Split Pin

Sewing in the sun . . .

2012-02-06T14:38:00.000-08:00

The late afternoon winter light was too good to miss today! Perfect for shooting this lovely vintage sewing machine cabinet.

A splash of colour . . .

2012-02-06T02:14:00.001-08:00

A day indoors . . .

2012-01-30T09:20:00.000-08:00

Interiors today with two of my favourite ladies Sally C and Sally T. Some beautiful shots for a new project and a new obsession, I am addicted to Tunnock's Tea Cakes! I fear they may become part of my kit for day shoots!

Eggs, cheese and Sunday soup

2012-01-29T09:24:00.000-08:00

A kitchen day . . .

2012-01-26T10:50:00.000-08:00

So after much planning I have finally managed to have a kitchen day to cook, style and shoot my entry for the Food Photo Awards. Here is a little pick of what I shot today.

So anyone for pudding?

Or maybe the healthy option!

A quick note on Lille

2012-01-25T14:02:00.000-08:00

Lille has to be one of my favourite cities ever so it was a great treat to make a trip last weekend as an early birthday treat. (The lovely night shot above is courtesy of my little brother.)

The architecture is beautiful but the highlight of my weekend had to be the discovery of Patrick Hermand. This beautiful patisserie is my ideal treat both visually stunning and amazing flavour, a return trip is already being planned.

A room with a view . . .

2012-01-25T13:20:00.000-08:00

The start to 2012 has brought some really exciting opportunities and projects. Just a quick update with this shot of a wonderful friends amazing beautiful drawing room.

A kitchen day tomorrow for a bit of relaxation so I will post some new work very soon.

A little selection from 2011

2012-01-02T03:07:00.000-08:00

A little later than planned here is a little selection of shots from 2011.

Bring on 2012!

Happy New Year!

That festive feeling . . .

2011-11-24T03:24:00.001-08:00

As we hurtle towards Christmas I have finally found a little gap in a hectic week to play with 2 of my favourite things, new props and cake! The lovely cups in the background came from a shopping trip at Angel in Easingwold. I have a few more festive shoots in the coming weeks so will update again very soon.

Laynes Espresso

2011-10-27T12:41:00.000-07:00

Laynes Espresso. 16 New Station Street, Leeds

From beautiful espresso based drinks to perfect teas and brewed coffee, divine sandwiches and of course . . . pecan pie!! Many thanks to Dave and Carl for letting me clutter up the shop for a couple of days. If you are anywhere near Leeds make the detour and enjoy a treat.

A work update . . .

2011-10-17T12:29:00.000-07:00

I thought it was about time I posted a little update on what I have been doing. Above is a nice little piece in House and Garden on Huts and Hideaways. It is great to see the shots in print!

Back in July I worked with artist Sally Taylor photographing her work for a solo exhibition catalogue.

I shot this cake for Dumouchel in Garforth some tome ago but as I have spent the afternoon photographing my work in print for my website rebuild I thought it deserved including.

A pumpkin inspired feast . . .

2011-10-17T03:20:00.000-07:00

I need to begin this post with a little introduction! Ladies and gentlemen please allow me to introduce the multi talented Sally Coulthard. Sally Coulthard is the best-selling homes and gardens author, her books including Shed Chic and The Reclaimers. She has started a blog, The Garden Decorator focusing on ideas for decorating your garden and outdoor spaces. We have worked together on many projects and I am so happy to be working with her on this new venture.

And so to the pumpkins! We created a little early Halloween party with retro patterned pumpkin lanterns and a host of sweet treats. The outdoor shots are posted here on The Garden Decorator, and below is the little feast enjoyed by all (especially two happy little children)!

Autumn is here, pumpkin time . . .

2011-10-06T14:29:00.001-07:00

The time for pumpkin is here! Not only perfect for soup and such but amazing in the Pumpkin Cupcakes from TeaHee! in Easingwold. Perfectly spiced and just sweet enough to leave me wanting seconds!

A perk of the job, "tidying up"!

Sticks and strawberries . . .

