Photographing ice cream during a heatwave is a challenge but not totally impossible☀️😅🤷🏻♀️
What can go wrong? Well, the worst thing that can happen is that I end up with melted ice cream all over and no decent photos to show😆
Not the end of the world, right? I can always try again!
So I made Protein-Rich Ice Cream Pops with Strawberries and Homemade Cashew Milk. YUM!
In this beautiful sunny weather, what’s better than delicious ice cream?
I typically make myself a smoothie once a day, but in this heatwave weather, I’ve been experimenting with making them into ice cream popsicles. And I must say, it works pretty well.
But, photographing these babies before they melt takes more effort than it takes to eat them.
So if you wish to experiment with making healthy, homemade ice cream and photograph them too, here’s my best tips for photographing ice cream before it melts (even in a heatwave):
🍡Make the ice pops in advance. You are welcome to use my recipe below. This takes about 10 minutes + a minimum of 4 hours in the freezer.
🍡 While the ice is in the freezer, plan your photography style, the mood, the color theme, and what props to use.
🍡 Consider if you want to show some of the ingredients used in the recipe. If so, plan how to include it.
🍡 Place your main props in the freezer for about half an hour before you begin. This will help keep things cool.
🍡 Set up your scene ahead of time. Take a few test shots. Study your test shots carefully to see if something needs to be rearranged. Keep going until you get something you like. At this point, you have to imagine the ice cream in the scenes. Don’t take anything out of the freezer until you are ready to shoot.
🍡 Make sure you picked the right lens for the job, like a 50mm, 100mm or a zoom lens. Of course, you can use your phone camera as well.
🍡 Take your time to find the best settings for aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. If you shoot handheld, keep shutter speed on 1/100 or above.
🍡 Prepare to work fast. As soon as you take out the ice cream, you have a small window of time to take photos. So make them count.
🍡 Have paper towels ready to control drips and melted ice cream. Things can get sticky when you’re working with ice cream, and you don’t want to get that stickiness on your camera when you’re shooting. So, keep some paper towels or tissues near for easy clean-up.
That’s it.
No, wait, I forgot the most important part… HAVE FUN with the process😀 and eat all the ice cream you can eat at the end because this ice cream is good for you 👌🏼
Protein-Rich Ice Cream Pops with Strawberries and Homemade Cashew Milk
2 TB of Cashews (soaked in water overnight)
1 cup Strawberries or mixed Berries
1 cup of Greek Yogurt
6 juicy Dates (no stones!)
2 scoops of Collagen Powder
Vanilla Essence
Sweetener (optional)
Start by washing the overnight cashews in water. Now blend them with a bit of fresh cold water – just enough to cover them. Then add the rest of the ingredients until smooth and soft. Pour the mixture into popsicle molds. I use molds made from stainless steel, but you can use any kind you want. Freeze overnight or for 4-5 hours. Enjoy!
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I love to travel light. If I can keep it simple and fit everything I need in one small bag, I prefer that to carrying unnecessary clothes and photography equipment around.
The trick is to plan carefully, consider your destination, and bring no more than the essentials to make the most of your trip. It’s tempting just to take photos with a mobile phone because we always have it with us, and it takes pretty decent pictures. But if you want to take your travel photography a little more seriously, it’s time to bring out the big camera.
Over the years, I’ve sold many of my photos to travel magazines, and I don’t think I would have been able to do that if I’d taken them with my iPhone. Most of the time, I’ll photograph a scene both with my iPhone camera as well as with my Canon camera. It gives me flexibility, and I can edit and post photos on the go. Then when I come back home, I’ll put some effort into editing the larger photo files I took with my big camera.
I walk a lot when I travel. Most often, I get up just before sunrise and try to capture the scenery before the tourists, and the locals wake up and fill the streets and beaches. The morning light is also my favorite light. But I keep exploring, walking, and taking pictures during the day – despite the challenges that can arise from places getting crowded or strong sunlight. Sometimes those factors can add something interesting to a photo.
