobby.

This photo was taken in my living room with the overhead light on with the ISO set toof 50.
With the ISO set so low, the amount of light that was allowed in was very little, making the shot very dark.

This photo was taken in my living room with the overhead light on with the ISO set to 400.
With the ISO set so high, the photo comes out a tad bright, but a much nicer photograph than with the ISO set low.

White balance can change the whole feel of the shot, it can make it warmer or cooler, it can add life and take it away. Changing up the white balance can be helpful in taking the shot exactly how it is wanted to be taken. The ISO allows pictures to be taken in darker lighting without the use of a flash. A flash can make or break a photo and sometimes it is just to harsh.

I have a feeling I am going to enjoy this class a lot. Especially since we will be doing journal entry assignments that the instructor wants us to post online in a blog format. Not only will this be great for displaying assignments, but also in keeping me using my blog!

Climbing

I have recently gotten back into climbing and have found that between my weight loss, and the previous experiences, I am able to do quite a bit I didn't think I would be able to do before!
When working on bouldering, there are different routes to complete, each marked with its difficulty. When I used to climb, I was never able to complete a single V0, which other than a VFun, is the easiest level in bouldering. I have been very proud of myself for completing not only a V0, but also a V1, and working on a V2. While I am not always able to complete every one I attempt, each day I climb I am able to get just a little bit further, and complete a new move.
Climbing is my winter choice for keeping my weight down until the weather warms up and the roads dry up and I can start biking again.

Taco Mac and Cheese

Homemade macaroni and cheese is one of my favorite comfort foods, but I am always looking for ways to make it a bit different. I have come up with several so far and each is just as comforting, just as tasty, and just as easy to make.

Mac and Cheese


1lb Macaroni (or pasta shape of choice)
Salt
Pepper
2TBS Butter
1 Clove Garlic - minced
2TBS Flour
2 Cups Milk
3 Cups Shredded Cheese

Boil water and salt, add pasta and cook till done, drain and set aside.

Melt butter in bottom of saucepan,add garlic and saute, then add flour and whisking till smooth, 1-2 minutes.
Whisk in milk and salt and pepper.
Slowly add cheese, whisking occasionally. Do not let mixture burn.

Toss with pasta and serve.

Variations
~ Add to the mixture, one box of defrosted frozen chopped broccoli, and 1-2 cups diced ham
~ Add to the cheese mixture, one box of frozen squash, 1-2 cups diced chicken
~ Add browned, ground, taco seasoned beef (add a can of diced tomato's to the beef and taco seasoning and simmer till reduced before adding to the mac and cheese)

Mac and cheese also happens to be one of Jeremy's favorites, so coming up with new ways to make it keeps it from getting to be an old meal.

Urging of Friends

With the urging of friends, I am again going to attempt at keeping this blog updated. I am hoping that with the help of my digital photography class, which is going to be requiring me to keep a journal/blog of my photography assignment, will help me keep this going. Along with photographs, hopefully there will be some great dishes as well. Not all will be my own personal recipe, but dishes I have made from recipes found online or in cookbooks.
There have been many changes in my life as well. I am living in Burlington and have been for several months now. I am in a cute, small, two room studio on Pearl Street, 2 blocks from Church Street. Living with me is my boyfriend, Jeremy, whom I have been with for the last five months. He makes me happy and enjoys life as much as I do. I am no longer working at Capitol Grounds in Montpelier, my commute is about 15 minutes as opposed to the 60 minutes it was before; I am working at Hannaford in the deli department. I am taking classes again, working towards my
bachelors so that I can move forward with life.