PHOTO IMAGING EXPO 2008

Hello!
It is very cold today and raining.
Actually, it has been raining for a few days.
The cherry blossoms might bloom next week, since it is going to get warmer from tomorrow!
I live close to a famous cherry blossom viewing spot, so I will show you the picture if I took a nice one!

Anyway, on the 19th, as I said last time, I went to the PHOTO IMAGING EXPO 2008 in Tokyo.
It was very crowded with camera otaku, most of them were men.
They were taking pictures of booth bunnies.
<-- Like this :)


The reason I went there is to attend the lecture of Kouichiro Saito, who is an advertising Photographer.
This lecture was about food photography and was held at the booth of Olympus, which is my camera manufacturer.
This was my first time to take lessons in food photography.
We took some pictures of cakes they prepared.
My problem is that I cannot take a picture that looks like taken under the natural light, under the room light, so it was interesting to know the way he set.

At the Olympus booth, there were some experts, so I asked them a lot of questions about color temperature, lighting equipment, etc...
Also, I tried macro lense which I wanted to buy someday.
White balance is not correct, but you can see the difference in feathering.

I think I need to know more about the basics of camera!
I will try my best!

Okay, see you next week :)
Have a nice weekend!

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My Accomplishments

After the thunderstorm on Friday, the weather has changed to spring!
It is getting warm day by day! Hope it lasts.

Yesterday, I was so busy that I couldn't have a chance to write my diary. Actually, this week, I am going to attend PHOTO IMAGING EXPO 2008 on the 19th and we have a national holiday on the 20th, so I might not coming back to keep my diary, but don't forget about me :)

Anyway, yesterday, I was terribly out of luck :(
I found that I lost prizes at 4 contests held at cooking sites.
To tell the truth, I am doing poorly these few months...
Am I storing the luck???

Whatever!
I will list some of my recent events.

On 2/24, I won a special award at Valentine's Day egg recipe competition.
This competition was organized by Nosan Corporation, the producer of "Yodoran" Hikari brand of iodine-enriched eggs. I made White Chocolate Cranberry Brownies using 3 eggs to give a moist texture.
My sister loved it!
Might be good for Easter, too.

On 3/3, I won a fighting-spirit award at nabe photo contest.
This was organized by Commupla, the community site for women.
I made Cod Fish And Pork Nabe Flavored with Sichuan Pepper.





On 3/11, I won a B prize at sweet treats contest held by Kyoritsu Foods ( food manufacturer).
I decorated a chocolate bar with sugar sprinkles.



I have three more... but I'm not that satisfied with the results, so I won't write.

Different story.

Now my recipe, using Kagome's basic canned tomato sauce product, become a recipe sticker, and available on the can!
The recipe is Healthy Tomato Tantan Harusame.
It is sesame and the tomato sauce based stir fried harusame.


Okay, I wrote enough and kind of drowsy now.
See you again with happy news, hopefully.

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White Day

I have a lot to write for Friday!
I mean, now it is Sunday midnight, but I just want to write about it.

On Friday morning, I sprained my ankle right after I left home.
At that time, I thought I couldn't move, but after a while, strangely, I didn't feel any pain!
I thought this was weird, so I called my mom and asked whether I can walk or not.
She said I'd better take a bus, so I took a bus.
One of my co-workers is absent for few days because of a stomach flu so I couldn't be absent!

When I arrived at work, I received macarons from my co-worker for White Day.
On White Day males who received a "honmei-choco" [chocolate of love] or "Giri-choco" [chocolate of courtesy] on Valentine's Day are expected to return the favor by giving gifts, usually more expensive!
I gave him "Giri-choco" [chocolate of courtesy] not that expensive, but he was so kind that he gave me back macarons!!!
To tell the truth, at my work, I never got back anything on White Day, so I am seeing a new light this year!

Anyway, my foot was not that good, so I put a compress which I found in the office, which was 4 years after its validity date has expired... It seemed okay though...

At lunch time, I booked the plane ticket which I wasn't able to make a decision to book.
I found out that I could cancel anytime without cancellation fee for certain period, so this is why.
And now I'm relieved a little :)

Regarding the hotel, I haven't booked it yet since they require full prepay at booking (non-refundable)!
I need more time to decide.
Hope everything get settled soon...

In the evening, my boyfriend left for Osaka to attend the wedding of his younger brother.
Actually, I wasn't invited since I haven't got married yet...

After the work, it was raining so hard with thunder and lightning.
When I got home, I found a bouquet on the table, with a message saying that there is a sweet treat in the refrigerator!






I opened the refrigerator and found macarons again!!!
Oh my god, how could he know that I got them at work?
He is awesome!

Okay. I have more things to write, but I will stop for now.
I just wanted to write about this macaron story first :)
Will come back on Monday, hopefully.

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