Besides the camera gear I recommend to you in this post, my number one priority is always some good sneakers or hiking shoes that I can walk in all day long. Some comfortable clothes that I can move in and that I don’t need to iron. I might bring a pretty blouse or a dress for going out in the evening, but the less I pack, the more space I have for my photography gear.
None of the things I mention in this post are sponsored. I don’t receive any products or money from recommending it. It’s just pure love from using and working with these items for years.
Here’s the TOP 5 essential gear to take with you if you want to travel light.
#1: Crossbody Camera Strap
The crossbody camera strap (or “sling” as it’s also called) is just as important as good walking shoes. Without it, I wouldn’t be able to walk with my camera from early morning to late afternoon. It’s much more comfortable to wear than the original straps that come with your camera when you buy it.
Carrying your camera this way makes bringing even the heaviest lenses easy. You can also shift the way you carry it, so the weight is either on the front or the back. It’s an excellent option if you normally get tired from walking with the camera.
I just use a plain black strap, but you can find them in many different styles. A quick search on ETSY, and you’ll find some nice ones handmade in leather.
#2: Mini Tripod
When traveling and walking a lot, I don’t particularly like carrying a large tripod, so I usually shoot handheld. But there are situations where a tripod is a good help, and this is where the mini tripod comes in.
I personally use a Gorilla tripod like the one you see in the photo above. With a tripod, I can lower my shutter speed without getting camera shake. The Gorilla tripod also works as a selfie stick. I can take photos with myself in the frame or use it with my iPhone to get super sharp images.
Another advantage of the Gorilla tripod is that I can attach it to something high up or shoot from a very low angle. It’s super flexible and can be fixed onto almost anything. And if I do video, I will attach the camera to it and hold it as a stick because it reduces shaking from hand movements.
#3: Optical Viewfinder
The optical viewfinder is properly my most used photography accessory. Honestly, it would be hard for me to do my job as a photographer without it!
The viewfinder is like a little black box with a magnifying glass, and you hold it up against the LCD screen on the camera. It blocks out all light so you can see what’s going on on your camera’s LCD screen. With a magnification of 200%, I can also check if my main subject is in focus and if everything is sharp enough.
I was first introduced to the optical viewfinder ten years ago when my sister, who’s also a photographer, gave it to me as a birthday present. When I first got it, I couldn’t really see the benefits it provided. My sister used it a lot because she often shot fashion outdoors in bright daylight. And because it can be hard to see your photos on the back of your camera in strong sunlight, the viewfinder was a helpful tool for her.
But I never got used to it, and for years it was just collecting dust until about two years ago. With age, I started using reading glasses, and in the end, I began having trouble seeing my photography work clearly when I was out photographing. So I dusted off the viewfinder, and today I use it for all my photography work. Every photo gets checked whether I work inside or outside.
So for travel photography, the optical viewfinder can be your best friend to block out all light, see details clearly and get the focus right.
If you decide to invest in a viewfinder, make sure you get one that fits your camera model. You can get it here https://kinotehnik.com/lcdvf/ (not sponsored).
Circular Polarizing Filter
A filter is a thin piece of glass you can attach to your lens. Polarizing filters are used to decide how much light enters your camera lens. They can reduce unwanted reflections from shiny surfaces such as water or glass and also boost colors providing better contrast. In other words, the filter reduces the amount of light coming into the camera, which helps control the highlights and keeps everything clearer in the final image.
How much of the effect you want can be adjusted simply by rotating the filter. This filter is excellent for landscape and travel photography because it makes the clouds stand out, increases saturation in the landscape, or decreases the reflection of water and windows.
Below you can see a few examples. Notice the color difference in the sky, the contrast/clarity on the house, and the white parasol’s highlights.
40mm F2.8 Pancake Lens
My go-to travel lens is the prime Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 lens on a full frame body. It’s super small, super light, yet razor sharp and fast. This lens has very high image quality for the price and costs about the same as the popular 50mm, but I like the wider angle of 40mm, which makes it perfect for both travel and landscape photography.
