Emma Davies

This workbook is divided into 4 sections: 1) Technical; 2) Composition; 3) Light; and 4) Creativity. My camera, NIKON D5300, didn't have every feature to perform a couple of the exercises as requested in the Technical section...so I guess that threw me mentally. But, I still did learn a lot about working with the "triangle": Aperture, Shutter, and ISO, but, it doesn't mean I remember it all. I'm still out there turning dials nilly-willy. But, if you have a better brain than me, it's definitely worth at least a read through if you are interested in taking better photos and opening up your creative side.

So, I read the workbook and performed the exercises through PART I, then unfortunately got bored with it and put it down for several months. I guess I don't have the patience and fortitude to work my way through "workbooks", or if I had a friend who would actually stick with it and finish with me...Maybe we would have finished. I didn't care about sharing my homework with a bunch of strangers on the AYWMC Facebook group. That didn't encourage me.

I finally did pick it back up on June 13th, but only finished "reading" the book, and did NOT perform the exercises for the rest of the chapters.

One key point that she wrote on in the Creativity section that applies to me: Don't worry about creating an original photo that's never been shot before because that cannot be done. Every shot has been made. Make your shot the way you like it, even if it's like someone else's. Make it unique with your personality; it's your shot! And never feel stupid or embarrassed about it! This is the number one reason why I continuously quit on my photography...because I feel my photos are stupid, stupid, stupid compared to everyone else's I see on Facebook.

But, who knows, maybe one day I'll return to this book and actually reread it and actually push through the rest of the exercises with my camera, beginning with PART 2, page 63.… (mais)

friction, friendship, verbal-humor, situational-humor, amateur-sleuth, cosy-mystery, England, series, resentment, undercover, greed, closed-circle-mystery, law-enforcement, television*****

TV can be murder.
Francesca is the amateur sleuth/caterer recommended by the DCI to observe (undercover) some problems encountered by the star of a tv cookery competition (and her friend Adam comes along for support and sleuthing). The star turns out to be a less than pleasant person and does wind up murdered with an award which is a cake knife. Interesting red herrings and a sneaky plot twist or two. I enjoyed this addition to the series!
Mira Dovreni does a great job of differentiating the characters.
I requested and received a temporary digital audio of this book from Bookouture Audio via NetGalley. Thank you!… (mais)

friction, friendship, family-drama, series, caterer, caretaker, lawyers, greed, resentment, cosy-mystery, amateur-sleuth, game-developer, wealthy, rural, verbal-humor, situational-humor*****

Francesca is the amateur sleuth/caterer who is called by an old friend to cater a funeral meal for a famous elderly author/gamester. The man's offspring are rather poisonous gits who don't want to do as the will demands but are too greedy to let it go at that. Let's just say that cooperation is not their strong suit. Fran is there to serve as witness and her friend Adam comes along for support and sleuthing. Loved this fairly lighthearted whodunit!
I requested and received a digital ARC of this book from Bookouture via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!… (mais)

theft, catering, law-enforcement, murder, murder-investigation, closed-circle-mystery, cosy-mystery, amateur-sleuth, country-house, friendship, computer-game-developer, housekeeper, wealthy, mysteries, secrets, England, rural, verbal-humor, menus, situational-humor*****

Catering to the ostentatious rich can be murder. Frann Eve and her friend's son Adam are embroiled in a murder for the second time in their cooperative association. Fran is there to cater for a couple of days and Adam is there for research in the process of computer game development but brought along his lock picks and tiny gadgets anyway. When the body is found Fran notifies the DCI who believed her last time and they began their parallel investigations. Including the theft of a valuable painting! Loved this fairly lighthearted whodunit!
I requested and received a digital ARC of this book from Bookouture via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!… (mais)