Le Soufflé

People perpetually ask me what I like to shoot.  I guess it’s the one question people ask when they find out you’re a photographer – that and, “oh, do you shoot weddings?”  Anyways…….. without hesitation I always reply, “food, I love shooting food, it’s my passion.”  More often than not, that’s followed up by, “oh, because food doesn’t move!”  While this is true to some extent, it is definitely not the rule!

Take for example Le Soufflé!  The word soufflé is the past participle of the french verb souffler; which literally means “to blow up.”  Let me be the first to say, these puppies can move!!!!!  My food stylist Sara Bartus was gracious enough to give me a few “stand in” soufflés so I could light them properly, and so we could see just how quickly they would deflate.  They moved fast, it didn’t take more than a minute for them to lose their “lift.”

The Chocolate Soufflés were purposely left on set and dug into with a spoon to give the shot a more rustic aesthetic.  However, the strawberry soufflé wasn’t out of the oven for more than 20 seconds when I captured the shot.

Bon Appétit!!!!

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The Honorable Pheasant


What more could an avid outdoorsman and photographer want…..?  It sounds too good to be true – a weekend chasing pheasants, and a day in the studio shooting them (with a camera). If I was smart, I would have brought my camera to the field and snapped a few shots of some accomplished dog work, some heart pounding points, and maybe even an action shot of a rooster breaking through the upland grass.

The truth is, I left my camera at home, I was there to hunt! I also knew I would be shooting them in the studio the very next day (with a camera).

Fellow wild game enthusiast Amy Peterson and I had been planning this shot for over a year. Finally, the stars aligned and we were able to coordinate some great shots of the honorable pheasant! Thank you Amy for a great photo shoot!

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Extemporaneous

Extemporaneous |ek-ˌstem-pə-ˈrā-nē-əs| adjective: Composed, performed, or uttered on the spur of the moment.

Lately, it seems like a reoccurring theme on my blog is the motivation or need to “be inspired.” Sometimes I look for inspiration, and other times it comes to me. Today, inspiration nearly landed in my lap – on its way to slapping me in the face.

This morning I was scheduled to shoot a fried catfish for a grocer’s advertisement. Amy Peterson (another amazing food stylist) was prepping the fish, and as I walked into the kitchen I was presented with an unforeseen opportunity. As if on cue, Amy and I both saw beauty in its raw form as she placed the fish into the cornmeal and flour. An extemporaneous shot was in order, and this is what we created.

Thanks Amy!!!!

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Roasted Fall Vegetables

Artists often look to other “sources” for inspiration leading to their own artistic creative production. Whether it be other people, a memory, a dream, a favorite book or even the way transient light hits a subject etc. – inspirations comes in many forms. The source of inspiration for this recipe shot was influenced by our late October cold snap. That’s right, Sara Bartus (food stylist extraordinaire) and myself were inspired by the cold Minnesota weather.

Think about it – the change in season and the crisp cool air, the sweet smell of fresh fallen leaves, the warm color palettes, the nostalgic sensation you experience when you walk into a cozy home where someone’s been busy roasting and baking fall season delectables! It’s time for Autumn comfort food!

We hope this recipe inspires you to create something of your own!!!!

Sara writes:

“The beauty of fall vegetables is the ease with which you can prepare them. Roasting a variety of root vegetables, alliums, and even fall fruit transforms them into something spectacular. I love roasted vegetables by themselves or served with a simple risotto, and/or try it with your favorite crusty baguette and cheese. Yum!”

Roasted Fall Vegetables
Here’s what I use:

For the drizzle
Olive oil
Locally sourced honey
Fresh Lemon juice

For the veggies
*try to keep the sizes somewhat similar by halving and quartering. Carrots and potatoes will take the longest to cook so don’t cut them too big!
Carrots
Potatoes
Leeks
Radishes
Shallots
Garlic
Small red onions
Small apples
Seckel Pears
Thyme
“You really don’t need a recipe, just use enough “drizzle” to coat the veggies lightly. Roast on a lightly oiled baking sheet at 400 degrees checking every 15 minutes. Towards the end things will move more quickly so keep a wary eye out! Finally, roasted veggies hate being crowded – they should just touch, and definitely shouldn’t be piled on top of one another. If they do, use an extra pan to spread things about a bit. Olive oil with a hint of honey helps to bring out the natural sweetness and a bit of lemon juice keeps the individual flavors bright. Use your favorite woody herb and salt and pepper to taste. Enjoy!”