That being said, a good travel lens choice is always a high-quality zoom lens that will give you a lot more variety, but because I walk as much as I do, I prefer to carry as little weight as possible. I love the 24-70mm lens for travel photography, but it gets heavy after a few hours of carrying it.
The 40mm is a fantastic lens, considering how small it is. It’s called a “pancake” since it is very thin, so once it is placed on the camera, you get a very light and portable setup. The widest aperture is f/2.8 so we can get enough light and a nice background bokeh, mainly when we shoot on a full frame camera. You can’t zoom with this lens, so you must zoom with your feet, moving back and forward to get the right frame.
Talking about the focal length, the 40mm on the full frame is shorter than what’s recommended for portraits. But I find it to be great for when you want to include a person or animal in the frame for a more lifestyle-inspired scene in which you include a bit more of the environment around. As long as you avoid going too close up a person, you can capture some captivating portraits and compositions.
I suggest this Canon 40mm f/2.8 pancake lens to all photographers for landscape and travel photography. With a lens this small, there’s no excuse not to have it with you when you’re out exploring!
Liked this post? Pin the photos and share the article with your photography friends. I’ll truly appreciate it.
Got a question for me? Simply connect with me on Instagram @christinagreve.
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I’m back in the studio after a long Summer break in my countryside cottage. Today, I’m in front of the computer for the first time in 30 days, dividing my time between answering emails and planning the second half of 2022. My photography workshops and courses will kick start in September, so there’s a lot to do and prepare. The fall season is my favorite season of them all, so I’m very excited!
During my Summer break, I did a 4-week detox for my mind and body, focusing on drinking lots of water, eating nurturing food, going for long walks, doing meditation, and a daily yoga class. No Instagram, no emails, no sugar, and no junk food – except for a few times we went out went friends. When I do a longer detox, I’m dedicated and consistent but allow flexibility for social events. Being social, having fun, and enjoying time out are just as crucial as being healthy.
I believe it’s important to allow yourself to unplug and disappear for a few weeks (or days). When we slow down and get silent with ourselves, we can truly connect with the core essence of who we are.
We often get stressed and confused when we rush through our daily life and routines. Why? Because we move so fast, we can’t hear the voice from within. The best way to open a dialogue with your soul is to be still, to be alone, to walk in nature, and to move your body.
It’s not always easy to slow down or disappear. Being isolated in the countryside can sometimes drive me nuts, to be honest. I’m an active person and love to be productive at home in my studio and teaching workshops, so the slow days in the countryside are sometimes a real test of my patience.
My mind gets easily bored because I’m so used to having a phone or a camera in one hand or a computer in front of me. My ideas flow like water running through a river, and I’m eager to run after them to see what I can make of them.
Even though I love what I do for a living, I know I need to care for myself to do my best work. And to guide and support other creatives, I need to be in my most optimal state of mind.
We all need balance and contrast in life, so I mindfully and consciously slow down. I put the computer away. Turn off the TV. Shut off my phone, and I just breathe, feel, hear, think and rest without any disturbance for as long as I need to feel fully aligned with my soul. I step out of doing mode and into being mode.
I practice resting my awareness on ONE thing at a time. I walk without any destination in mind. I sit and do nothing but feel the fresh air on my skin. I spoil myself with yin yoga which is long 5-10 min stretches in comforting positions. I let go of the urge to do, plan and execute.
Slowly, day by day, I get more and more in tune with my intuition. My movements feel more and more effortlessly without any pain or soreness. I feel peace and calmness within, and naturally, I begin to see my next step in life with clarity.
Taking time out to detox from a hectic life is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself. While slowing down might feel like it’s a waste of time, it’s actually a timesaver, or should I say a lifesaver… Why?
Because your best life decisions are made when you are connected to your body, aligned with your soul, and calm enough to think clearly. By being in this state of mind, you can adjust and optimize your life, goals, and relationships successfully.
