CometPhoto

Lisa Cherkasky, my longtime food styling collaborator, was recently featured in this video for Voice of America (also in this story for their website). They interviewed us both and shot us working in my studio for Gold Crust Baking Company. The video really captures our teamwork as we concentrate on tiny details, as usual; and Lisa even shows off some of her secret-weapon styling tools!

As Lisa says in the video, she approaches food styling as if she is creating sculpture. Her creativity and excellent aesthetic judgement are two basic reasons why we have done approximately 30 cookbooks together. Without a great stylist like Lisa, I can’t concentrate on what I need to do as the photographer. Here is my finished shot of the bagel-and-salmon “sculpture” that Lisa creates in the video.

Dining with the Washingtons is the title of the cookbook I have been shooting for Mount Vernon. I have loved this project, capturing everything (and blogging about it along the way): the gardens, the produce and the prepared recipes. I even got to stay over in the mansion with my crew so we could be on the spot early enough to shoot the location at sunrise. This shot of hoecakes is one of my favorites. The recipe is a modern adaptation of one of George Washington’s typical breakfasts. The tableware is “Blue Canton,” by Mottaheded, a reproduction of imported Chinese “Canton” ware. The Mount Vernon gift shop carries this china as well as the white cornmeal used in the recipe. Dripping off the hoecakes is Pure Natural Honey from Northern Virginia’s Ferree Bee Products (5830 Piedmont Dr., Alexandria VA).

Recently the editors created a Facebook page for the book, which comes out in September.

I plucked this arugula from my garden on the way to work. The first photo was so fresh and green that I thought it would make a delicious lunch. It is all about the drips and wetness that makes food look  like you have to eat it!

How do I look? My phase back broke yesterday during a job. I am shooting with a loaner P 65+ and feeling like I am not going to want to give it back. Kathy’s grandmother’s measuring cups sure are beautiful to photograph. I do have to give those back!