Good afternoon!
I made a game time decision last night not to workout. I just was not feeling it and I felt pretty worn out from my work day. Sometimes it is hard to tell the difference between feeling lazy and feeling burned out or tired so I decided to do the ‘10 minute rule’. For the 10 minute rule I say that all I have to do is 10 minutes, if I want to stop I can.
I decided to do some Booty Camp while I watched 24. My body felt so weak and I immediately knew that I was not going to have a good workout and I needed rest. I did about 8 minutes of abs and called it quits! That was that. ;)
And because listening to the body is always a good thing, I had a killer workout this morning.
I don’t know why I hum and haw over skipping a workout because the next day I always end up having such a great workout and I totally forget about it. I felt rested and full of energy this morning when I got up.
Before my workout I had a delicious juice:
1 beet, handful spinach, lemon, lime, 2 carrots, 1/2 cuke. For lunch, I used the leftover pulp in my Amy’s split pea soup and it wasn’t the best decision I have ever made. Much too lemony! Oh well.
The Workout:
Today I decided to do another strength session before my run. I really enjoyed doing this last week and I think it makes for a more challenging run.
Strength: Booty Camp Fitness DVD- Intermediate level (43 mins) Total body workout.
Run: An easy 3 mile outdoor run. I stopped to smell the roses snow melting. It was not very warm out yet since it was just 7am, but it still was nice to be out and I was warm after 10 minutes. Duration of run = 29 mins.
I came home and stretched. My body was begging for FOOD, food, food!
Energize Me Creamy Fruit Dip
This was inspired by Gena’s Banana Soft Serve.
Ingredients:
- 2 frozen bananas (if serving immediately, if not, use room temp)
- 3-4 tablespoons of milk (I used almond milk)
- 1 heaping tablespoon nut butter (I used cashew butter)
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
Directions: Throw ingredients into a food processor (or blender?) and process until smooth. I had to stop several times and stir. Makes about 3/4 of a cup.
Notes: I put leftover dip in the fridge and checked it a few hours later. The dip got really thick thanks to the chia seeds and it was very pudding like and thick. I almost liked it better after a few hours in the fridge! Also note that the dip changed colour a bit in the fridge (slightly brownish grey). I assume this is from the bananas and chia seeds. You might be able to add a tiny bit of lemon juice to prevent this from occurring. Let me know if you try it!
Wherever I end up when I die, I hope this is served 3 times a day. :mrgreen:
The cashew butter made it down right decadent, but still very light.
I had my dip with an apple. It was out of this world!
This would be a fabulous dip to make for a party too!! It took just 3 minutes to make.
Next time I am going to experiment by making it with cocoa and/or carob powder for a chocolate fruit dip. Mmmmmm.
It was such a great post-workout snack! The chia seeds add antioxidants, protein, fibre, healthy fats, etc. and the cashew butter made it luxurious without being over-powering.
The Photography Process and Blogging:
Last week, I was asked how many photos I usually take for each post. I had to giggle because I take A LOT. For example, in today’s post I took about 40-45 photos (juice + dip shots) but only 5-6 shots made the cut!
I currently use Eric’s Canon 30D SLR in addition to a 50 mm lens and an external flash. I also use my Canon Powershot 800IS point and shoot when I go to restaurants or places I don’t want to lug the SLR.
Here are some of the thumbnails from today’s shots (you can click to enlarge):
I take the shots from different angles and using different settings. I play around with the external flash too. I LOVE photography. It is my favourite thing about composing each post! Eric and I are going to take an introductory photography class sometime this year.
As for editing my shots, I generally don’t do much, but sometimes I like to crop them to bring something into focus. For example, that last picture of the dip was cropped.
Here is the original vs. the cropped version:
Also, if the photo is too dark, I will adjust the exposure in Photoshop to brighten it up.
Here is the original vs. the one that I adjusted the exposure:
And that is as far as my editing skills go!
For all of you photography buffs or bloggers out there- tell me what your photography process is like. How many pictures do you take and what is your editing process like?
Updates:
- The huge blog directory I am working on will be available in April. I hope to finish it while on the plane…it looks like I will have over 300 blogs on it!
- Thank you for your FL shopping suggestions the other day. :)
- If you contacted me about a FL meet-up, I will be sending an email out to you in the next few days.
