Favorite Fifty

For some time I have been working on creating a portfolio for professional critique and personal growth. A portfolio is not static. It is always growing, reaching and becoming. But at any given moment it is a glimpse at the soul of its maker. Here is a glimpse at my soul. 50 of my best and favorite images, my portfolio that is for today, me. Click on any image to see it larger.

Something's Fishy Here

My sister Peggy picked it out right away. Why would the self avowed Fish & Seafood Hater be looking for a local shop to buy said swimmy things? Good question. I guess the answer lies in what won't I do for a photography shoot, oh yeah and my husband. 

This month's food photography challenge is Fish 2 ways. Since my son is off working at scout camp for the summer, I have no fisher people at my disposal. And frankly, if you know me, you know I hate fish. (Sorry fish, I'm sure you have good qualities that I should try to understand.) So in contemplating this month's challenge I had a few fears, first purchasing fish. Second fixing the fish. 

What kind of fish do you purchase? There are only several thousand varieties available. And then, what do you do with it? 

 I have vivid memories of a summer living in a tiny, cramped, extremely stuffy attic room in Jackson Hole Wyoming...my cousin and I had a microwave and a 4 x 4 inch electric fry pan to cook with. Downstairs was a kitchen, but regularly our landlady cooked fish. Oh the over powering fishy stench was nearly more than I could handle. I became an avowed believer in never cooking fish indoors because of that experience. So back to this month, what to do? 

 First let me tell you a bit about my patient husband. Not only is he patient with my non-fish loving bad attitude, he also is a very patient photography project guy. Just to illustrate, he pulled a large RV over to the wrong side of traffic once just outside of Sedona for the sole reason to allow me to photograph the magical fog that was developing over the light dusting of snow on the vivid red desert rocks. That's a patient husband. And well he likes fish. So I decided if I was going to attempt this challenge (and just try to tell me I shouldn't) I would at least attempt a fish that he would eat. 

Me: What kind of fish do you like? 

Him: Halibut 

Me: I wonder where you can find Halibut in Utah? 

 It's a bit tricky as it turns out. You see Utah is not known for it's seafood specialties. The only thing that lives in the Great Salt Lake is Brine Shrimp and well that's food fit only for birds or other small organisms or well just not people. 

 So began the Great Fish Quest of June 2012. I would have gladly sacrificed by taking a trip to Alaska to get it fresh, but shucks I was simply short on time (and money). I learned that fresh fish should not smell fishy. So that eliminated my usual grocery stores. (excuse me while I step away from the counter) However, thanks to prompting from my facebook friends I discovered a Whole Foods market in downtown Salt Lake City. 

 Meet 'Joe' My fish guy. :) (I think he's used to people taking his picture when they buy fish...he didn't even flinch!)

And meet Hal...I named him that just for the Halibut. (I kill myself) 

A quick tip I learned when grilling halibut (works with chicken too!) I basted the fish with a light olive oil then sprinkled seasoning salt. Grilled one side for about 5 minutes, flipped and repeated. (Never flip again...it's the rule of the grill--I learned that from Bobby Flay)

To top it, I created a light and tasty fruit salsa then bedded it on some lettuce greens and slice of grilled pineapple. The meat of the fillet was a beautiful white, moist and flaky. It had great flavor. I can now say I've eaten Halibut...and I enjoyed it. My husband got his first ever fish grill for Father's Day and my kids were great sports and came a long for the ride. I even had a bit left over and had a tasting with the neighbors. Being fish connoisseurs on that side of the street I was awarded with a 2 thumbs up.

Seems I've faced a fish fear and I came out better for it. But please don't tell anyone that I don't hate fish anymore.

To continue this fishy adventure take a look at what the awesome  Carey Pace | Kingsport TN Photographer is cooking up!

I have a friend named Heather...

Heather is high heels and lipstick, so in short quite opposite of me. Once she held a shoe party...you know the classic in home selling opportunity. She wanted me to come. I said, "Will there be any shoes I would buy?"  She said, "No." I went anyway. :) Heather and I could not be any different on the surface, but we had a bond of friendship. She helped me through some hard times and I her. We learned some important life lessons together and even more importantly some important lessons for eternity. Heather had a purpose here on Earth and in part it was to teach those she left behind what it means to be stalwart, to be true, to be faithful. Heather finished her time here and moved on. She did her job well. Last weekend a bunch of her friends...though we missed many more, had the chance to meet and remember Heather. Everyone kept part of the Heather they knew in a special part of their heart.  Each piece was unique and loved. These images are a reminder of what is important in this life, making the most of the time we have and a girl named Heather.

