As a child, I was an avid fiction reader. I loved anything from Chronicles of Narnia to The Babysitters Club to Anne of Green Gables to Amelia Bedelia. …and…wait for it…Choose your own adventure!!!
I think I actually believed they were non-fiction though!
Wrapped in a blanket hiding away in one of my homemade forts, I would read my favourite series over and over until the pages were falling out and the glossy coating wrinkled away from the fading cover. I loved nothing more than getting lost in a fantasy world.
Nowadays, my passion has evolved from reading story books to informational books. I still occasionally enjoy reading a good fiction book (mostly if I’m on vacation though), but I love to read non-fiction books to learn more about my passions. My love for non-fiction books started when I fell in love with health and nutrition. I bought books like Dr. Oz’s YOU series, Kris Carr’s Crazy Sexy Cancer, Howard’s The Owners Manual for the Brain, and later, Pollan’s In Defense of Food. When cooking and baking became a passion in my life, my cookbook collection grew, and grew, and grew and I found myself inspired to follow a similar path.
And then there’s the photography.
Growing up, my family would always teasingly call me, ‘the little tourist’ because I took pictures of everything…every moment…everyone…nothing could escape my wrath! Mom in her robe first thing in the morning? Photo worthy. My sister Kristi taking one of my beloved belongings? Also photo worthy.
My love for photography started with a Polaroid camera and progressed to using my dad’s film camera and eventually receiving my own point & shoot digital camera from Eric as a birthday gift. I think Eric’s words were, “I think you need to switch to digital so we can stop wasting so much money on film.” He did have a point, but little did he know that I would soon require more computer storage to fit all my digital raw photos and a new lens to go with it. ;)
There was just something about capturing the beauty of real life in a photo that excited me to no end.
Even though I always loved photography, I never expected that it would blossom into something that I do everyday as part of my career. Now, rarely a day goes by that I am not practicing.
When I started the blog in 2008, I used my old, beaten up Point & Shoot camera (we now call it the “point & shit” because it doesn’t always turn ON). Eric bought a Canon DSLR in 2007 and I was so intimidated by it, I didn’t start using it for my blog photos for over 1.5 years. Over time, he was able to show me the difference a professional camera (and the right knowledge) could make in a photo.
After several months of shooting in “auto” mode with the DSLR, I decided that it was time to shoot in RAW format to give myself the freedom to post-process photos without compromising the quality. When Ashley was visiting, she showed me how she uses Adobe Lightroom to edit photos (something I had been using blindly for a couple months prior) and with practice, I fell in love with it a bit more each day. Now, I couldn’t imagine shooting in auto mode because shooting in raw is just so much more fun. Post-processing is also super quick once you get the hang of it. It typically takes me less than 30 seconds per photo.
I typically have a few books on the go at the same time (including several cookbooks), because as always, I can’t just pick one thing to focus on! I like to spend about a half hour at night reading, so I don’t get through books very quickly. ;)
Right now, you can find me reading through a ton of vegan cookbooks as well as my recently purchased Plate to Pixel by Helene Dujardin, otherwise known as Tartelette!
I fell in love with Plate to Pixel from the moment I opened the book. Not only does Helene’s passion for food photography jump off the page, but it’s brimming with full colour, stunning photography throughout the book. I’m only a quarter of the way through and I’ve already learned so much and brushed up on some skills that were a bit foggy. I highly recommend it to those of you who are interested in pursuing food photography at a deeper level.
What are you reading right now? What were your favourite books to read as a kid?
Nice to know, I was looking for a book to go with my love of cooking and my camera.
BTW Yeah for the French writer hihihi
Maude
Helene is amazing. Love, love, love that book. I read it all the time. I don’t read it in order, I go back and re-read chapters, I love it. Best and most comprehensive book on photography and food styling that I’ve ever read or seen and not to mention, Helene is such a super awesome person, too.
Photography and lightroom, yep. Could not imagine my life without it.
And I also shoot in RAW and on manual (as of the last few months). Prior to that I shot on aperture priority (Av mode) but feel I can get better images by manual shooting, in RAW, and then editing in LR. Sounds like a lot but it’s been an evolution over time like your journey sounds and I couldn’t imagine my life without my camera and photography these days!