GIDDY UP!
“Unless you’re willing to have a go, fail miserably, and have another go, success won’t happen.” ~Phillip Adams
i try really hard not to take too many photographs – i do it the exact opposite of your technique! i look at my food and decide what angles will work the best, and then I photograph once and preview it on my camera to ensure the lighting and settings work. if it’s good, i usually photograph a whole meal in under 5 shots.
This is how it should be done! My wedding photographer told us to take LESS pictures because it saves time in the end. I just haven’t learned my camera yet though. I hope to be able to do this once I learn more about the settings.
I’m not really into photography, but wish I wish. I don’t have a DSLR, at least not yet. I still take maybe 20-25 photos for each meal, and only usualy 4-6.
That fruit dip looks and sounds delicious! I can’t wait to try that!
Hahaha I was thinking about posting about my crazy photography process but I thought it would scare people. I take so so so so many photos of food from various angles and even in different parts of my house. It’s such a long process but only because I love it and I want my food to look pretty.
When people witness just a smidge of how long I take, it scares/annoys them.
I’m gonna use my birthday money to finally get me an SLR.
So nice to know I’m not the only person who takes loads of photos only to add a few. I don’t have the luxury of an SLR so most of the time I just use my sony point and shoot, and play around with minor effects. Also for my clothing shots I often have to be my own photographer, so the old webcam gets a workout, and these normally need more editing ;-)
I need to implement the 10 minute rule more in my life :)
I take tons of pictures too if I have the time. I’m just learning to use my DSLR – its hard to get a good picture sometimes! I do know how to use Photoshop pretty well, so if I really have a lot of time I can airbrush pics and everything – I don’t do that for pics on my blog though – too time consuming!
I’m so excited to see the huge blog directory!
every since you first showed that banana soft serve I’ve been dying to try it- love the twist you put on it. I always think your body knows when it comes to working out- you know the right choices for you :)
Oh i take SO many pictures for each post, and sometimes only ONE makes it! I usually use 5-6 different settings, different angles, and different rotations of the plate. Then, i sit and play around with Adobe Lightroom (email me if you want more info, its a GODSEND) until the pic looks the way i want it to. I tend to like a bit of a warmer feel with hot dishes, and a cooler feel with cold… My DSLR has made the photography process an actual process instead of a click and drag thing…
The fruit dip sounds awesome! I love the specs of chia seeds :)
Wow, I had no idea you took so many pics lol. I usually take 2 or 3 pics of something and adjust the exposure but that’s it. Ok, and I like to play with the Saturation feature :)
I take maybe 3 pictures of each thing.
MMMM that dip looks good. I almost always find that if I just get started, I’ll end up finishing out the workout. I like the 10 minute rule b/c it sounds so doable!
That fruit dip looks awesome!
I probably take about 30 or so and then I do adjust the colors sometimes or the exposure but I don’t shoot with a flash. I love my dslr :D
I don’t take too many shots, really. Probably 2-4 per meal is enough for me. I also use a 30D SLR. I really need to learn more on how to fully utilize it though. I just don’t have time! Your picutres always turn out beautifully.
Oh, man! I need a new camera so bad. My lens is jammed! I guess I should just spend the $150 to get it fixed b/c I won’t find a decent camera for less than that.
I love the photography too! Unfortunately I am still using a point and shoot, hoping to upgrade soon! I take 20-40 shots for each post, trying different angles and settings, sometimes I love the first shot, sometimes te last, never know!
Uhhh…I take 1-4 pictures. I just don’t have time for much else. Plus, they all look the same to me. I’m not really into photography. Photoshop is too complicated for me. I downloaded Picasa, which is free. It’s so easy to edit my photos in there!
Since I am new to blogging, I don’t take more than a couple of each item and kind of do the as is theme. I am sure as it progresses so will I.
A bunch of Boston bloggers recently met with a food photographer to show us some neat tricks! I have a little white light box set up, because food looks better in white light! I also auto adjust my white balance =)
How do you adjust the white balance? I knwo I should be doing this… :)
Ive always wanted to build a light box!
I really need to hop on the chia seed band wagon. Everyone is using them and they look so good! It looks like a really thick dip, which is exactly what I like.
I’m an amateur photographer. Everytime I bust out my camera for a small span of time, I get atleast 100 pictures. I came home once with over 500 once. Out of every 100, guess how many I actually share with other people?