2011-09-26T14:14:00.001-07:00

Just a couple of my favourite shots from over the weekend. Last strawberries of the year and my new cocktail sticks! I have no use for them at the moment but I couldn't resist their retro charm!

Oh and a random tomato! This makes me a little sad as I have just eaten the last of these amazing tomatoes for my dinner.

A peek at a new project!

2011-09-21T14:01:00.000-07:00

The last few weeks have passed in a blur! Between work and a well earned holiday I have been slack at updating.

These shots are a little peek at a new project I have been meaning to post for sometime. The images will ulitimately come together into a "day in the life" portrait if the lovely Laynes Espresso in Leeds.

I will update with more shots from the project soon, but in the meantime if you are anywhere near Leeds get yourself to Laynes for utterly stunning coffee (and of course pecan pie!)

Chocolate on a Monday . . .

2011-08-16T01:22:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to share this one. My favourite shot from a busy week.

Apples . . .

2011-08-10T08:33:00.001-07:00

This has been the first year in, errr, well more than I can remember that our apple tree has managed to produce anything!

In the spring we all stood under in open mouthed looking at the unusual sight of a tree full of beautiful pink blossom. None of us ever thought that it would last! In previous years it has managed maybe a handful of flowers which at the first breath of wind have blown away, but not this year. The tree has hung on and is now bending under the weight of fruit.

This weekend we managed the first small harvest, me standing holding the carrier bag, dodging the odd one that decided that was the time to fall, my usefully tall brother being chief picker.

So it looks like an autumn of crumble, pie and chutney ahead. I will post some of the results in due course.

Inspired on a rainy afternoon . . .

2011-07-16T06:09:00.000-07:00

A little bit of an experiment, I got inspired by the old masters. It is the quality of light that they captured which I find so beautiful. I am not yet 100% happy with the shot, mainly down to Lightroom which has for some unknown reason decided it doesn't like shadows!

So please consider this a work in progress.

Dublin in the sunshine

2011-07-10T12:34:00.000-07:00

After five manic weeks of work i finally managed to sneak in a couple of days away. Taking advantage of an offer on flights I took a trip to one of my favourite cities, Dublin. Although not a particularly physically restful couple of days, with under 48 hours there was so much to cram in, it was the perfect mental refresher.

There are two stops i always try and make when I visit. Number 1. The Cake Cafe. Tucked away in a quiet courtyard and serving the most delicious homemade food any fatigued little soul is quickly revived and soothed.

My second vital port of call is, surprise surprise another foodie stop, The Pig's Ear. A fantastic restaurant in the heart of the city. This time I had the pleasure of enjoying the company of my Dad along with the lovely meal. Sadly no pics of my tea as I was too engrossed in enjoying my dinner!

I love the presentation of the sugar for your coffee.

So home again sad to have left but ready to start work again and excited for the new challenges ahead. Hmmm and with a couple of blisters to remind me of my trip, turns out there are no such things as sensible shoes!

Beetroot . . .

2011-07-03T12:42:00.000-07:00

A beautiful beetroot and goats cheese tart for tea tonight. The lovely little beets came from the LeedsLovesFood festival this morning, enjoyed so many stalls of fabulous produce and best of all the Marvellous Tea Dance Company with there cute cute little tea shed!

A good day in the kitchen . . .

2011-06-24T08:30:00.000-07:00

I have been in the kitchen cooking and shooting for the last few weeks, and have drawn a conclusion that I can tell when it has been a good day by how many of the ingredients I have spilt on or wiped on my apron. Yesterday provided a new level . . . cake mix in my hair!

This was the offending cake, a very successful cake and one of my favourite shots of recent months. Further experiments will be undertaken with various financier recipes when I next have a me day in the kitchen, these may be my new favourite cake too!

Licking the pan clean . . .

2011-06-20T13:07:00.000-07:00

Another day another recipe test and test shoot. On the cards today raspberry and vanilla jam. The recipe was a complete triumph. Once I had got it all in the jars there was a little left in the pan which I guiltily enjoyed eating with a spoon!

And a pleasant surprise in the veggie patch, at last the blackbird seems to have had his fill and left some strawberries for me.

