flash food

i made a promise to myself to learn to shoot with flash--not the on-camera kind, but the shoe mount version. i've only ever really used it for events and headshots, when the desired result is very specific (consistent, even light). the photos have been fine enough, but pretty straightforward. i've been consulting a book called speedlights and speedlights; if i can get through that AND figure out the flash manual, i might have some really fun shots to share. but it's pretty technical. i need to become a tech geek. that might take a while.

in the meantime, this is what we're looking at. i took these on saturday. a couple of friends treated me to dinner at a cuban place.
this is exactly the look i don't want. bright, but flat.

plaintain-crusted red snapper....

tostones

another reason why i don't shoot with flash in restaurants? it's pretty obnoxious. i didn't take more time to get better shots because it (i?) quickly became the kind of distraction i disapprove of.

but the photos won't go unused, as my friend allison and i have a started a food blog. it's still in its "beta" stage; it's so "beta" that we haven't even filled in the "about" section. i'm not sure how far we go with it, but for now, the photos will have a home, and i'll get to practice the food writing. i'm pretty rusty--we'll see how it goes. if you have time and want to take a look, i'd love any feedback. you'll be able to tell which posts are mine (she posts as the admin).

thanks...