Thursday, June 16, 2011

Favorite Things Friday - Photo/Light

This is my favorite thing this week:

A photo of two vintage milk glass mixing bowls picked up on last week's antique mall excursion.  

It's not Pyrex!  I'm pretty sure they're both Fire King bowls.  The bowl on the right is the hand-painted Fruits pattern by Gay Fad Studios.  I bought this for my sister to add to her collection.  Because I'm an excellent enabler like that.  The one on the left is the Swiss Chalet (or Swiss Alpine) pattern that matches the Stetson Marcrest dinnerware of the same name.



What I like about the photo of the two bowls, other than the pretty subject matter, is the way the light through the window makes them look illuminated from the inside while making a cool shadow on the wood.

I love the light this time of year.  I thought about making that my favorite thing this week, but a title of, "The light of the earth by the sun in the northern hemisphere, specifically the Upper Midwest, near the time of the summer solstice," seemed a bit cumbersome (and geeky). 

Another thing I like about the photo is that it uses the macro setting on my camera, and that function is pretty darn awesome.  I have a modest point-and-shoot digital camera and pretty dicey photo skilz, which leaves some things to be desired when it comes to taking pictures.  But whatever magic happens with the macro setting is, well, magical.  I wish I knew what all the camera acronyms mean so I could tell you more, but it may as well be hieroglyphics.  It says Carl Zeiss on the front of the lens thingie (a technical term), and I remember from the review I read before I bought the camera that that was a very good thing in optics.  Other than that, I have no idea. I'm lucky I know where the macro button is located.  It's a little tulip icon, I know that.

The macro setting works nicely on Pyrex too.


Oh, come on.  You didn't think I'd show you Fire King and not detour down the Pyrex path too, did you?


It's all about balance, you see.

So to recap:  Fire King mixing bowls photo = a favorite.  Macro lens on modest camera = awesome.  Sunlight at solstice = incredible.  Pyrex = always a winner in my book.




Happy Friday!

14 comments:

thea said...

Great FTF! love the last picture ..

Helsie said...

I have to say that that all seems sensible to me. Love that Alpine pattern too.
Cheers
Helen

Miri said...

Fabulous photos! The lighting is super!

Loved your mall adventure report...now I'm off to reduce with sugar.

seabreezequilts said...

Oh yes rub it in, we don't have light at the moment only dull overcast skies and drizzle. Lovely pictures though and the weather looks lovely

Vicki @ DottyJane said...

I think I might have a crush on that Swiss Chalet pattern! I would have thought it was Pyrex.
Nice photos:)

Kirsten's Cooking said...

I do love the swiss chalet pattern!

It's so nice to have sunlight, isn't it? I, too love your pics with the sunlight streaming through and the shadows! Gotta love those sony cameras.

We just bought a new camera and I really should take a class - when my husband tries to explain things to me I just tune out automatically.

Sara said...

Macro is the only setting I use on my camera except auto. It's also good for when you want to show off a lovely bit of quilting.

Shay said...

I love the flower picture. My camera probably has a macro setting but I've never looked for it. Maybe I should - but frankly Im lazy.

I love the way light and shadows play on objects in pictures.

I must have the large milk glass mixing bowl. It's too cute!

By the way your windows are incredibly clean ...

Marg said...

Only Shay would notice your windows. lol! Now that she has pointed it out they are very clean, and a lovely view too.
My point and shoot has a great lens too, and I can take some great shots with it, sometimes by luck more than design.
Love your photos, I think I've fallen for the snowflake Pyrex, gorgeous.

Kate said...

Lovely photos (beautiful bowls too). I love backlighting for just about anything, but it's so lovely for flowers. Marco settings are a must and are such fun. I love your blue and gold snowflake serving dish, so pretty!

Baa-Me Kniits said...

That lighting is beautiful behind those bowls! And now that MrsP mentions it your windows are wonderfully clean ;-)

Michelle said...

Awesome pics, P! Very cool. :-)

Michelle Ridgway said...

I thought your description of solstice was just right and I love all your 'fire king' & 'pyrex' great photos...

Elizabeth said...

Loved your photos!

I have one of those macro buttons on my fancy camera too. Maybe I should read the manual.

xo -E