3.10.2010

Black and White and Flour all over.


Yesterday was the final shoot for the "winter" section of our recipe book.  We decided that we wanted to do a 'how to' section in the book, and that the Italian pasta, cavatelli's, would be the perfect opportunity to do so.  Lauren's family owns a cavatelli maker, so we were able to make the dough and the little noodles fresh on set.  Thanks LaPenna's! 
This also seemed like the perfect chance for me to do something a little different with my photography, as well.  I have never shot any type of 'how to' before, and rarely use people (or any of their limbs) in my photographs. I have also fallen into a habit of shooting very clean, very colorful food photos, so doing something raw, gritty, and black and white was extremely refreshing. 
The above grid is an example of how this 'how to' will be displayed in our recipe book, showing the step-by-step cavatelli process. Below are each of the individual photos. Let us know what you think!

 

3.04.2010

holes in my jeans, braids in my hair, and a camera in my hands.


Yesterday was shoot #4 of the Recipe book that Lauren, Derek and I are working on.  We're still shooting for the "winter" section of the book, and yesterday's theme was Valentine's Day.  We wanted to do a plated meal that was a bit more sophisticated and celebratory, without the scene looking cheesy.  I think that we accomplished exactly what we set out to do.  We chose a dish of lamb chops with a cranberry sauce, potatoes, and some greens. Derek managed to bring us props that subtly said Valentine's day, without fiery hearts and naked cupids (much to Lauren's disappointment). The color of the plates perfectly highlighted the beautiful colors in the food, and the lamb looked stunning (it tasted pretty stunning, too).  Luckily, for me, the weather outside was gross and cloudy, and made for a soft and beautiful light in the studio. 
One more shoot and we're completely finished with the first section of the book, and weeks ahead of time! The project is coming along wonderfully, and we're all having a really great time with it.  Although, we all agree that we could really use assistants while we're shooting, any volunteers?
Thoughts and comments on the photos are encouraged! 
Enjoy!