Hi Angela,
I adore your photography…your food looks like I could reach into the screen and eat it.
Thank you for your post yesterday – I needed that…I wonder at times why I’m in my head so much – but I know that I’m not alone. :)
Right now Rob (my Fiance) is reading to me – we have a ritual about reading to eachother at night…oh – the book is “Primal Blueprint” – We tend not to be Fiction readers…my guilty pleasure is my Bon Appetit subscription, and various other mags that my friends and I share the cost for and circulate…
I’m reading Plate to Pixel right now and I LOVE it as well. I’m still confused a bit on RAW photos though..
I really would love to start learning more about photography (it might help if I would actually start a blog to post them on) I just get so intimidated by all of it! The technology, the time commitment, not to mention the courage it takes to open up about your life. Gosh I sound like a scaredy cat! Haha
As far as books go, lately I’ve been reading religious non fiction. I’ve been enjoying “Girl Perfect” recently. It’s written by a former runway model who opens up about all sorts of issues she faced and we as women face each day (like body image, perfectionism, negative thoughts etc) then she contrasts them with the truth God tells us. It is so transforming! But as a kid I looooved Junie B Jones, Saddle Club (pretty much anything with horses) anything Jan Brett wrote, The Giver, Let the Circle Be unbroken, any non fiction about dolphins I would scoopup and study like a fiend. There were so many! And of course I can’t remember them now haha
I love reading non-fiction. I went through a big biography phase with actors/actresses from the 1940s and 50s. I recently read a bunch on health and food. In Defense of Food is one of my favorites as well as The End of Overeating. Some crazy info in there!
I recently ordered a copy of Plate to Pixel as a belated birthday gift to myself. I can’t wait until it arrives! Until then, it’s cookbooks and fiction, with historical fiction being my favorite.
I must go in search of this book! Looks fab!
Angela, I’d really like to get a photography book for my passionate sister. However, she’s more interested in taking pictures of people. Do you have any suggestions of photography books that you think are just as good as plate to pixel?
I’m sorry I don’t (this is my first photography book I think!). I always find Amazon is so helpful because you can search by ratings and popularity :)
Yes to The Babysitter’s Club! This looks like a great read, I’m realizing how important my photos are to my blog. The lighting is always so dark, but I don’t want to use the flash. Great tip about Lightroom too! Thanks!
I’m dying to get Plate to Pixle. I LOVE her blog and can only imagine how wonderful her book is!
I loved reading Choose Your own adventure as a child. And SweetI also loved reading anything by R.L Stine, Christopher Pike, Diane Hoh, Anne Rice . . . . which truly developed my love of reading and writing urban fantasy stories.
whoops, meant to say Sweet Valley High with the twins Jessica and Elizabeth and the Unicorn purple club. . . .
I have to stop reading people’s awesome blogs; I keep buying all the books the recommend! ;)
Improving my photography skills is something I definitely want to focus on! The beauty of a picture (like yours!!!) is seriously breathtaking! As soon as school is out and before I head off to college, its definitely something I want to improve! Such a great hobby!
Haha I loved the Babysitters Club and Anne of Green Gables too! Also I was obsessed with anything written by Kit Pearson! Right now I’m reading the Women’s Health Big Book of Exercises. It’s been really helpful for learning different exercises to target certain muscles.
I’m reading an information book too: Arnold Schwarzenegger’s “Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding”. That man is so incredibly knowledgeable!!
Right now I am reading one of Jamie Oliver’s cookbooks that I borrowed from the library. I am an avid reader too, always have been, and I even read the same books as you! I loved ‘choose your own adventure’, I would always try every possible scenario. I also like reading about your passion for photography – I wish I enjoyed it as much as you! Unfortunately the photography part of my work is the part I procrastinate about the most. I wait until I have a huge pile of things, then I do it all at once. Maybe that’s why I dislike it so much…I should do a bit each day like you do.
ahh awesome!! I really want to read that book now! :D I’ve been looking for something like that. I aspire to be a decent photographer in every area, just for fun! Teheee
I read a lot of fiction as a kid…RL Stein, Babysitters Club, Judy Blume etc. Still love to read and I am devouring the Red Queen by Philipa Gregory (same author as The Other Boleyn Girl). I am also slightly obsessed with cookbooks. Just ordered 3 new ones on amazon tonight, including Alicia Silverstone’s Kind Diet book.
