Great Food Photos: Roger Stowell

The world's a big place and no matter how much you travel to foreign places, you will never get to see every corner...every small town there is. And that is why I love reading other food photographer's blog especially if they're living any place that isn't Brooklyn or New York. I learn so much about the culture and the food scene just by what the person is blogging. And also the simple act of making soup on a rainy day sound so magical, when it is happening in the countryside of France. Roger Stowell and his wife traded their London life for one in Vendée. I like to do that someday also, well maybe not Vendée but somewhere less hectic than New York City. Though for now I'll just admire Roger's food photos and beautiful description of his life in the French countryside.

Q. Can you tell me what you’re trying to capture when you take your food photos? A. I try to capture the feeling of the moment. Sometimes it’s cool and structured, as in a white egg on white background, another time it may be the grime of the farmer’s hand against the perfection of a bunch of freshly picked grapes or the immediacy of a saucepan of milk boiling over. I’m happy around food and the look of it makes me take pictures.

Q. Has moving from London to the Vendee changed your way of viewing the subject through the camera lens? A. My way of seeing images has completely changed as I’m no longer looking at them to please a client. For the first time in a long while I’m taking pictures for me, and I think they are better for it.

Q. What inspires you? A. The stuff of every day inspires me. Lighting the fire, the morning mist, shadows on a curtain, an eyelash, a beautiful bunch of pink radishes, seeing other photographers’ work, reading a book……it’s endless. There’s not enough time to shoot all the pictures. That has been the joy of not having to think of conceptual ideas for delightfully rich, but annoying clients.

Q. Any food photography heroes? If not, any photography heroes? A. There are so many good photographers around that it’s hard to choose. Jean-Louis Bloch Laine’s food pictures in “Marie Claire” in the 80’s certainly influenced me to specialise in food photography. Food photography is a victim of its own success, and is now primarily fashion driven. The great Americans such as Irving Penn and Richard Avedon still have a great influence on me, as do the great Hungarian photographers. I served a short assistantship with the London fashion photographer, Clive Arrowsmith, who taught me more about light than anyone else. Q. Best meal so far in 2011? A. Today’s lunch. My favourite meal up to then would have to be yesterday’s lunch.

All photos courtesy of Roger Stowell

Great Food Photos: Ditte Isager

Once I saw an interview of a musician that made up his mind about not listening to other music. He said to truly keep his music 100% his style and pure, he didn't want any other music to influence his. Many photographers strive to create their own style, their own voice. Though I doubt it will be possible to totally block all images/photos from your eyes to keep your style 100% yours and be unaffected by external influences. Everywhere you go, especially cities like NYC, you're pretty much overwhelmed by images. I first saw Ditte Isager's photos when I was randomly flipping through Gordon Ramsay's cookbook "Cooking for Friends." Like many people, I quickly fell in love with her photos and her style. Simple but there is also something magical about it. Ditte Isager is someone that has totally found her own style and I admire her for that.

Q. Can you tell me what you’re trying to capture when you take your food photos? A. A beautiful picture, to enjoy and inspire.

Q. What inspires you? A. People I work with, old master and daylight.

Q. I read in an interview you did on Nordic Design that you described your style as Nordic. What is Nordic style? A. Nordic style is in my eyes simplicity, the use of daylight and clear colors. Simple but beautiful.

Q. Have your style changed since you moved to NYC? A. No, I think it is very important to stay true to your style. New York is an amazing place, with so much drive, so much power. You need to stay true to your believes and instinct living and working in this city....

Q. Do you approach food photos differently than non-food photos? A. No, its all about the composition, tones, shadow and light.

Q. Have you always been interested in photography? A. Always, starting up with my dad and his old Pentax in the basement, moving on to photographer school in Copenhagen Denmark.

Q. Any food photography heroes? If not any photography heroes? A. Sally Mann and the great Irving Penn.

Q. Best meal so far in 2011? A. I always enjoyed eating at Noma, of course. But every year my family have a feast around midsummer where we BBQ a whole lamb. It's the best meal, it's summer, all family together everybody are happy. I love it.

All photos courtesy of Ditte Isager

Great Food Photos: Jenna Park

2011 has been one amazing year. I've met so many wonderful people that are doing what they love, even when they have to juggle ten thousand things all at once. Jenna Park is a photographer, mom, wife, business owner, blogger, website designer, art director and HELLO! fellow ITP alumni. Jenna founded Whimsy & Spice with her husband, Mark Sopchak, back in 2008. They make amazing sweets like marshmallows, cookies, brownies and many other delicious things. Looking through their site, it's hard not just run out and buy all their goodies. Thank you Jenna for letting me feature you! Q. Can you tell me what you’re trying to capture when you take your food photos? A. I call my style "lazy stylist". But in all seriousness, just like my design work, the food photos that I take for our business is pretty stripped down and minimal. I'm less attracted to overly stylized food shots with lots of props - I would rather capture the scene or the food as is and let that tell the story.