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Kelsey and Sergio

I am always honored when a couple asks me to capture what most consider the most treasured day of their lives – their wedding day.  As a food photographer I rarely shoot weddings, but when someone asks me to document their special day, I rarely turn them down.

So, I was humbled when our son’s nanny asked me to shoot her wedding.  Kelsey has blessed our family and enriched our son’s life in extraordinary ways.  She has a special gift with people, especially children.  Unfortunately for us, we’re losing Kelsey in two weeks as she continues to pursue her life’s passion of serving others.  This fall Kelsey will be attending the University of Minnesota as she continues her education towards a Masters in Social Work.

Thank you Kelsey for sharing your gift with Westley, we wish you the best in your future!

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Late Summer Pancakes

Популярные азартные аппараты для вас

В современном мире отдых необходим каждому человеку, который практически целый день проводит на рабочем месте, но для того чтобы найти для себя подходящий вариант, сопоставляющейся со всеми вашими требованиями и характеристиками. Из-за большого перечня самых различных игр, остановить свой выбор на одном варианте достаточно сложно. Вы имеете возможность воспользоваться услугами не только реального мира, но также и виртуального пространства. Ведь не каждый сайт может предоставить вам возможность для качественного отдыха на собственной платформе, ведь в интернете также имеется некоторое количество мошенников, которые только мечтают, как можно получить много денег, причем за короткий срок и, не прикладывая большое количество усилий. Для того чтобы не попасть в данную ловушку, вам требуется, прежде чем играть, ознакомиться со всеми отзывами, которые будут опубликованы либо на выбранном сайте, либо на специализированных развлекательных форумах. Мы также можем предоставить вам качественное развлечения, помогающее скоротать ваш свободный вечер, для этого вам нужно посетить наше виртуальное казино.

У нас вы имеете возможность попробовать бесплатные игры вулкан , которые позволяют узнать все правила, необходимые для последующей игры с иными соперниками, играющими в нашем казино. Но прежде чем начать игру, вам требуется пройти не сложную регистрацию. Абсолютно всем пользователям мы гарантируем полную безопасность данных, которые ранее были любезно предоставлены вами. Приходите к нам за выигрышем, ожидающим именно вас, а также за настроением, которое придает вам бодрость на следующую рабочую неделю.

This is my first of hopefully many attempts into the world of recipe food blog posts. I love food, and I love taking pictures of food, so it only makes sense right?

Some very talented food bloggers develop their own recipes, style their own food, and even shoot the food themselves. I enjoy styling food; but for the most part, I leave that up to the professionals!

This week, I had the privilege of working with an up and coming food stylist – Sara Bartus. If you haven’t heard of her already……watch out! Sara is a motivated and talented food stylist, a consummate professional, and passionate foodie. Her love for everything food is obvious, and it reflects in the recipes she develops, and in her styling. Thank you Sara for a great shoot! love magic

Sara writes:

“In the waning days of a Minnesota summer – we swing from muggy hot afternoons, to cool crisp mornings. This weather is perfect to take advantage of fresh summer berries, and warm tender pancakes.”

Late Summer Pancakes

1/2 cup all purpose flour
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup greek yogurt
2 large eggs
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon fresh grated nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon finely grated organic orange peel

In a medium sized bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking soda and salt. Add the yogurt and whisk together briefly just until barely incorporated. It will look shaggy and a bit dry. Add whisked eggs, vanilla and nutmeg (if desired). Whisk together until batter is just barely smooth. Let sit for about 5-10 minutes before pouring your pancakes.

Heat your favorite pancake cooking pan or griddle – brush with butter.

Once the pan is hot, gently drop a ladle of batter onto the pan. Cook on medium heat until the bubbles are breaking the surface and the edges are starting to look cooked (they will firm up and no longer be shiny and wet). Very gently flip the pancake and cook for a few minutes until the other side is light brown and the center has puffed up.