5-10. If everything turned out okay.
I like the after effect but the cropping, the testing to see if I can make a picture look better, the debating between two angles of the SAME thing.. It gets very, very tiring. I do miss it, though. I might have to bust out my camera again sometime.
I am a new reader of your blog and I have to say it’s one of the best!!! I had to get caught up over the weekend as I was in Little Rock, Arkansas doing the half marathon there. I saw the pic over the weekend of your with your dreadmill and wondered what kind you run on and how you like it. I am in the market for a new one pretty soon and am always looking for other opinions/reviews. Thanks and keep up the good work!!
I take about 10-20 per subject which can lead to 50+ per post if it’s a long-winded one ;-)
I usually upload using ‘shop elements 7 and go from there. If I’m uploading directly to my flickr, I’ll use their online editing-picnik–and I ADORE that editing site. I use a Canon Rebel Xsi and for food pics, my 50 f1/4 is always on. I mostly crop and adjust white balance since I do not have great light in my kitchen. Occasionally I will use my external flash and bounce, but I love using the super-fast lens to save time.
Love the looks of that dip!
I love photography, I have never taken a course aside from a basic one in high school but would love to learn! I take at least 5 pictures per picture I want to use for my blog… I want the best shot possible!
xo
K
Your pictures are always so beautiful! I can tell you put a lot of time into it. I usually take 2-3 shots of each thing and then pick the best one. I’m still learning to photo shop images!
I also wanted to say how grateful I am to see that you also struggled with working-out yesterday. I had the same dilemma and have been beating myself up over it. I read your blog almost every day, and I am so inspired by your healthy lifestyle. It’s refreshing to see that even someone as health conscious as you also has a difficult time staying 100% on top of things all the time! Thanks for being such an inspiration!
One of my friends is a freelance photog and she said that it’s one in every 50 photos that’s the perfect (or near perfect) shot. It makes me feel better about the ones I mess up! But that’s the advantage of digital, right? :) I don’t blog (yet), so don’t take a lot of food pics. I love photographing people and some scenics. My friend also reminded me that some of the best photos in the world have been taken with a point and shoot and so, while there’s definitely a technical aspect to it all, a lot of it comes down to composition, patience, and an eye for a unique photo.
I am drooling over your latest recipe. This will make up for my 18 years of hating bananas! :) My husband is still loving the chocolate pudding from 2 weeks ago. I’m so excited to have something that tastes decadent, but that’s made with natural ingredients and has health benefits! You should either be doing a cooking show or writing a book . .. seriously!
As always this looks fantastic! :)
A must try!! :)
I take about 20+ pictures per post… and then do the same as you (cropped and brighten)
I would also like to take some better pictures, I have a friend that is a photographer, I keep meaning to pester her to come over and give me a lesson!! :)
I usually take about 10-15 photos, and post the best 2 or 3. I get impatient! Unless it is something like cookies, in which case I take more time to compose. But when I am hungry and the steam is coming off the food, I click fast!
I don’t take that many photos, but I do edit them on iphoto before I post. Unless I post at work, then its just the crappy shots straight from the camera ;-)
it’s definitely hard to get just the right shot a lot of times. i use either a Nikon D200 or D300 with a 50mm lens most of the time, and i love the way the pictures turn out. I’m still working on my editing skills, but lightroom and photoshop are saviors when it comes to adjusting that not-quite-perfect shot! i would say i usually only take around 10-15 pictures per dish, and usually one of those turns out well enough to use!
I’m the same way as you with skipping a workout, or cutting one short…I tend to feel guilty about it, even though I know it’s what’s best for my body! I actually recently blogged about this topic, if you want to check it out!
http://www.healthforthewholeself.com/2010/02/skipping-a-workout/
I take a ton of photos as well! Gotta get the money shot. haha
I take close to 30 pics of each item. I LOVE editing the pics! It really makes a not so good picture look great!
YUMMO! That dip looks delicious.
I take between 10-15 and while I love photography I feel like I don’t know much about it and really want to learn more.
