Halloween Pumpkins

**WeeBurd** · 18-Oct-06, 21:54

Since it's getting to that time of the year, I thought I'd start a wee thread, to see how everyone else gets on too. Anyone with any tips on getting a decent pumpkin pic, please share all... I apologise in advance for my poor quality shots!

**WeeBurd** · 18-Oct-06, 21:59

Mr Burds efforts here, some spooky hands...

And another from Mr Burd, a creepy clown...

**WeeBurd** · 18-Oct-06, 22:10

Wee'erBurd's mini pumpkin, carved by WeeBurd...

WeeBurd's effort...

**WeeBurd** · 18-Oct-06, 22:12

Finally, WeeBurd's Apprentice was also roped in...

Now, will have to go search for MrBurd's one from last year....

**Ojibwa** · 18-Oct-06, 23:42

**Tiger Jones** · 19-Oct-06, 00:03

Originally Posted by WeeBurd

Since it's getting to that time of the year, I thought I'd start a wee thread, to see how everyone else gets on too. Anyone with any tips on getting a decent pumpkin pic, please share all... I apologise in advance for my poor quality shots!

Superb pumpkins, WeeBurd. See what you mean about the low-light shots though. Depends on your camera and what functions it's capable of - shutter speed etc. Just experimenting a lot might bring better results. Don't know if a tripod would make much difference but might be worth a try if you haven't already.

I haven't carved pumpkins but I used to make lanterns out of turnips before pumpkins were invented! lol
Wasn't much scope in a wee neep to make works of art but it was fun all the same.

**Sporran** · 19-Oct-06, 04:02

Excellent pumpkin carvings, WeeBurd! Here's a pic my son took of our pumpkins last year. He used a setting on his digital camera to make them look aflame. I rather like the effect!

**danc1ngwitch** · 19-Oct-06, 11:05

Enjoyed these pics wea ma 14 year old girl. These are great!!! thank you 4 bringin a lil pleasure x

**WeeBurd** · 19-Oct-06, 13:51

Sporran, I love the effect, very freaky!

Here's MrBurd's effort from last year. The quality of the pic is very poor, as it was taken on his phone, but you can see the outline of the pumpkin if you look close enough!

**WeeBurd** · 19-Oct-06, 14:02

Originally Posted by Tiger Jones

Superb pumpkins, WeeBurd. See what you mean about the low-light shots though. Depends on your camera and what functions it's capable of - shutter speed etc. Just experimenting a lot might bring better results. Don't know if a tripod would make much difference but might be worth a try if you haven't already.

I haven't carved pumpkins but I used to make lanterns out of turnips before pumpkins were invented! lol
Wasn't much scope in a wee neep to make works of art but it was fun all the same.

Thanks for the advice, Tiger, it's a bog standard digi camera (Samsung Digimax V5) we use, and I must confess, I only ever use it on the auto setting, even though there are plenty of others to experiment with. I guess I should dig out the instruction book and have a good study

.

And I too mind carving them out of neeps when I was wee, but I must confess I like the way the pumpkins glow once lit, quite spooky! I was thinking of experimenting this year by trying other veg/fruit - I've seen watermelons carved, but I might struggle to get one just now

.

**Tiger Jones** · 19-Oct-06, 17:32

Originally Posted by WeeBurd

...it's a bog standard digi camera (Samsung Digimax V5) we use, and I must confess, I only ever use it on the auto setting, even though there are plenty of others to experiment with. I guess I should dig out the instruction book and have a good study

.

I believe there's a 'Night mode' on your camera. Might be worth testing that. Like you say, there're plenty of other settings to play with too and a wee read of the manual should help. Good luck

**connieb19** · 19-Oct-06, 18:20

Do folks no make them from neeps anymore?

**LENSMAN** · 19-Oct-06, 20:39

**golach** · 19-Oct-06, 21:22

Originally Posted by connieb19

Do folks no make them from neeps anymore?

I agree with you Connie, whats wrong wi' a good owld Scottish Neep?, we dont need foreign imports and the bits o left over neep could be used till make Clapshot, ye canna mak that wi a Pumpkin

Welcome Guisers, get lost Trick or Treaters

**Sporran** · 19-Oct-06, 22:04

Originally Posted by connieb19

Do folks no make them from neeps anymore?

Originally Posted by golach

I agree with you Connie, whats wrong wi' a good owld Scottish Neep?, we dont need foreign imports and the bits o left over neep could be used till make Clapshot, ye canna mak that wi a Pumpkin

Welcome Guisers, get lost Trick or Treaters

When my brothers and I were kids in Thurso, all we had were good owld Scottish neeps for lanterns. They were much more difficult to carve than pumpkins, so our dad usually carved them out for us. We carried the lanterns with strong twine attached to them. I can still remember the smell of the turnips as they were heated inside by the burning candles!

I have to admit I prefer Guisers to Trick or Treaters as well, Golach. When I was a kid, we either sang or recited a poem, as I'm sure you did too when you were a guising wee Golach! The least we could get away with was "The sky is blue, the grass is green, what have you got for Halloween?" And that was considered taking the easy way out, lol!

Our left over bits o' neep never went to waste either. My mum either made mashed turnip or clapshot the next day. Over on this side of the pond, carved pumpkins are de rigueur, of course. In this household, if we don't make pumpkin pie out of the scoopings, we at least use the pumpkin seeds. They make a tasty snack, after you bake them with a sprinkling of salt!

**WeeBurd** · 19-Oct-06, 22:12

Rest assurred, there will be no wastage - the leftover pumpkin will be getting cooked and mushed for Wee'est Burd, although I dare say her sister will be pinching some as they're getting carved...

Also, the seeds are nice when washed, dried, and baked in the oven with some seasoning. Delicious!

I must admit, I used to pinch the raw neep when I was wee - yum!!

**Ricco** · 20-Oct-06, 18:09

Originally Posted by golach

I agree with you Connie, whats wrong wi' a good owld Scottish Neep?, we dont need foreign imports and the bits o left over neep could be used till make Clapshot, ye canna mak that wi a Pumpkin
Welcome Guisers, get lost Trick or Treaters

Ahh, but you can't make pumpkin pie with neaps. I know which I would rather have.

**golach** · 20-Oct-06, 19:22

Originally Posted by Ricco

Ahh, but you can't make pumpkin pie with neaps. I know which I would rather have.

Pumpkin pie....IMO Yeuch...I would rather have clapshot with lots of black pepper

**Tiger Jones** · 22-Oct-06, 13:08

Interesting wee titbit in the paper the other day.

"Hallowe'en lanterns were once made from turnips rather than pumpkins. The tradition began with Irish immigrants who went to America in the 1800s after the potato famine. They were meant to represent the souls of departed loved ones. But turnips were not widely available in the US and were soon replaced by pumkins."

And I thought the Yanks used them just because they were bigger!

**WeeBurd** · 29-Oct-06, 00:01

This is a "commission", for a friend. It's the same as one I did last year, just smaller.

Tiger, I took your advice, put the camera on a tripod (I know, it's not straight, but it's steady

!), and used the night setting...