It’s been awhile since I made an entry…all thank goodness to the fact my clients have been keeping me very busy. With the end of summer I thought I post an image of one of my favorite summer appetizers, prosciutto and figs. A simple light dish prepared by my friend from portlandhomechef.com, Brittany Baldwin.

This was shot in the living room of her farmhouse near St Helens, OR where my wife and I spent splendid afternoon shooting for her website, meeting new friends and, of course, sampling all the lovely creations we photographed. Brittany, like many of us here in Portland, lives a double life, part chef, part published fiction writer and poet. I think her poetry carries into her food. It was really fun working directly with the chef, especially one with such great aesthetic.

You know some people ask me if I get bored putting just plates in front of my camera all the time. (especially those friends who knew me in San Francisco where I did more fashion work) For me shooting food is very analogous to shooting fashion. It is the ultimate test of composition just like a headshot or a standard full length clothing shot-deceptively simple yet difficult to make compelling.

Food is alive and just like people you work hard to get to that “decisive moment” when everything is at it’s peak and if you dink with it too long that moment will be gone. Finally it is the ultimate collaboration with a chef and/or a food stylist acting just like a fashion model or hair and makeup stylist. They can even talk back like one. There is no shortage of divas in the food business either. And I admit I love watching everyone of them.

To steal a favorite phrase of an author I just worked with, I say “Salud!” to the summer and everything edible.