When you slow down and make healthy choices that nurture your body, you will discover that worries and insecurities calm down – maybe they even go away completely. Confidence will bloom like a beautiful flower from your healthy choices, and you’ll have much more energy for your family and career.
If you feel like you could benefit from a detox or a few slow days to re-energize your mind and body, here’s my best tips…
7 Steps to Unplug, Detox, Slow Down And Re-Energize
#1: Plan a few days or weeks away (or staycation) to unplug, connect with yourself, slow down, observe your thoughts without judgment, move your body and ground yourself. Make sure you plan how you will spend your unplugged days. This will make the process easier, help reduce stress, and interrupt overwhelming feelings. If you have kids, you can still do this. Just pick activities that the kids will enjoy too. My kids are all grown up now, but when they lived at home, I always invited them to do yoga and meditation with me. Most kids love that. We also did creative projects and field trips. Talk to the kids about what you are doing and why you are doing it. Invite them to do it with you. Another option is to take a few days away by yourself. Adjust your plan to your life situation and do your best to unplug.
#2: Make it a priority to shut out the noise of the outside world. Unplug from the news, TV, Netflix, Instagram, Tiktok, Facebook. Close the computer and put it away. Don’t pick up your phone unless it’s an emergency. If you get bored or restless, know that it’s a healthy part of the process. Do an activity you love that can take your mind off things.
#3: Pick 2-3 activities to focus on to help you energize, relax and slow down. It can be things like; reading a book, knitting, laying a puzzle, walking, hiking, yoga, pilates, stretching, foraging food, flowers or herbs, painting, drawing, cooking, baking, sauna, swimming in the sea, bike rides, pressing flowers in a book – just to name a few ideas. Think of activities that can be done in a slow and calm manner. Pick activities in which you use your hands and/or your body.
#4: Adjust your diet one step at a time. Reduce sugar, eat less meat, drink more water, eat superfoods, take vitamins, do a juice fast, and drink more green tea. Of course, it’s individually what changes you are ready to make in your diet. Challenge yourself, but make it realistic and stick to it. An excellent start is always to cut out all sugary drinks, soda, and soft drinks. Just stick to water. Next, reduce as much sugar as possible from your diet. Small steps that you can stick to. Focus on eating food that will nurture and energize your body.
#5: Take small moments every day to appreciate yourself. This may include meditation, journalling, practicing gratitude, getting a massage, taking a long bath, or an afternoon nap. You can meditate by sitting comfortably with your eyes closed for 10-15 minutes and focusing on your breath. You don’t have to do much more than that. You can find many free meditations on YouTube if you prefer to listen to a guided meditation. After your meditation, or maybe before you fall asleep, take a moment to write a few lines in a journal. Write down 5-10 things you are grateful for + 5-10 things you appreciate about yourself.
#6: Remind yourself that your value does not come from being productive, active or busy. You can be lazy and still be valuable + wonderful. Focus on practicing acceptance and patience. Remind yourself that you are okay even when you do nothing. You are still a wonderful human being even when you are lazy and don’t have a goal, a plan, or a purpose. The only thing that matters is that you take care of yourself and appreciate everything that you are moment by moment. You can do nothing, and you’re still a valuable person.
#7: Set boundaries with others and remind yourself that it’s okay to say “no.” Sacrificing your well-being to please others can have big consequences long term because it’s suffocating your confidence. You need to protect your own time and energy. Taking a break from difficult people in your life will make space for you to recover, re-energize and re-connect with your inner power.
No matter what anyone says, you truly deserve a break to do nothing but nurture yourself, your body, and your soul. And when you nurture yourself in the most healthy ways possible, you will awaken the strength to set boundaries.
Discover The Secrets To Beautiful FOOD + STILL LIFE Photography In Just 5 Days
Get your creative juices flowing with my FREE online mini-course.
Easy to follow tips on styling a scene, working with natural light, getting tack sharp images and much, much more. All my best strategies for capturing beautiful photos – straight to your inbox.