A little less rain . . .

2011-06-19T11:24:00.000-07:00

Cinnamon buns and a bowl of sweet juicy cherries, the perfect antidote to another rainy sunday.

I have been wanting to upload these two lovely little shots for a while but with my card reader going AWOL haven't been able to. It finally reappeared from the depths of one of my kit bags the other day (still no idea why it was in there but hey ho).

Test shoot and a summery sponge

2011-06-16T13:23:00.000-07:00

I had a test shoot for a new project today so a I spent the day cooking, styling and shooting a lovely summery afternoon tea. This fatless lemon, vanilla and raspberry sponge was the highlight of the job!

Keep Cup

2011-06-13T09:21:00.001-07:00

Having completely failed to upload this shot to Twitter it seems simpler to pop a post on about my lovely new Keep Cup purchased this morning from the lovely TeaHee. No more paper takeaway cups for me thank you!

Vintage beauties . . .

2011-06-13T08:13:00.001-07:00

Just couldn't resist posting these two shots. Although a little out of season they made me smile.

Garden envy!

2011-06-13T08:03:00.001-07:00

Having had coffee with an amazing friend this morning I am suffering from a touch of garden envy! This year I seem to have completely missed my chance to get my veg going, and am currently in an ongoing battle with the blackbirds to see who can eat the strawberries first. I am sadly loosing at that game. It was lovely to have a wander around her bountiful veg beds and snack of tiny, crisp, fresh peas, but by far my favourite element has to be the baby flower pot cane toppers! They look like Bill and Ben are hiding in the middle of the beans.

Well time to go and deter the blackbirds again.

Nearly summer pudding . . .

2011-06-12T14:12:00.000-07:00

As it has been pouring down all day I decided to get some shots of these beautiful summer berries, nearly a summer pudding in the making there. Also couldn't ignore my little chili growing away on the kitchen windowsill, all I have to do is remember to water it now!!

All the P's . . .

2011-05-22T13:03:00.000-07:00

Today has been a day of P's! Firstly potatoes

These are my new favourite potatoes, they are not Jersey Royals, these are from Ile de Noirmoutier. So beautiful in both texture and flavour, and sold in a tiny wooden crate!

The second P of the day was Panna Cotta with blackberries made by Dad for dessert this evening. I don't care what anyone says you should always play with your food before you eat!

My new favorite things . . .

2011-05-08T09:44:00.000-07:00

This trio of tiny battered boots is one of my favorite recent shots.

My lovely vintage CathrineHolm teapot. After years of admiring and slowly adopting a CathrineHolm pan from my Mum I now have a piece all of my own!

And this fantastic old alarm clock. Unearthed by my brother while he was on a foraging trip into the loft for me. Although he was looking for a trunk to be used in a shoot he reappeared from the loft with this beauty, and an old car horn, which has punctuated most days for the last three weeks.

Live and lovely!

2011-05-08T09:31:00.000-07:00

Just a quick update to my earlier post about Huts and Hideaways. The website is now live and completely beautiful! Sally has done a fantastic job, turning her hand to web design as well as being queen of the huts, she has done the shots proud!

Cupcakes and chickens . . .

2011-04-22T11:12:00.000-07:00

Over the last couple of weeks I have been working on a fantastic project. I have been working with the lovely Sally Coulthard on her amazing business, Huts and Hideaways. The shoot for the amazing miniature shepherds huts was the most fun I have had all year, resisting the urge to jump into the sets and play teaparty myself was tricky! The shot above is just one of several different settings we built for the hut, the rest of the images will appear on the Huts and Hideaways website, as soon as it is live I will post a link. In the meantime back to munching hot cross buns.

Easter treats

2011-04-22T03:30:00.001-07:00

Easter is finally here and that means one thing. . . Hot Cross Buns!! These mini delights come from TeaHee and are a cute one third size half dozen. I couldn't resist a quick shot before I have my elevenses.

An afternoon in the cutlery drawer . . .

