Easter Greetings from Prague

Hello from a very un-spring like Prague! Apparently this time last year it was 20 degrees here; now we’re lucky if it gets above zero! But we don’t have snow, so I can’t complain too much!  And at least I can keep my running training up, as I’m running a half marathon in April.

It turns out that Easter in the Czech Republic is not quite the same as in the UK; whipping sticks, Becherovka (a Czech herbal liqueur – have a look at their cool website if you want to find out more) and buckets of water are all involved. 

This blog, Beyond Prague, has a good description of the Easter traditions of the Czech Republic.

Egg decorating is also a big tradition, and over the past week my students have been telling me how they decorate their copious amounts of hard boiled eggs.

Colouring the eggs is the first step, and onion skins seem to be a popular and cheap method! You need to put your egg in a sock with lots of onion skins and then place it in boiling water, or if you’re after a yellowy coloured egg, try the same with green tea. Another tip I received; if you want to make a pattern on your egg, try putting it in a pair of tights rather than a sock!

The eggs are decorated in a variety of ways often using batik or other skilled techniques. The results are amazing – you can find decorated eggs as souvenirs in Prague. Here’s a selection I particularly like which I found on the Beyond Prague blog. 

The eggs are then given as gifts or made into Easter tree decorations – fun!

But if colouring eggs isn’t your thing, we have an ever expanding collection of hen and chicken cards, these Silkies are the latest addition. 

Let us know what you think!

Wishing you all a very happy Easter, 
from Emma

Wet Walk Sows Seeds of Inspiration

Well, it's still pretty wet under foot down on our local fen, Scarfe Meadow. A week ago it was totally flooded, but I didn't manage to get down there with a camera. Today I just took a few on my phone - not a particularly nice day, just grey, a bit cold, but I always love going down to these meadows (when the cows aren't in there!!)
  

 This is normally just a little brook, but it's burst it's banks

I love all the reflections - it's sparked a little idea. Inspiration can come from all sorts of places - I wonder whether any new card designs might be forthcoming.... I'm told there are otters, widgeon, gray lag geese and kingfishers to be seen in the area.

 This tiny temporary stream of brackish water is feeding into the brook

 I disturbed a deer amonst these trees with all their feet in water

The meadow itself is pretty soggy! A very high water table. On dry days this is a very peaceful place to sit and sketch, or just sit and let the world go by - should do more of that!

 Yes, quite soggy under foot! 

 Dirty feet...but happy boy

Oh, and did I say that I've discovered that both boots have sprung a leak?

And tomorrow it's off to the big smoke for The Country Living Magazine's Spring Fair.

Photography Masterclass with Karl Taylor

A lovely day out at the Focus on Imaging Show yesterday ended with a half hour masterclass on product photography with photographer Karl Taylor - thought I might pick up some tips for my own products.

The product here is a bottle of whiskey, placed on a glossy acrylic sheet.

Preparing the Equipment

The background light

The whiskey on the acrylic sheet with the background light

The main light is behind the white screen, creating a soft light

A tracing paper screen softening the main light

The 3rd light, a mini spot, with Karl Taylor taking test shots

Needless to say, I don't have this sort of kit (or a Hasselblad camera!), but it was interesting to see how the whole effect was put together, piece by piece. The attention to detail was amazing. The end result incredible - sorry, no image of the finished shoot, but you can find out more about Karl Taylor here

Now I need to apply some of this to photographing my greeting cards and pictures...