on balance and chocolate pizzelles.

February 4, 2013

pizzelles (chocolate) pizzelles pizzelles pizzelles

On Sunday James made chocolate pizzelles. They were just like these ones, but with the addition of a 1/4 cup of cocoa powder and the absence of fuss over having them turn out perfectly. It’s a difficult balance sometimes: making things for this space so that they look good enough to share and deciding to simply capture something as it’s happening, free of contrivance or art direction. I try not to stage too much–the goal is for this space to be a reflection of the life we’re actually living, not pure simulacrum–but sometimes I can’t help myself but to drag the table into the sunlight, to swap a dirty towel for a clean one, to refuse use of the ugly potholder. As I’m doing more and more work that involves styling and photographing for other sites, I can feel the lines separating fact and fiction begin to blur. There’s an impulse to have everything appear as perfect as the pictures in my mind. Snapping these shots of James as he made pizzelles was a welcome reminder to just let some things be. They don’t look so very different from a shot I might try to style anyway, but they felt different. There was no pressure, no hand-wringing, just shots of my husband making italian cookies on a Sunday afternoon. 

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27 Comments

  • Reply wonderingsandwanderings.com February 4, 2013 at 2:47 pm

    these shots make me happy. and i needs me one of those prego machines!

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  • Reply kate February 4, 2013 at 3:07 pm

    These thoughts of yours are ones that I have been considering myself lately, and I appreciate your post. As lovely as your "staged" photos are, these "normal" ones hold just as much charm. (And the cookies look grand.) šŸ™‚

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  • Reply Katie February 4, 2013 at 3:16 pm

    That line between what's real and what's real and slightly altered is a fine one, especially in this world of blogging where the viewer/reader only gets to see one side. You do a great job of balancing both, which has kept me coming back here. I like real with a splash of pretty. šŸ™‚

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    • Reply Beth February 4, 2013 at 3:58 pm

      I completely agree. I've been thinking about that a lot lately and have a slight aversion to publications and blogs that do showcase highly stylized work. I understand the art and ideas behind it all, but when it's lifestyle magazines, it just seems too over the top. I think your work is definitely balanced and hope to see you elsewhere!

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  • Reply Lauren Ashley February 4, 2013 at 3:49 pm

    lovely thoughts, you captured such a sweet moment.

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  • Reply Jennifer February 4, 2013 at 3:49 pm

    Love your well used pizzelle iron.

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    • Reply Erin February 5, 2013 at 2:08 pm

      We do, too! It belonged to James's grandmother who made pizzelles every Sunday!

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  • Reply Robyn February 4, 2013 at 4:03 pm

    ohhh-would love one of those!!they look fab!

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  • Reply Anonymous February 4, 2013 at 4:08 pm

    Keep it real and don't falter; it's what I love about this space.

    smb

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  • Reply Milynn {Love + Whimsy} February 4, 2013 at 4:13 pm

    Oh those cookies look delicious.

    I never thought about it like that, while I also try to capture life as I am living it, I do style my photos in a way just to capture the pretty side of an otherwise normal life. But you're totally right, it's nice to capture moments just as they are too!

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  • Reply Faith February 4, 2013 at 4:28 pm

    They turned out beautifully! I would love some with my coffee right now. šŸ˜‰ Happy Monday!

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  • Reply Jennifer Allison February 4, 2013 at 5:18 pm

    'yes' to freedom.

    a vanilla latte and some 'tea leaf' reading to begin my silcon valley monday. good stuff.

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  • Reply Jessie Ammons February 4, 2013 at 5:41 pm

    Simulacrum. Yes, thank you.

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  • Reply Ashely February 4, 2013 at 5:43 pm

    Thank you for this! I've stopped following a lot of blogs because of that "too perfect" vibe…like the ones that make you feel self conscious for using Tupperware or Pyrex. Silly, I know. Rest assured, you have always come across as being genuine and real. Keep it up!

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  • Reply Linda Zimmerman February 4, 2013 at 6:30 pm

    omg- how to make the perfect cookie even better!!…on some days. sometimes the plain confectioner's sugar coated pizzelle is perfect!

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  • Reply Stephanie Roberts February 4, 2013 at 6:46 pm

    thank you for this reminder šŸ™‚ by the way…the not "perfect" is pretty great

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  • Reply Becca :: Making Room in Sicily February 4, 2013 at 7:28 pm

    "Keepin' it real" is a struggle for me, too. Sharing the messy stuff or deliberately deciding not to put my best face forward makes me feel extremely vulnerable. Thank you for your honesty and for reminding us of that!

    In other news, I've got a fun, foodie giveaway on my blog this week that you and your readers might enjoy! Here 'tis: http://beccagarber.com/a-very-tasty-little-giveaway

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  • Reply Caroline | Wild Folk Studio February 4, 2013 at 7:50 pm

    ahh, yes… something i often struggle with when blogging. thanks for sharing, Erin.

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  • Reply Michelle Justine February 4, 2013 at 8:03 pm

    And they are beautiful! Sometimes the best shots are the natural ones!

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  • Reply Chloe Moon February 4, 2013 at 8:04 pm

    I have to get a pizzelle maker!!! That balance is hard…I seem to find that my camera has 90 pictures of the same bottle just because I want it to look perfect. But I like how you said it, it is what is sometimes. =) These pictures are beautiful and make me wish I had one of these yummy treats! =)

    Ergo – Blog

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  • Reply Sarah Dee February 4, 2013 at 8:14 pm

    I know how you feel about stylizing of life. I feel like I need to take a few days off from social media to return back to everyday life…

    x missdottidee.blogspot.com

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  • Reply Tori 2 plus 1 February 5, 2013 at 3:48 am

    THey look so delicious and so pretty!

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  • Reply Neurotic Workaholic February 5, 2013 at 4:57 am

    Those look really good, both the pictures and the pizzelles. I think your photographs are beautiful; I wish I could take pictures like that. But my thumb keeps getting in the way whenever I take pictures. šŸ™‚

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  • Reply Karin - The F Girl February 5, 2013 at 8:57 am

    Real with a splash of pretty. Love that.

    I understand the balancing, I am thinking about that a lot too. I notice that it changes in time, switches from one side to the other, most often hanging somewhere in the middle. I guess the things I want to photograph, the way I want to photograph, is just a reflection of what's happening inside of me, in my mind and my heart. And sometimes that means I want to capture the raw stuff, the real, the unstyled, and sometimes I am craving the pretty things and I just want to ignore the dark tones. I guess it's all ok. In the end, the only thing that matters to myself is that I captured what touched my heart. In one way or the other.

    Oh and by the way: I love your balance, your blog, your work.

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  • Reply Julia February 5, 2013 at 1:38 pm

    They look divine! Thank you for showing us the "real" bits of life, too!

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  • Reply Erin February 5, 2013 at 2:10 pm

    Thanks for all of your notes on this post! Glad to know you guys are thinking about some of these same things. I'm so thankful to have you all here.

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  • Reply molly yeh February 14, 2013 at 2:54 pm

    ohmygoodness i just found your blog and i love pizelles and I HAVE THAT SAME BOWL! is it not the pretties green-y blue ever?!

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