I would read whatever I could get my hands on as a kid…C.S. Lewis, Madeline L’Engle, absolutely anything by L.M. Montgomery. I knew I had a reading “problem,” though, when I started reading cereal boxes. Time to hit the library! ;-)
You are such a talented photographer, Angela. Will I have the honor of seeing you at Foodbuzz this weekend?
You always have such beautiful pictures on here! I wish I had the patience to put more of an effort into the photos I take!
This is the most perfectly timed post ever! Why?
1) I just bought an interchangeable lens camera. I am still using auto mode. I don’t fully understand RAW image format – but now I know to stick with it.
2) My brother recommended Adobe Lightroom. I didn’t believe it would be *that* much use / worth the money. Now I know it is!
3) Those photography books look amazing.
4) I always love being reminded of how much I enjoyed reading as a child, and still do. The reference to Anne of Green Gables brought a smile to my face :)
Thank you!
Thank you for introducing this book to me it looks great!
My favorite books are non-fiction books about health! I just finished Skinny Bitch and am now looking for a new read-any suggestions?
Plate to Pixel looks like a great book. I need a lot of help with my photography, I’m asking to take a class for a Christmas present. As far as book readings right now, I don’t have any. I am so busy lately that I just don’t have the time! :(
I am reading Secret of the Shadow by Debbie Ford. I recently listened to a lecture by Debbie Ford as part of my homework through Institute of Integrative Nutrition…I loved the lecture which prompted me to read one of her books…
I just finished The Help which was an amazing read!
Happy Friday!
I loved your post yesterday and love your post today. Love love love you! :D
And I can totally relate to all of it. I devoured books as a kid, especially fantasy. But I loved all the ones you mentioned and read the Choose Your Own Adventure books over and over until I’d gone through all the possible outcomes. Ha ha.
I still love fantasy, but I love nonfiction as well, and must recommend to you everything by Thich Nhat Hahn. I just feel like I’m in such an ‘in touch’ state every time I read him. Amazing.
I just went to the public library yesterday for the first time in years, and got me a library card! I loved just browsing and people watching. I checked out: 5 Ingredient Fix by Claire Robinson (I love reading cookbooks as well), In Defense of Food, and The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan.
I loved reading R.L. Stine’s “Fear Street” Series as a kid :)
I have gotten into Nora Roberts. I like reading fiction since it helps me escape from work when I’m travelling there and back! Love the bookends :) On a side note, have you worked with carob chips? I put those in your chocolate pudding I made the other day and it tasted pretty awesome…probably not as chocolaty as the original but worth a try!
I also loved Anne of Green Gables as a child, as well as Little Women, Nancy Drew and Trixie Belden. I liked books with strong female characters. I think they helped to raise me! I also am addicted to cookbooks. I read them like they are fiction. I just talked about the new Skinny Bitch cookbook on my own blog, in fact. It is way better than I expected! I hope to work on my photography as well…might check out that book you are reading!
I was never a big reader as a child, i can’t think of any one particular book series that I read. I think because i was outside all the time. Now that I live in an apartment, I don’t really have that same luxury…Right now I love the #1 Ladies Detective Agency series. They’re a refreshing read with characters that are easy to relate too…other than the fact that they live in Africa…lets face it, I don’t know what it’s like to live there. But I really love them. You’d swear they are written by a woman, but they’re not! Highly recommend then to people of all ages.
I have seen that movie!!!! I did not know there was a book series!! Thanks!
The book looks great – after being abroad for 6 months with only a little point and shoot digital, I have developed a desire to learn more about photography and get a better camera! It is the first ‘creative’ thing I have ever really been drawn to – though time and money are keeping me from exploring it at this moment…someday though…
I loved reading – Nancy Drew, Anne of Green Gables, Little House, …It is good to hear you mostly read non- fiction now. I love fiction but feel like I only have a little time before drifting off to sleep to read – and usually spend that reading a parenting, spirituality etc book . I miss getting lost in a book though (I just do not get ‘sucked in’ to non fiction in the same way) and have some friends who still spend lots of time reading fiction (I have NO IDEA how they fit it in!). It calms me somehow to hear your experience of embracing your non-fiction life while enjoying fiction on vacation… Thank you
I’m reading Plate to Pixel right now too!
