While I’ve managed to reach something of an understanding with my trusty little Canon Ixus I have been getting more and more frustrated with its limitations. It’s time to dive into the world of manual controls; f-stops, shutter speeds and ISO settings.
A DSLR is a step too far just now so I’m testing the waters with a bridge camera – the Canon SX30. It’s not going to solve all my photography issues but hopefully with a bit of practice I can get faster and more effective results. Or at least I can take a usable photo before the food goes cold!
I haven’t done a lot of cooking this week for the blog but I have managed to take lots of pictures of our new kitten – Mitsy, and the steak and beer I enjoyed tonight.
Mince and Skirlie 
I don’t know what problems you’ve been having with your pictures, but I found this helped a lot:
http://www.thekitchn.com/thekitchn/expert-interview/best-food-photography-tips-from-three-pro-photographers-expert-interview-140610
Their tip about the lighting is the single best advise I’ve taken on when it comes to shooting food. I use an off camera flash for all of my shots because I cook in the evening, I don’t get any natural light when I take my pictures. But I’m sure there’s something you can do with your on-camera flash to mimic the effects.