Thanks for sharing your photography process- I love hearing about “behind the scenes” stuff. I love photography too- blogging has definitely gotten me more interested in it as well! I’m saving up for super cool camera so I can play even more (I have a cheapo point & shoot haha). I take a TON every time because I love it so much, and I’m always sad I can’t post them all ;)
I do the same thing! Maybe not 75 for 5 pictures but I’ll definitely take up to 5 pictures per what I’m trying to shoot to play with lighting, backgrounds and angles. Unfortunately I can’t always do it, but it’s so fun! I liked the one of the fruit/veggies and your drink. Lots of fun colors.
That dip looks AWESOME! As you used frozen bananas, does the dip keep well? Or would it lose its consistency (like a banana soft serve?)
I agree that it would loose it consistency over time at a room temperature… I guess you must keep it in the freezer until it is time to serve!
I usually have around 50-100 photos per day to go through. I need to work on using the camera on its manual setting so I start to learn more. I have a canon rebel XTi and usually use the 50mm fixed f1.8 or a f2.8 28-75mm. I shoot as much as possible in daylight but for dinner obviously it’s a no-go. Can’t wait til I can get a flash! I shoot in RAW, usually on the Av setting and then import all the photos into lightroom. I make a few adjustments like temperature, exposure, fill light, sharpness, saturation, etc. I definitely use crop a lot! My daytime photos need much less work than the nighttime shots. And there you go ;)
Oh good! I’m glad I’m not the only one who takes a TON of pictures!! I figure it’s good practice. :)
Your new dip looks delish! I love cashew butter– it makes everything creamier and more decadent! YUM.
Yesterday I made myself a soft serve using : 1 frozen banana, 2-3 spoon of soy milk and a full tablespoon of raw organic cacao… AWESOME!! Tasted like chocolate ice cream only better since I know how better it is for me :) Next time I will try adding some almond essence. I am sure it would be divine. :)
I actually made a new year’s resolution to take fewer pictures for my posts. I used to take maybe 25 or so. But now I limit myself to 10. I just make sure that conditions are ideal — good lighting, and then spend most of my time really composing the shot so I won’t have to spend more time wading through all the images later.
It’s worked REALLY well for me. So has learning more about aperture, shutter speeds, and ISO. I’m shooting on all manual now, and I feel like a rock star. But — truth be told — I do sometimes enhance my shots (mostly just contrast) in Photoshop :)
Ay yay yay! That is a lot of pictures! I’ve started cutting down more and more, now that I know what kind of shot I’m after for the most part :-)
I usually only snap about 5-6 photos once the dish is complete because I want to eat my creation!!!!
I don’t blog but love photography. Mostly travel. I currently use the Canon A720 and the S5IS.
When I travel I take TONS AND TONS of photos!!!! Usually 6 or 7 (at least) of each shot. I rather take more and ensure I get the best photo I can get. Especially given the fact that it will be my only shot to get that photo.
As soon as I get a DSLR I am going to take an intro course as well. Maybe then I wont need to take as many shots!! :)
I only adjust colour and crop with editing software. Eventually maybe I will even take a digital darkroom course.
I’m so glad to hear you’re not perfect and skip exercise once in a while. Makes me feel better about myself. Also–holy yum with that dip!!
LOVE the 10 minute rule. So useful! what I also love is your creamy chia banana dip. Oh my goodness. This is for sure going on my list of things to make when I get home and have blender access again :)
Happy Tuesday!
I like photography but would never take that many of food. But to each their own and if you’re still learning your camera it makes sense.
I find my workout right after a rest day or right before the rest day are quite often my best.
That dip looks amazing!
ahhhh got my glo bar package today! so exciting :)
and your pix are inspiring.
a quick note — i’d love to be in your directory but i wanted to make sure you had my site’s newer name (you have me as ghost world on your blogroll but i changed to the shubox in jan 2010). what a GREAT idea to do something like that!
GAAHH!! I juuuuust made this dip and it is SOOOOO GOOODD!!I just want to eat it out of my food processor with a spoon :) How do you do it Angela?? You just totally MADE MY NIGHT. I will be posting the link on my blog tonight or tomorrow!!
Because I am so new to blogging and photography, I take a lot of pics but only because I don’t really know how to use the settings on my camera!
Thanks again SO MUCH!!!
I go with one or two shots of each food item and then hope one of them is good enough. I’m still learning how to use my new camera though.
Your photos are always amazing- love them!!
PS – How does one get on said Blog Directory??