Q. I read your blog entry about your renewed interest in taking photos because of Whimsy & Spice. How has your view on photography changed and how has photography changed the way you see the world now? A. I studied photography in high school and also in art school as part of 1st and 2nd year requirements. Since this was a million years ago, we were developing and printing our own prints in a dark room. Most of the class, however, consisted of long critiques. When I left art school, I didn't pick up a camera again for quite a number of years. I surprised myself a few years later when I wanted to take a color photography class for a quarter when I transferred schools to be a music major, but the art that I created was less about taking photos and more about creating collages with images that I developed in the darkroom.

I didn't really start taking photos again until we started the business. It was a simple matter of economics - we couldn't afford a photographer to do our product shots so I just did them myself. I have to cringe at those early product shots but they really served us well and I think was a huge reason why we took off so quickly with very little PR effort from our part. Since then I've become personally interested in more documentary style photography

Q. What inspires you as a photographer? A. The fact that you can freeze time. I love that you can capture moments that are so fleeting, you wouldn't be able to see them otherwise without a camera.

Q. Any food photography heroes? If not any photography heroes? A. I don't really have any food photography heroes per se, but I was always very enamored by Nan Goldin going all the way back to my art school days. I also love the NY street photography of Vivian Maier and I enjoy the work of my "baby" cousin Dorothy Hong. She's an incredibly gifted young photographer who has already had much success in her career.

Q. Best meal so far in 2011? A. I think the most memorable meal that I've had this year was my birthday picnic back in April (http://www.sweetfineday.com/2011/04/a-birthday/). Mark and the girls surprised me on our outing to Old Westbuy Gardens with a spread that included cheese, pate, bread and raw oysters that Mark shucked himself right there. He also baked this insane 7 layer chocolate cake with white chocolate frosting that has since been dubbed the "god cake" by our kitchenmates, Liddabit Sweets.

All photos courtesy of Jenna Park of Whimsy & Spice and Sweet Fine Day. Also be sure to check out Jenna's new photo project, The Mixed Race, where she photographs multiracial families.

Great Food Photos: Peter Bagi

One of the reasons why I wanted to start this project was to meet other food photogs and hopefully ask questions other than what lens they use. At first I imagined it would just be me searching the interweb for photogs. And I guess through the powers of the interweb, sometimes they find me. I've only been in the northeast twice (two times in Seattle and once in Vancouver). I wouldn't mind moving there and now after checking out Peter Bagi's photos, I definitely want to move there. Peter Bagi is a photographer, a food enthusiast and a web designer from Victoria, BC. I didn't get a chance to visit Victoria when I last visited that area but hopefully next year I'll make the trek out. I guess in the mean I'll just have to settle with looking at his beautiful captured moments and just daydream. Thank you Peter for finding me!

Q. Can you tell me what you’re trying to capture when you take your food photos? A. I'm trying to capture a feeling rather than specific elements within a dish. I cook and eat because I love where it transports me. I can make a beautiful, rustic Italian dish and for me it puts me at a long table with friends in a small square in Italy. I want to transport the viewer with my photographs.

Q. Where do you find your inspirations? A. I find my inspirations from all over. It might be a cool tumblr blog showcasing lifestyle images, a wicked movie based around food, my own food experiences and of course other photographers. I have a few photographers I follow who I just totally aspire to be like. Not in their style but in what they have achieved.

Q. Have you always been interested in photography? A. Yes! Ever since I got my hands on a Polaroid camera as a kid. For me photography was always what allowed to me transport somewhere else. This might sound like escapism and I'm ok with that. Sometimes you look out your window and all you see is grey skies. Any shimmer of positive inspiration is welcomed. The world becomes a better place when more of us find the beauty in it. For me photography allows me to capture this beauty and share it with others.

Q. Do you approach photography and web design the same? A. Yes, both are based on feelings. What story are we trying to tell is the first question I ask. For photography this will come right down to what kind of lighting, colour cast, props and angles I'm going to use. I will almost always know what I'm going to do when I start out. I have a vision and I just simply follow through. I try to engage my right brain and not allow the left side come in with logic. Finding solutions and ideas that aren't always on people's minds is my favourite!

Q. What in the food scene of Victoria makes you excited/happy to live in Victoria? A. I feel that there are some really passionate foodies here in Victoria and this is giving Victoria a food vibe. This has lead to more young artisans producing fresh breads, roasting coffee, making beer and growing beautiful vegetables. I would say that it is relatively easy to find great food in Victoria.

Q. Any food photography heroes? If not any photography heroes? A. Ditte Isager. I just love her style. There's a sense of ease, sophistication and care in her photographs without coming across pretentious or stuffy.

Q. Best meal so far in 2011? A. My best meal so far this year was eating fresh tacos with my girlfriend and finishing it with a waffle topped with ice cream while people watching in one of our squares.

All photos courtesy of Peter Bagi from The Closet Chef