| Ever since I was a child, I’ve loved magic. And my grandmother’s house was the catalyst for my excitement. She had these wonderful curtains that separated an interior room from her patio. I used this environment to resemble a stage and perform my magic show for the adults. That sense of wonder rushed back to me when digital photography arrived. The idea that I could light, enhance and technically paint interiors, food and even people (often, in dramatic fashion) was particularly satisfying. It’s now an expansion of my photographic vocabulary. This is my style; my magic. Summer jobs can be quite the chore. Unless of course, you find yourself (as I did), working in a grand hotel in New Orleans. My father was the assistant manager and on my first day, dad introduced me to the general manager –a ‘white glove’ type of guy. I watched how he examined the rooms, the table settings and every accouterment with a discerning eye. I’m sure I acquired my propensity for meticulous detail from my summers with him. Did I mention that I love the grandeur of great hotels? They say, passion comes from inside. True, but one of my greatest passions began outside, on the golf course. When the light is right and the majesty of the location begs one to look carefully, a photograph of the most banal thing such as a golf ball on the tee can become monumental. Selection of the correct lens is much like choosing the right club. It’s shooting from the right angle, whether prone on the ground or forty feet above the subject, that produces your winning shot. À la carte. The joy that shooting food brings is surely served up by my New Orleans roots. To be born and raised in one of the gastronomic capitols of the world is a pleasure. Cooking and the preparation that goes with it is another great passion of mine. My reward (beyond the joy of eating) is my ability to convey aroma, texture and taste with my imagery. And that, is the art of cuisine exemplified. With me, it’s always, bon appétit! Leitmotif. As I enter my third decade in the industry, I’ve realized one recurring theme – change. It’s the only constant in life. Embracing that change makes an individual stronger, wiser and more interesting. It also elevates one to a level of experiencing these journey’s with no fear. And that is how I approach each assignment. This is me. It’s the exquisite asian cuisine shoot in Telluride, Colorado to the centuries-old vineyards of Lavaux, Switzerland. Or shooting vintage guitars with a legendary player in Malibu, California to an historic family gathering of Norwegians at the oldest Antebellum mansion in south Louisiana. The grand ballrooms, glorious golf links, bejeweled casino resorts and of course, the amuse-bouche to the Plat du Jour – all provide the canvas for me to continue my magic, for you. |