Where the Wild Things are...

I treated myself to a luxury, a 28-300 mm L lens for my camera. (Translation: a really cool lens that I love a lot even thought it was uber heavy and I'm very sad I had to send it back to it's rental home. *sigh*)  To really feel the wonder of it when took a trip to Yellowstone National Park and then once home on to Hogle Zoo. Both excellent places to find well Wild Things (and babies and little ones too! [inside joke ask my kids]).

My dream was to shoot some Grizzlies. I was almost thwarted but finally captured some on the last day at Yellowstone. I had felt like I stood out with my mongo lens until that moment...then I saw the real guns come in, I shoot with a Canon but these guys shoot with Bazookas!  I'm talking 3-4 FOOT lenses, super tripods and well, I just had a 'little' lens.  At least it made the bears appear more than just a lump.  Here's my take on bears...two ways...one in the true wild and one in captivity.  I'm thinking grizzlies need some clippers!

 

Some of our favorites at Yellowstone were the Buffas (Thanks Andrea--she's 2 for the coining of the name) Buffalos always seem so stoic and unexcitable (except in a stampede as my Dad reminded me) but let me tell you these little guys are ACTIVE.  Jump, Jump, Jump.  I can just hear the Mom's now...can't you hold still for 2 seconds...oh yes when you are eating.

 

The Elk got CLOSE...I mean, stand back or they may run into you close..it was great watching all the Japanese tourists pointing out the chipmunks when they didn't even see the elk at their elbow.

 

I think my favorite portrait of a wild thing however, is my Beaver.  He was a natural at posing and oh so impressive. 

 

Next came the Polar Bear...What? A polar bear at Yellowstone?  Well that is a stretch, but Rizzo, has a new home at the Hogle Zoo in SLC, UT and I gotta say I think she likes it.

 

Along with Rizzo, Hogle now has River Otters...Don't they look chill?

 

The Colombus Monkey is beautiful...

 

But the show stealer (after Rizzo of course) was one of the Tiger Brothers...just don't make any sudden movements!

 

Well happy hunting...thanks for coming along on my expedition.

It's A Cover Up

Food isn't just for eating anymore. Food is an event, it's a journey and it's a story.  We've seen the popularity of television food shows sky rocket, but the good old fashioned print media still has a strong hold of food followers. This month at The Inspired Plate our assignment was to find a food magazine cover and  be inspired by it.  The interpretation of how to be inspired was left up to the eye of the beholder so our entries my vary. I decided to 'recreate' a cover using the elements of design in my inspiration cover. I chose the June/July 2009 Food Network Magazine Cover.  Who could go wrong with a Bobby Flay Burger? 

 

Before I show my rendition, let me explain what I saw and what I set out to emulate.  First the burger was HUGE, Tall and of course very tasty looking. I found it interesting that the burger was almost entirely covered with cheese. I noticed the grill marks on the  bottom bun and the bazillion sesame seeds on the top perfectly shpaed bun. I also noticed that the colors in the text and even the logo were dependent on the colors in the food and accessories. There weren't many accessories in this example.  Something I latched on to and appreciated quite frankly as I don't have a huge prop closet. So before I even set out to design, I had color, height, use of space and food quality on my mind.   Some things I ran into that were challenging was the actually toasting of the bun. I think the bun in the first image is probably a bit more crunchy than I would like with that much char. ( I wanted to eat mine after so I went a little lighter with the toasting.)  I do think it adds a bit of drama and intrigue to the first image that mine might lack. I also wanted to skip the tomato...no reason really but everyone puts a tomato on. I was hoping to use some different toppings that might add some interest. I chose the red towel to compose my picture to keep the red tones that inspire appetite in the image. I also opted to use the yellow peppers instead of the cheese for yellow element. As an aside...mine did have cheese...my butcher stuffed it when he made the patty, it was a black and bleu burger...and oh yeah was it yum! I liked that this cover had clean lines and while it advertised many parts of the magazine it also had a simplicity about it.

So without further delay, here is my mock food magazine cover...

Side by Side...
So come on over, I'll fire up the grill and we can find lot's of tasty toppings to decorate your BIG Burger.  And while you're here, take a look at what the talented Carey Pace | Kingsport Photographer is cooking up on her magazine cover.