2011-04-14T12:12:00.000-07:00

Spent an enjoyable afternoon diving in and out of the sideboard drawer unearthing our odd collection of vintage cutlery. We have a strange collection of boxed teaspoon sets, carving sets and monogrammed serving spoons (none bearing the initials of anyone we are related to but apparently my great grandmothers sale room purchases). Some beautifully crafted pieces in there but as none dishwasher friendly they will be waiting for a very very special occasion before they get used for eating.

Fetch me a fig . . .

2011-04-06T01:49:00.000-07:00

Although a little early in the year Dad found these little beauties at the market on Saturday. We ended up with a little fig based feast enjoying them with parma ham to start the meal and then roasted with raspberries and a port reduction to round things up.

We are rapidly approaching my favourite time of the year, asparagus season! Keeping my eyes peeled for the first signs at farm gates. Roll on summer!

Coffee break . . .

2011-01-20T05:08:00.000-08:00

Just before Christmas I took some shots at the amazing Piccolo Coffee in Newcastle. Beautiful coffee made with passion and knowledge. The perfect cure for anyone jaded with the usual highstreet options!

Cupcakes and candy canes . . .

2010-12-05T12:10:00.000-08:00

Now feeling even more festive after an afternoon in the kitchen. Inspired by the snow and frost we woke up to this morning, festive cupcake snowdrifts! Yummy soft and fluffy vanilla cakes with super thick vanilla frosting topped off with peppermint candy canes and edible glitter! What more could my little heart desire!

Candy cane decoration . . .

2010-12-04T09:22:00.000-08:00

A shot of the results of an afternoon playing with lovely mini candy canes.

Snow!

2010-11-28T11:08:00.000-08:00

As we have been under a blanket of snow for the last few days I gave up trying to leave the house by any means other than my own two feet! This morning was the perfect opportunity to go for a trudge through the snow with my camera.

Oh my, it's been a while . . .

2010-11-18T09:38:00.000-08:00

Oh my how quickly time has flown past and how bad i have been at remembering to post updates! So since the festive season is rapidly approaching here is a little mince pie shot to get in the mood.

Chinese New Year . . .

2010-02-17T02:46:00.000-08:00

A couple of my favorite shots from the Chinese New Year celebrations in Newcastle last Sunday.

A new toy . . .

2010-01-09T11:08:00.001-08:00

The snow didn't manage to put a hold on my little day trip down to London yesterday. I spent a fantastic morning wandering around Borough Market enjoying all the fabulous treats on offer. I have spent this morning stalking around the house looking for subjects for my lovely new macro lens (in between shoveling the drive clear of 8 inches of snow)!

A few shots for the new year . . .

2010-01-04T04:11:00.001-08:00

As it has been far too long since my last post I thought I would put up a few shots from the last couple of months. All the best for 2010.

Teething trouble but there at last . . .

2009-11-07T03:03:00.000-08:00

Just a quick post to say that after a few hiccups and many tears my website is (hopefully) working in its new form. If you do find any problems viewing it please drop me an email to let me know what the issue is.

Fruit, flowers and food . . .

2009-08-18T11:24:00.000-07:00

As August swirls past with more rain than anyone really wants at this time of year a couple of days of with more sunshine and fewer showers are making all the difference in the garden. My hundreds of rock hard green tomatoes are finally starting to turn a lovely rusty orange colour on route to a glowing summery red. After much cursing at my dwarf bean, which up until now has flowered and flowered and nothing else, I have seen the first tiny curling pods of my runner beans. A small crop of potatoes have been pulled and the courgettes show no sign of stopping. I am trying to be patient as my strawberry plant has produced some lovely late fruit which is now promising a last late summer treat.

As this summer has progressed I have come to fully appreciate the joy and satisfaction that can be gained from a 12 ft veggie patch.

Summer trundles on . . .

2009-07-22T11:46:00.000-07:00

As summer trundles on the veg patch is starting to yield a few more tasty delights. I have now had two batches of lovely vibrant beetroot out, my cherry tomatoes are finally beginning to make the slow transformation from tiny hard green beads to tasty ripe fruit and on a non edible note an old onion has produced a fantastically intricate and beautiful flower. Still I battle the slugs trudging out in the fading light to poke them off my courgettes once again.