Serve with butter, maple syrup, and fresh seasonal berries – such as raspberries and red currents. Dust with powered sugar if desired, eat and enjoy:)

Makes approximately 8 5″ pancakes.

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Happy Birthday Wes!!!

Our sweet boy Westley Douglas Wong turned 1 today! We can’t believe it’s already been a year. Thank you for enriching our lives, teaching us so much, and loving us unconditionally. We love you so much:)

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Fuji X100

Every so often (more often than not), new photograhy equipment catches my eye. Such was the case when the Fuji X100 was released in spring of 2011. I was immediately drawn by its retro styling, and its impressive list of specifications. I had been looking for an alternative to lugging around my DSLR; in hopes of finding a carry-all, pocket-sized, take-anywhere, travel-sized camera – something I could grab on the go. Aside from its portability and ease of use, it had to have a good sensor, accompanied by great image quality.

The only thing holding me back was its fixed prime 23mm lens (35mm equivalent). That means there would be no option to swap out lenses. It also meant that I wouldn’t be able to zoom in and out. Wait, hold the phone….. So you’re telling me I would have to move around to get the desired composition? Precisely! With my one concern in hand and without ever actually seeing the camera in person, I ordered one.

I would be lying if I said the X100 helped me rediscovered my love for photography. However, what it has done is rekindled the joy of shooting. As a commercial photographer, sometimes you lose your motivation to shoot outside of the studio. For me, the Fuji X100 has given me the opportunity to “simply” shoot. It not only looks good, but it feels good, it’s tactile, nostalgic, and romantic. It reminds me of the days of film.

Oh, and my concern regarding the fixed prime lens? I consider it a plus! Not having the ability to change lenses, or zoom in and out is teaching me to approach my subjects differently. It’s teaching me new ways to compose, and I’m paying more attention to reading the light, and how it falls on my subjects.

So, I bet you’re looking for some work samples now! Below are a few shots I took of my Vizsla Hunter on a recent hunting trip to Saskatchewan. I hope you enjoy the images as much as I enjoyed shooting them!

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Cropping

I once again had the privilege of working with two of my favorite stylists – Kim Colburn, and Veronica Smith. As a food photographer, it is a real treat to work with people who share the same passion for food, creativity, and art. Thanks again ladies for another great shoot!

Every once in a while a photographer is challenged with how to crop an image. Most of the time food photographers do not constrain themselves to the standardized crop dimensions that the camera captures. Instead, we choose to shoot wider and give ourselves the opportunity to crop with our software later in post production. This is also a “best practice,” in case the image ever needs to be re-purposed. Needless to say, cropping can make a big impact on how people see and connect with an image.

On commercial packaging shoots, art directors have the most influence on composition and cropping, and how the food fits within the layout. On editorial shoots like magazines, cookbooks, and web it’s usually left up to the photographer; still we must have a clear understanding of what the client wants to convey to their audience. Should I crop in tight on the food? Should I open up the crop to show more environment? Am I telling a story? How can I crop this image so the consumer will want to make this recipe? Should I shoot it from a different angle? These are all thoughts that run through my head during a shoot.

So, tell me what you think….. What image makes you want to try the recipe and eat the food? What is most inviting to you? You can be my focus group so to speak!

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Let’s Kick Some ALS for Dad!

Three weeks ago in Seattle, I joined my mom and sisters in the ALS Foundation’s Walk to Defeat ALS. We were walking in memory of my dad who lost his battle to ALS in January, 2011. It was a very special weekend for our family honoring dad, and walking in support of the ALS Association and their efforts. In total, we raised $4,290 which put us in the top 10 teams for fundraising for an event that had over 1,000 participants! It was inspiring to see ALS patients and their friends/families feel empowered to find hope in a seemingly hopeless situation – not so much for themselves but for others in the future. I was encouraged, moved and humbled by both the patients at the ALS walk, as well as everyone who supported our team. Thanks!

For more information on the ALS Foundation, please visit:

www.alsa.org

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