Last week I took a class from the renowned food photographer Andrew Scrivani. If you’re in to food photography and have an opportunity to take a class from him, I cannot recommend it enough. Do it. The goal of this class was to get yourself to break out of creative ruts. For my part, I felt that I needed a push to break through to the next level of my work . One of his comments was to add a human element to my work. Build an environment and make sure there’s a human in it. The above was the the photograph I created. The challenge, at first was daunting as I really didn’t do much of that in my beverage photography before. Initially there were no ideas. I let it sit for a day or so and let my mind wander. Since coming up with this idea, there have been three or four more ideas since. Challenging yourself can be intimidating. Not challenging yourself means no growth. Challenge yourself.
Pilsner
Warmer weather is approaching and that means the time for pilsners are at hand. Crisp, clean and refreshing on a hot summer day. Maybe you’re mowing the lawn, listening to the ballgame on the radio or firing up the grill, a pilsner goes with that. Cheers!
Life is all about balance
How can life be this busy? I still don’t go anywhere with the pandemic! I doubt I’m the only person who feels this way. The last week has been especially crazy. I’m juggling and luckily nothing has dropped yet. Find the balance is hard. When I was first having those thoughts, I happened to be looking at the shelves of prop glasses that I have and I found this one from Dragon Glassware. It is a beautiful glass. Instantly I knew the photograph I wanted to create with it. Balance it. If I can’t be good at it in real life, I can make it work in photograph.
Last night's night cap
When you’re stuck for an idea, break it all down and go back to the basics. My thought was pretty simple, how can I make one ice cube look it’s best when I photograph this glass of scotch. Get as close as I can and light it the best I can. Simple, clean and hopefully elegant. You get to decide that. Cheers!
Apothic Red
I have been experimenting with wine bottle photographs lately. Honestly, I do not understand why the industry standard for bottles has been what it has been. Why show the entire bottle in advertising shots, especially the on white versions you see on web sites and on flyers. We all know what the top of a wine bottle looks like and it makes the entire bottle smaller in the image, especially the most important part, the label. No one is shopping and trying to identify a brand from the wrapper above the cork. Wine makers are obviously spending a lot of time, effort and money on creating their labels. Why not make the label front and center and prominent in the photograph?
Hands on Photography
I had the honor to be a guest of Ant Pruitt on his great show “Hands on Photography”. We talk about lighting for Beverage Photography and announce a new workshop we’re putting together for New Orleans this October. Check it out where you get podcasts or at the link here.
The Glenlivet
Enjoy The Glenlivet, the smooth flowing one. Vibrantly gold in color with a silky vanilla sweetness. In this photograph, I wanted to catch the gold not only in the bottle but in the two glasses. Cheers!
Happy St Patrick's Day
I had an idea for a foam mustache. By living with a beverage photographer, she is legally obligated to be my model from time to time. Happy St Patrick’s Day. Have a pint! Sláinte!
The Glencairn Whisky Glass with a dram of scotch.
While I was making this photograph, all I could think of was traveling again and visiting Scotland once again. The lush landscapes, the friendly people and the delicious scotch. I’m sure I am not alone in my desire to travel again. The pandemic has left us all longing for a return to some semblance of our lives before this. For now, all I can do is grab a dram and look forward to the future. Cheers!