California, New Cuisine of the American Riviera
All photographers love book projects! I know that’s a rather sweeping statement, but I have never heard of any pro turning down a book assignment. It’s the opportunity to immerse yourself in a subject, to really cover an area or topic and not just skim the surface. And there is no denying that receiving your … Read more
Personal Chef Mary Jane Curry
A few months ago, I had the pleasure of spending the day with professional chef Mary Jane Curry. Mary Jane works as a personal chef and although we had never met before, she is the type of person that makes you feel like an old friend right from the start. We began by picking ingredients … Read more
Westways Magazine Restaurants
I have been a little lax in my blogging for the last couple months and wanted to catch up with the restaurants I photograph for Westways Magazine. Le Café Stella, located here in Santa Barbara, was a real pleasure to visit, with its comfortable French bistro decor and delicious French-American comfort food. Owner Philippe Rousseau … Read more
Lobster Season
The fall means pumpkins and colorful leaves to many, but to Southern California foodies, it means the start of lobster season. To commemorate one of my favorite seafoods, I stopped by Fisherman’s Market last Saturday to photograph the day’s catch and stumbled on the granddad of all lobster. These monsters are normally thrown back, but … Read more
Happy Hour at La Playa Azul Cafe
Happy Hour was recently inaugurated at the venerable La Playa Azul Café, located on Santa Barbara Street across from the Presidio State Historic Park in Santa Barbara and I was called on to produce the images used to announce this change. Like many Santa Barbarans, my wife and I have been going to Playa Azul … Read more
Artisan in Paso Robles
Paso Robles has changed a lot in the last twenty years. In the early part of my career, I would stop there for gas on my way north. It was all gas stations and cattle country. The arrival of vineyards has changed all that. I recently photographed an assignment there for Westways Magazine and was … Read more
Feast Bistro
The first thing that struck me as I walked through the doors of Feast Bistro was the deep red color of the interior. The second was the wonderful aroma of clams and mussels in a garlic cream sauce. As far as I am concerned, even cardboard would be tasty with garlic cream sauce. I knew … Read more
Abalone Farming
One summer during college, I worked with my home state’s Conservation Department on an experimental program raising oysters. It was pretty fascinating and we were all able to bring home lots of fresh oysters. It’s hard to beat a fresh oyster rolled up in a slice of bacon and quickly fried. It was a great … Read more
Trash to Cash
Sometimes it’s a privilege to cover an editorial subject and a recent job for Disney’s Family Fun Magazine was one of those subjects. Dr. Gordon Myers and his family started a recycling program to help save their children’s elementary school art and music programs from budget cuts. Student’s bring in redeemable bottles and cans from … Read more
Arch Rock Fish
Arch Rock Fish Restaurant Growing up in the coastal Northeast, I spent the summers during my college years digging clams commercially. Wading around at low tide in chest deep water with a clam rake, I would keep moving until it felt like I was stepping up onto a slight mounding of the bottom, which was … Read more
