The first session of the Donna Hay Styling and Photography challenge did cause quite a bit of stir as there is a fine line between copying someone’s style and finding your own. I’ve said it a couple of times already but just to be absolutely clear on this; I am not trying to create little Con Poulos/Chris Court etc. look-a-like… I am trying to use great examples for learning purposes only. I think most people understand what this challenge is about, but just in case you were still unsure…!
Finding your own style in the foodphotography business can be a challenge with so many great photographers out there, but that doesn’t mean we should not try. But to be able to find your own style, you need to understand light and you need to understand how styling can help you in achieving a certain mood and setting to get the message across. So for that purpose, and that purpose alone; this challenge was invented.
Now that we’ve cleared all that up; For the 2nd installment of the Donna Hay Styling and Photography Challenge I picked a totally different style. Apologies for the crappy picture as my scanner stopped working so I had to take this with my camera instead, but I think you can still see what is important about this dish. The recipe you can find below. The photo is made by Con Poulos and was featured in magazine 44 from 2009.
I know a lot of people associate Donna Hay with light and dreamy blue colors, but if you look through the magazine you will find that, that is certainly not the only style featured. This particular photo is an example of exactly how different the styles can be. Con Poulos is another of my favorite photographers and I am sure you will see many more of his images
The image is a much darker one that the previous challenge, so it will be interesting to see what everyone comes up with. Plus the cake looks delicious too.. 
I haven’t been able to make this cake yet myself so I will be joining in the fun!
Lemon Sour Bundt Cake
Sour lemon cake
Print recipe
| Serves | 8-10 |
| Prep time | 15 minutes |
| Cook time | 45 minutes |
| Total time | 1 hour |
| Meal type | Dessert |
| By author | Donna Hay |
Ingredients
- 220g butter (melted)
- 2 eggs
- 330g caster sugar (superfine)
- 120g sour cream
- 60ml lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons lemon rind (finely grated)
- 300g all purpose flour (sifted)
- 2 teaspoons baking powder (sifted)
Lemon icing
- 320g icing sugar (sifted)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons water (boiling)
Directions
| Preheat oven to 160 C (320F). Place the butter, sugar, eggs, sour cream, lemon juice and rind in a bowl and whisk to combine. Add the flour and baking powder and whisk until smooth. Spoon into 2 x well greased 4 cup capacity (1 liter) Bundt tins and bake for 40-45 minutes or until cooked when tested with a skewer. Cool in tins for 10 minutes. Turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely. | |
| To make the lemon icing, place icing sugar, juice and water in a bowl and mix to combine. Spoon over cakes to serve. Serves 8-10 | |
- Once a month (on the 3rd of the month) I will give you a recipe plus the accompanying photo out of the Donna Hay magazine. I will try to make it seasonal but can’t promise anything.
- You have that same month to produce your post. You can post it any day you like just as long as you finish it before the end of that month at the latest.
- You have to produce that recipe, alterations to the recipe are allowed to make sure any dietary restrictions are met. But only minor changes!
- You have to cook and STYLE the recipe trying to replicate the photo as best as you can. If you think you can do a better job then the original photo, by all means feel free to make your own changes to the styling.
- PLEASE NOTE; THIS CHALLENGE IS NOT MEANT FOR YOU TO BE ABLE TO COPY ANOTHER PHOTOGRAPHERS STYLE. IT’S ABOUT LEARNING HOW TO LOOK AT LIGHT AND STYLING AND THEN PROGRESS TO COME UP WITH YOUR OWN VISION!
- Shoot the dish and then write a blog post about it. It would be great to add notes on how you took the photo and how you styled the dish, so that other people can learn too.
- Link back to this months blog post about the challenge and link back to the Donna Hay Challenge page here
- Leave a message on the post that is up here for that month, saying that you completed the challenge and link to the post on your site so others can find it too.
- If you want to use the original photo in your blog post as well as the recipe be sure to link back to the Donna Hay website plus the photographers website. They will both always be mentioned in the monthly challenge posts.
{ 26 comments… read them below or add one }
Dit is meer mijn ding!
Haha… nou dan komen er denk ik nog wel meer van ‘jouw dingen’…
I can’t wait to see people’s work!
Cheers,
Rosa
Maybe time to join Rosa!
That recipe is lovely too Simone. Our son Jack loves sour cream on everything. I am sure he would be delighted if the Chef actually made him a cake with sourcream. I am not sure I like the darkness of the image so it will be really interesting to see what all your participants come up with.
I loved all the Donna Hay shots. Everyone did a great job!
Thanks Mona. I actually really like the image and I do have to get my scanner fixed so the images come out a little better… The round up of the first challenge will be tomorrow!
Oh I really love the style of this photo. It’s beautiful. Can’t wait to work on this one.
I just need to complete all props. Once again no rounded, no dark background and no proper bundt cake pan (but I wanted to buy this one anyway).
Yeah I think a Bundt cake pan is always good to have anyway! And if you only have a square board then you can use that too…
Made it
http://magdascauldron.blogspot.com/2011/10/sour-lemon-cake-donna-hay-challenge-2.html
Whoohoo! Job well done Magda!
I’m always learning something new from you every time
Love that bundt cake 
Ha… I can’t wait to see what everyone comes up with!
Mmmmmh lecker bundt cake!! Lovely!
Hmm, I need to find some darker props for this. all things around here are rather light, like white LOL.
…another excuse for prop shopping *hehe*
White is not exactly gonna work in this one I guess..
Loved your first challenge Astrid! Well done!
thank you – and thanks for the nit picking too.
LOL yes just checked my kitchen and props but there is no dark thing to be found. Really need to find something fitting and not too expensive…
Go to the market to find a piece of fabric in dark colors and maybe someone in your family has a dark wooden round chopping board. That’s sort of the only things you need…
I’m positively excited for this month’s challenge (I wanted to participate in last month’s but found out too late). Not only does the recipe look easy, I love lemon anything and now have an excuse to get a bundt pan
Thanks for creating these challenges, I’m always looking to push myself in photography and in the kitchen.
Yeah it anything, I do think this cake is going to be really tasty! Looking forward to seeing your entry Athena!
Beautiful post ……Love the recipe.
Thanks Alpana!
Love lemon cakes and this one sounds and looks perfect! I am no photographer, Simone, as you well know but I can’t help but join in the challenge and the fun!
O yeah! Would be fabulous if you can join in Jamie and I’m sure you will do a good job!
Can you believe I don’t own a Donna Hay Cookbook? I say shame on me. I like this dark photo. So many blogs do copy that light style and all their photos end up looking alike. YOUR photos are always wonderful and I love that you are constantly learning and challenging yourself. My new site is up and I’m so excited to be blogging again, but I got a surprise canon dslr with fixed focal lens for my birthday, and am even super excited to learn about it more. Wish I could knock on your door for a few tips.
O wow that is a really nice birthday present Angela! And… a good reason to participate in this challenge! And you don’t own a Donna Hay… (maybe a good idea for the next birthday!) I was taking to someone the other day who had never even heard of Donna Hay! Lol…
Mine will be online tomorrow morning
Whoohoo! You made it and you’re the first in too!
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