A snack from the patch . . .

2009-07-11T13:36:00.000-07:00

Other than a handful of lettuce leaves and a titchy tiny beetroot this is my first real crop! I am a tad over excited by the novelty of going into the garden and pulling out some edible treats. It is such a surprise how peppery a French Breakfast raddish can be when pulled straight out of the garden compared to the sad supermarket offerings. Roll on the rest of the crop!

A little green surprise . . .

2009-06-14T13:56:00.000-07:00

This afternoon, hiding under a cluster of leaves I found these two teeny weeny, very hard, very green tomatoes!

First fruit . . .

2009-06-08T12:34:00.000-07:00

Such a nice surprise after being away from the patch for a couple of days . . . my teeny tiny first courgette! Although at the moment it would make little more than a mouthful for a passing mouse, I feel such a sense of pride at the first sign that I have grown more than just a collection of leaves. I must at this point make acknowledgement of my wonderful partner who has played such a vital part in this little project. The patch would not have got this far without his DIY skills in building the frame and bunny proofing the whole affair, without which I am sure I would have nothing more than a collection of stalks and some fat rabbits! Thank you!

Flowers flowers everywhere . . .

2009-06-04T04:14:00.000-07:00

With the mix of rain and sunshine we have had over the past month things are moving on a pace in the garden. All the veg has now been planted out after nearly drowning in their pots with a week of almost solid rain! But they are now all settled in and growing quite happily with little flowers popping up all over the place.

Time to go and fend off the black bird which is trying to uproot all my hard work.

A little garden update . . .

2009-05-20T13:27:00.000-07:00

A little update on my gardening project. All the seeds I planted have by some small miracle grown and even seem to be flourishing. The plot is now bunny proofed but sadly not snail proof, but more exciting than all I have new wellies!

The most wonderful time of the year . . .

2009-04-30T04:35:00.000-07:00

Although the song would have us believe that this is christmas I firmly believe that the months between Spring and Summer bring some of the best treats.

The first sighting of the sign for the local asparagus has been made and a couple of fresh early bundles sit on the kitchen counter ready for lunch, but I couldn't resist sneaking them away for a quick photo shoot before they get gobbled up! Roll on the strawberry season.

The joys of spring . . .

2009-03-24T02:42:00.000-07:00

With the sun out and the weather starting to warm up a touch I have started a project which will run through the summer months and hopefully beyond. Following another successful year at the Leeds Contemporary Artists Book Fair I began to think about my next book work. After a failed attempt last year at growing my own veggies I decided that I would make a more serious effort at it this year and make a notebook/journal/photo project about it. So digging has begun in earnest, the shots above showing my little plot and a well deserved cup of tea! I will use this blog to update on progress and hopefully by mid summer there should be some pics of lovely homegrown veggies (fingers crossed!!). V

A tasty treat!

2009-02-14T10:22:00.000-08:00

My favorite shot of part of my fabulous birthday present from all the lovely girls and boys at TeaHee! A huge thank you for a lovely birthday to all.

Something completely different . . .

2009-01-27T14:38:00.000-08:00

I have spent the majority of the last two days working on the book to accompany the end of the Why My Bike project. I thought i would post one of my shots from the solo element of the project to prove that my subject selection is not purely driven by the icing covered and sugar filled!

The beauty of the macaron!

2009-01-21T04:12:00.000-08:00

After a little jolly to London yesterday I have spent a productive morning having fun photographing these beautiful little macarons. How could we resist. Now for the best bit, a cup of tea and long awaited taste of them! V

Website

2009-01-19T14:27:00.000-08:00

After numerous versions and edits the first section of my new website is now live! Phew! To see it visit www.split-pin.co.uk. At the moment only the food section is completed but all being well the other sections should be there by the weekend.

To Begin . . .

2009-01-14T13:15:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the Split Pin blog! I am a photographer with a passion for food photography, I am staring my own small business and this blog will be frequently updated with news and my latest tasty pictures! Thank you for taking the time to look Split Pin x