Project365 324: Coffee and Dessert

That wraps up my coffee week. There are many more ideas that I could explore, but I'll leave those for another time. Especially since there is a peice of blueberry pie waiting for me. Ironically, I'll replace the cup of coffee with a cup of tea. I want to sleep well tonight.


Coffee and Dessert
Richmond Hill,Ontario
1/250 f/10 67 mm
Canon EOS 40D, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM

Project365 323: Irish

I was originally looking for a three layers of 'liquid'. Bailey's, coffee, and then whipped cream on the top. That didn't work out because the coffee mixed with the Bailey's even though I ladled it on top very very gently. As I played with various lighting arrangements the whipped cream started to absorb the coffee mixture and I got three layers after all.


Irish
Richmond Hill,Ontario
1/15 f/4 35 mm
Canon EOS 40D, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM
Color Efex Pro 4 - Glamour Glow and borders

Project365 322: Little White Cups

I started drinking coffee when I was in my mid teens. The job I had at the time required me to work outside in the winter in all kinds of weather. I got cold and anything hot was comforting. There was always a pot of coffee steaming away and I would drink it even though I really didn't like the taste; enough cream and sugar would make it tolerable. Those little white cups become a welcome sight.


Little White Cups
Richmond Hill,Ontario
1/8 f/4 60 mm
Canon EOS 40D, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM
Color Efex Pro 4 - Detail extractor, monday morning, borders

Project365 321: Early Morning Brew

My early morning brew. I wanted a visual feel to this image that was edgy, yes because it might be a good descriptor of my mood at 5:40 in the morning. Dark roasted beans, freshly ground and usually a medium strength brew.

This is not an HDR image, that it is was made from a single frame and not a multi-image composite. Color Efex Pro 4 allowed me to create the effect I was looking for.


Early Morning Brew
Richmond Hill,Ontario
1/80 f/4 35 mm
Canon EOS 40D, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM
Color Efex Pro 4 - Detail Extractor, tonal contrast, and borders

Project365 320: Pumpkin Spice Latte

It used to be that if I went out to buy a coffee what I wanted was a simple Timmies; large double milk, no sugar. After I cam back from my first European trip I had started to drink Starbucks coffee and after my second trip I had acquired a definite taste for darker blends. Now when I go to $tarbuks I normally get a Tall Bold. A tradition that started with my work pal Ivar.

For today's image, I wanted something with whipped cream, so went with their seasonal special, the Pumpkin Spice Latte. It was pretty good, but don't tell darkman! (an inside joke for those who know darkman.)


Pumpkin Spice Latte
Toronto,Ontario
1/8 f/4 58 mm
Canon EOS 40D, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM
Color Efex Pro 4 - Tonal contrast, and borders

Project365 319: Coffee and Cream

Continuing to explore the Coffee theme, I present Coffee and Cream. I did considerable experimentation in my makeshift studio to get an effect I liked.

There is a flash in the upper left and another directly behind the mug. The flashes were gelled with two different shades of yellow and then the white balance was shifted to make them appear more like coffee brown. Ultimately I was looking for a duo-tone result which I think looks pretty good.


Coffee and Cream

1/50 f/8 67 mm
Canon EOS 40D, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM

Project365 318: Spilling the Beans

I am a coffee lover. I probably drink too much of it. So I thought it would be a good theme for the week. For what I have in plan so far I will be doing most of these shots in my make shift studio.


Spilling the Beans
,Ontario
1/50 f/8 58 mm
Canon EOS 40D, EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM
Silver Efex Pro 2

Kona Coffee

I didn't know that coffee was such an important crop in Hawaii before I got there. I certainly had heard of Kona coffee, but never associated it with the Kona in Hawaii.

In order to be called 'Kona' it has to grow in a 2 by 20 mile strip along the Kona coast at a certain altitude. We visited two coffee farms while there and learned quite a bit about the growing process. When the 'cherries' are a dark red then they are ready to be picked, dried, and roasted.

One fact to highlight a dark roast coffee has less caffine than does a medium roast. If you want to try some Kona for yourself, you can order it online.

• http://www.konajoe.com/
• http://www.royalkonacoffee.com
  

1/250 f/5 ISO 200 EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM @ 73 mm Canon EOS 40D
Kailua-Kona,Hawaii

The reds and greens make for a nice colour contrast. The f/2.8 aperture is what creates the blurred background. Also note the repetition of lines the lead from the lower-left to the upper-right corner? This helps to lead the viewer through the image.