I love blogging. It's gotten to the point where it's a lot of work, and I have to start actually scheduling it into my day to make sure I can be consistent and regular in my posting, but even on nights when my eyelids are struggling to stay open, I like to have a bash at my keyboard and see what comes out.
One thing that I do love about blogging and the community as well, is that there's always so much sharing going on, whether it be places to see, opportunities to catch up with people or advice on blogging or photography technicalities.
Whilst I love to learn, I also love to share and recently had two awesome opportunities to.
First, through a friend, I was asked to do a mini guest lecture, via Skype, with an English class doing a food and travel writing capstone at the Northern Arizona University.
Although I had never met the lecturer, and I was incredibly nervous that I wouldn't actually be contributing any insight, it ended up being a really fun 25 minutes, where I did a short spiel about writing for an audience, and then answered a couple of questions about different aspects of food blogging.
Sure, I had to wake up at 4am in the morning to do this, but was totally worth the laughter and the satisfaction and joy I got from talking about what I love doing.
I also recently, with the help of my good photographer friend Jeff, went to a get together with a bunch of photographers and shared some tips on shooting food in a restaurant situation. It was great to have Jeff there, as he filled in all the technical gaps in my very hands on, touchy-feely approach to photography.
Photo borrowed from Sid, one of the workshop attendees!
Again, I was worried I wouldn't be able to give much valuable feedback, as I was talking to a group of photographers who did practise regularly, although generally specialised in portraiture. However, it was wonderful to have people come up to me and ask questions and advice and see that people were getting a bit of take home value.
Who can really complain though when there's food involved as well? We did the very casual 'workshop' at Cafe Blac's Reading Room, which is an absolutely gorgeous function space, with fanned out book's making up the ceiling. The place is kind of whimsical, and incredibly welcoming.
Food's pretty scrummy too, loved my Blac Smash (their version of smashed avocado), although by the time I had let everyone photograph it, and showed them how to do an egg porn 'money shot', my food had gotten a little bit cold! I also gave my hand a bit of work out being a hand model, and showing how a little bit of action in a photo, or human presence, can give a warmth to the photo.
The owner, Taras Maciburko, also let us have a little nibble on some of their sweeter offerings. Who can say no?
All in all, a lot of fun, and I hope to do more of this sort of stuff soon!
Cafe Blac
707 Glenferrie Road
Hawthorn
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