Blueberry Cheesecake

The Bag of Beans world famous Blueberry Cheesecake, Tagaytay, Phillippines
EXIF; Date 5th April 2008, Time 13:44:34, Shutter 1/4, Aperture f / 4.0, Focal Length 27mm, ISO 800,
Camera Canon 400D, Canon EF-S18-55mm Lens Lens

To see this picture is the greatest experience I have had as a photographer. The photo that gave the greatest impression for further road choices in life and that inspired me the most to keep up with photography. The reason is that when I am reading magazines, weekly magazines, fly magazines or hobby magazines, the pictures in these are very high quality. It goes on sharpness, lighting and composition. Some time before this, I think it must have been on the Philippines flight in January 2008, I read a reportage in the fly magazine about a Chicago restaurant in the United States, where just a raspberry cheesecake was pictured and featured. And, I did not think I could take pictures of that quality level. It was an incredible kick to experience that I actually could.

As you can read in my review, I had a long morning and I had spent all of the batteries on the flash and had little power on my camera. So, I had to be creative to get enough light. I had taken pictures of the whole menu in this restaurant, for the website we were supposed to build for them, and the crown of the work was the famous Strawberry Cheesecake. It was the time of day when the sun shone in through the windows at the center of the restaurant. And, this was not a first class, high end exclusive restaurant, on the opposite of a simple building that had been transformed into a restaurant with loving hand. So, the windows here were of an old and affordable type, which was full of bubbles and maybe not washed after the last storm. And it is precisely through this glass that the natural light gives the soft and warm experience, and a unique color reproduction. To me, as a photographer, it became hectic, as ice is melting in the sun and heat.


But, the composition and focus are very correct in the picture, with a blurred background. Also the camera settings, with speed, shutter and ISO settings are correct. Occasionally, maybe just luck, but I have brought the knowledge with me in my further career as a photographer.
This experience led me into a way of life, where I spent a lot of time and money on a photo, where I had a lot of fun and happiness. I have met a lot of nice people who have inspired and provided nice feedback. I have been out in cold winter nights and had incredible natural experiences. A hobby that has given me recreation and distance from a busy life, new powers and challenged my creativity and I think I have both become a better and happier person.

The wall at Bag of Beans, Tagaytay, Philippines


EXIF: Date March 7, 2008, Time 21:18:20, Shutter 3.2 sec, Aperture F / 5.6, Focal Length 22mm, ISO 400, Camera Canon EOS 400D, Objective EF-S10-22mm F / 3.5

I have above told the story of the picture "Blueberry Cheesecake" - the image that changed my life and created my interest in photography. The picture that gave me great faith in myself, my characteristics as a photographer and the pleasure of studying the details of the photograph. But, as I look through the pictures from my visits to Tagaytay, west of Manila, Philippines, I see that I remember a little mistake. The conference in which I held lectures on the importance of having a website for hotel and restaurant companies must have taken place this day, March 7, 2008, but that I was back a month later to take the pictures of the menu and the desserts.

What's special with the picture "Bag of Beans, The Wall" is that I'm not really getting a sharp picture so I ended up having to put my camera down on some brick blocks and rocks, that I found in this garden. Then use the trigger in 10 sec. At this time, I should have learned that "the simple is often the best" - great pictures one can get by the simplest equipment and with simple aids. But, unfortunately and fortunately, I did not learn and spent a lot of money on acquiring a lot of equipment, which I use a to little to defend the investment. Unfortunately, as you can see, great pictures can be taken with simple equipment and with simple aids. Fortunately, because I have taken many great pictures with the equipment that I have acquired and which I still have and will enjoy in the future.

The story behind the bakery and the Bag of Bean Bakery in Tagaytay might be what makes me so fond of these pictures. I was told that the owner, a Filipino woman met her great love, a British man. Shortly after their wedding, this man died in a car crash, and in order to bear her sorrow, she laid down all her strength and love for the bakery, the restaurant and the garden surrounding it. Something every sensitive and emotional person will notice in coming into the bakery, down the garden and into the restaurant. Everything is well decorated, put together in a rich flora, a plethora of plants and flowers, the use of colors and materials in rich harmony, with love and care.

To me, as a photographer, it seemed like an incredible enrichment and free throws to walk around and take pictures, seek to find the atmosphere and catch the "spirit" on the spot. However, photography is also about photo-technical things, proper lighting, camera setup, settings and focus, focus points and, not least, composition.
With the image "Blueberry Cheesecake" I got the experience of taking a photo of the magazine class. In the same way with the image below, in the class interior design. This also from Bag of Beans Tagaytay, but from the part of the restaurant where one can sit down to rest with a cup of coffee after dinner. Soothing, warm and full of love.

Bag of Beans Tagaytay, Philippines