My favorite books have always been celeb autobiographies, even of people I don’t necessarily like. I think it’s fascinating to read stories about how people got to where they are in life. I just finished Rob Lowe’s book which was really good and I’m anticipating John Taylor (Duran Duran) and Billy Idol’s books!
I just bought this book! It is so inspiring and informative. I’m reading it like it’s a novel – I just can’t wait to see what comes next!
Reading now: ‘The Happiness Project’ by Gretchen Rubin (I’m already quite a happy person… but it’s such a neat idea, and I love the positivity and even the pointing out of what you would think is common sense!) and ‘Rich Dad, Poor Dad’ by Robert Kiyosaki (as expected of a commerce undergrad…).
I’m exactly like you, though, that when I was a bit younger (ten years ago, haha not too long ago!) I would go through fantasy book and series at an insane pace. I always carried them in a little folder with me, though, because I *love* keeping my books in good condition, and I read them so often that that was the only way to protect them. :)
Your photography has clearly only gotten better and better over time. There is nowhere else to go, but up! I love the colour and brightness of your photos. They are all so gorgeous. Your enjoyment of your job (and hobby! Though I guess it’s not a hobby if it’s your job?) is so clearly conveyed through the images on the blog… Thanks for always sharing all of the eye candy. :D
I am obsessed with cookbooks!! When I was a kid I was all about nancy drew!! I still want her car!!
I’ve really started enjoying reading non-fiction books lately too.
Particularly cookbooks (I’m obsessed!), books on writing, books on nutrition… I haven’t read any on photography yet but I have actually seen Plate to Pixel before and I really want to read it!
Your photos are always beautiful, I love looking at everything you photograph :-)
I’m with you that there is something wonderful about capturing everyday moments of lives, special occasions, meaningful events!
I LOVE ANNE OF GREEN GABLES!!!!! :D
Next to eating healthy foods, I love to present them in a very irresistible manner. I have always been a fan of reading, aside from blogs like this, I get my inspiration from blogs as well.
I seriously love your blog. I have only been blogging a month, but even though I dont get as many comments ad I would like yet, I still do it because u love it. I love cooking. You are such an inspiration thanks girl!!
I love that book. I even discovered aperture mode (didnt even know it existed – was foreighn to me for a long time). So i had fun practicing taking picture in different aperture ranges.
Hi love! I just saw the ohsheglows won best blog at foodbuzz – that is awesome!! Your honesty, heartfeltness, details in recipes, inventivesness, gorgeous photos and most of all humble and sweet personality have truly paid off. You’re a very inspirational little baker!! xoxox
Angela, your photos are SO stunning. You could totally do a book like that now! What you are doing on this blog is so obviously just what you should be doing. . . I receive a lovely perk every time I read one of your posts, no matter the topic (and those PB Pillows didn’t hurt) ;) Thanks so much for including my book in your cookbook stack, too! ((((Hugs!))))) :D
I need this book. So creative!
I love to read and have ever since I was a young girl (Ramona Quimby is a fave). My mom says it is because she read to me while she was pregnant with me (She didn’t with my brother and he never reads for pleasure hmmmm) Now, I enjoy everything from magazines to biographies, fiction, and of course cookbooks. All of which I read cover to cover. Ending my day reading has become a ritual along with never being able to leave the library without a stack of material. If there was ever a good “problem” to have I guess this would be it!
I read constantly as a child… I have so many favorites!! I used to even read while I was riding my bike.
I’ve been reading Nickel and Dimed (on NOT getting by in America). It’s really interesting, and well written. I go back and forth between non-fiction and fiction, but it’s hard to pick a favorite!
When my life gets a little crazy and stressful (like it is right now!) I have a tendency to duck into fantasy and science-fiction books as a way to escape to another world for a little while. Right now I am revisiting A Wrinkle In Time by Madeline L’Engle. I had forgotten how good that book is! And it’s an easy, fast read. I may have to read some of L’Engle’s other books after I finish this one!