346: Sticky Cupcake

Settings: f/8 (approx,) 1/180, ISO 100, 58mm Helios-44-2 M42, 19mm extension, 1/4 flash (bounced,) cardboard, tripod. Tone curve adjustments, crop to 16:9.

341: Offshoot Curves

Very late update...
Another of a Jerusalem artichoke - but this is one of the new crop. This one was stored for a couple of days, and its skin now looks slightly shrivelled, while the tips of its branched-off new roots are starting to droop.
The added red tint was a post-processing afterthought, one that I simply considered fitting.

Settings: f/8, 1/180, ISO 100, 58mm Helios-44-2 M42, 45mm extension, 1/4 flash, black velvet, cable release, tripod. Colour and levels adjustments, slight crop.

338: Oven-Fresh Biscuits

Settings: f/4, 1/5, ISO 100, 58mm Helios-44-2 M42, 9mm extension, tungsten light, cable release, tripod. Slight curves adjustment and colour correction.

281: Autumn Leaves

Sycamore, I think.

Settings: f/2.8, 1/80, ISO 200, 50mm Cosinon M42, 19mm extension, fluorescent desk lamp.

239: The Teasel

Settings: f/4.5, 1/180,ISO 100, 58mm Helios-44-2 M42, 45mm extension, 1/4 flash, black velvet, white cards, tripod.
(f-number is approximate.)

222: String Theory

Settings: f/6.7, 1/180, ISO 100, 58mm Helios-44 M42, 16mm extension, 1/4 flash, white card, tripod.

200: Mouldy Canes

Settings: f/8, 1/180, ISO 100, 50mm Pentacon M42, 19mm extension, 1/4 flash, white cards, tripod.

192: Dry Potato Leaf

Settings: f/5.6, 1/180, ISO 100, 50mm Pentacon M42, 17mm extension, 1/4 flash, white card, tripod.

061: Coriander Root

I kept his root from a large coriander plant I grew in 2008. It smelt quite strong, and I thought it might be useful in cooking. It didn't keep its aroma though, and just hangs around now because it looks quite interesting. It would have been nicer to have had more than one of these on show, but it's still good singly.

Settings: f/11, 1/180 sec, ISO 100, 50mm M42, 19mm extension, low flash, foil reflector, grey foam background and white paper under front of subject.

059: Popcorn Flock

However appetising this popcorn looks, I assure you it's way out of date. And it's been used as packaging material in a box of highly-scented toiletries, so it's perfumed now as well. Scented popcorn is a good thing, but not to eat, I'm guessing.
These exploded grains have fascinating unique forms, so I've been stuck a bunch on cocktail sticks, upright on pieces of plasticine. I've also kept one aside that looks like an octopus... It's almost like cloud-spotting. I noticed another that resembled a pitcher plant.

Settings: f/8, 1/6 sec, ISO 100, 50mm M42, 11mm extension, flourescent lamp, white paper under front of subject.

058: Star Anise

The star anise was blu-tacked onto a sheet of glass, supported at an angle and parallel with the camera.
It's a very spare composition, but the strong shape and mix of textures are attention-grabbing.

Settings: f/9, 1/180 sec, ISO 100, 50mm M4, 19mm extension, low flash, foil above, beige paper behind and white paper underneath.

050: Third Snow Bench

f/2.8, 1/200 sec, ISO 200, SMC P-FA 50mm.
There's a lot to be said for that Rule of Thirds. It may be an old and very commonly used rule, but it can really have a strong effect in a composition. I cropped this photo slightly so the shapes conform more closely than I shot it to. I find that the image is somehow more harmonious and ordered than it already looked.
Whether it needed to be or not is always a relevant question, but I mostly took this image with the rule in mind, as it has a collection of strong lines. Of course, the rule of thirds can work just as well on subjects with no immediately discernable geometric patterns, such as wooded landscapes.
It's just a rough guide, really. It doesn't have to be enforced rigidly, but just keeping simple compositional rules in mind when behind the camera is always very useful for taking better shots.

Using a 50mm lens on the 50th photo was a coincedence, I just needed something fast outdoors. I did use my FA50 1.4 instead of my usual Cosinon 50 1.8; I wanted autofocus.

029: Butternut Squash

This is the kind of squash you don't get in the shops: One with a proper stem attached. I particularly like the stems on the remaining ones I grew last year - chopped off with a few inches to hang them by or hold on to. There are also the characterful, unexpected warts that supermarkets would frown on. A harmless reminder of the wholesome uniqueness of home-grown food.
I have three squashes left in the cupboard, including this one. Every squash I cut open will make me feel a measure of remorse for destroying an object of understated beauty, but I know that I will enjoy eating them much more for the effort it took me to grow them.
What is not seen of this particular fruit (squashes are berries) in this shot is its short heart-shaped form, quite unlike most butternuts. I expect it's partly that way because it didn't grow as much as it could. I blame the slightly late planting and newly-dug clay soil on this.
I haven't made up my mind if I'll grow butternuts this year, but I'll definitely be having a go at growing "Turks Turban" squashes. Also perhaps another unusual variety if I have the space.
The photo was taken with the same settings and setup as yesterday (see post.) I enjoy seeing the combination of warm, earthy tones with smooth and bristly textures. The way the squash feels in my hand is definitely invoked by this picture.