The Austere Donut

I'm a big fan of Wayne Thiebaud. Years ago, for a Whole Foods shoot, we were inspired by his work in creating this shot.

On a recent home shoot, a pile of donuts had me channeling Mr. Thiebaud once more.

2014 ÷ 12 x 2

January

February

 March

 

 April

 May

June

July

August

September

 

October

 

November

 

 December

The Beautiful People

Please, stop having fun on the photo shoot.

I worked with stylist and writer Valorie Hart, and chef Ryan Hughs, to create a Winter Entertaining cover feature for New Orleans Homes and Lifestyles.  It felt more like a party than a job. The house, and its renovation, are so good that we ended up featuring it in the following issue for the Renovation of the Year .

 

Private Property

I woke up before dawn last week to drive upriver. I was shooting a story about haunted plantations (apparently they all are haunted) and I saw this charming scene at a plantation next door to Oak Alley. I pulled over to capture it and wouldn't you know, and old lady in a white Cadillac pulled in after me to yell at me: This is Private Property!
Phooey.

Mo Meauxbar, please.

Meauxbar, on the edge of the quarter on Rampart St. was always one of my favorite restaurants. (Except the time the waiter kicked over my tripod and my camera hit the tile floor. He hid in the kitchen. Seriously). Recently the business was bought by the same people who ran Ste Marie, and pretty much moved the whole restaurant staff over. The resulting restaurant is comfortably familiar, but a bit spiffed up, and the food is resplendent - not surprising from the lovely and talented Kristin Essig.

The above shot is an outtake from our ongoing Scout Guide shoots. The following is the first time I photographed Kristin, at Ste Marie, in July 2013. How cute is she??

Emmy's Light

I was finished with her shot, I thought. Then she started playing with the diffusion ring and held it up behind her back with the sun behind her. I will use this trick again.

Wine from Above

Here's what happened:
On my daily walk, I had been passing this old fence that was falling down, and absolutely coveting it. I knew the beautiful silver blue tones would make a gorgeous surface. Weeks go by.  Finally, one day I see a sign for a fence company in the yard. Next day, the old fence is laying on the curb. I speedwalk home, call my friend with the truck and...

If you look carefully, you can see 2 Katrina floodwater lines in a yellowish hue. This fence is starting its next life with me. We're going to have lots of fun together.