Shooting meat can be tough - especially when it’s a giant rack of ribs slathered in an extremely thick, dark sauce. Usually shooting brown food is something that can easily turn out unappetizing, but when a client requests their half rack of ribs to be included on the shotlist, you’d better make it look good.

So, here’s the half rack of ribs I photographed last week along with my Food Stylist Angie and photo assistant Naz for Rockford Wok/Bar/Grill, Northland Properties‘ newest restaurant in the Nelsen Lodge at the base of Revelstoke Mountain Resort in Revelstoke, B.C.

Issue #1: dark sauce. I mean look at that - it’s nearly black.

Issue #2: we’re shooting in front of a window for the beautiful back-lit effect that I almost always strive for and most clients love, but because the ribs are so dark & glossy, the sheen that the entire right side of the ribs has is way too high contrast for my liking. We want the sheen, but not that strong.

Issue #3: that is one large plate of meat.

high contrast Ribs

Issue #1: the rich, dark sauce is what makes these ribs a signature item on the menu, so there was certainly no changing that. However Angie and Chef Harley did a great job of using it just enough to make the ribs, well, look like ribs, but not enough that we would have to shoot a saucy, soupy plate of ribs. Success!

Issue #2: Placing a diffusing panel between the food and the natural light coming through the window solved the problem of all those sharp edged shiny reflections. I carry a 5 in 1 reflector made by Interfit and I use it daily…it’s one of my ‘don’t leave home without it’ items.

Issue #3: Again, when you’re shooting a menu item for a client it’s extremely important to stay true to form - there’s not going to be much deviating from how a guest would receive the item when ordered off the menu, so shooting this rack of ribs, at this portion size, was a must. The key here was composition; keeping a focus on the ribs while using the french fries & coleslaw to balance it all.

Better Ribs!

Here’s something from The Fish House in Stanley Park photographed by yours truly to inspire your leisurely lunching activities. (c’mon, what, you mean you don’t go lunching?!)

Just a few days before the holidays my assistant extraordinaire and I packed the car full of gear in the wee hours of the morning and headed over to LOCAL Public Eatery to photograph some food, some drink and some people enjoying it all. Who says you can’t enjoy beer and pancakes at 8.30am? We did! (Oh, not the beer - we left that to the boys). Here are some shots from the day.

LOCAL Public Eatery (belonging to Joey Restaurants) is right on the corner of Cornwall and Yew in Kitsilano (where Malone’s used to be) and their big focus is beer. They’ve got what they call lightweight lagers, middle weight ales & brews, and their heavy weights with more flavour. Their mantra from the kitchen is common food done uncommonly well and they have tons of options for all meals of the day.

A big thank you goes out to Ashley, Chef Chris, and all those people who showed up (for beer and pancakes) that morning!

• To connect with LOCAL Public Eatery: twitter • facebook • website • location •

1. Because I got to work with this inspiring and accomplished gardener/writer.

2. Because these specific photo shoots (yes, plural) fit so many of my ‘perfect assignment’ criteria, including what holds the #1 spot on that list: collaboration.

3. Because in a couple of months, there will be this tangible thing I’ll get to hold in my hand and celebrate with the writer on. Rarely does this happen in my line of work.

4. And because she’s just as excited as I am.

(WAHOO!!)

I’ve written about the wonderful place that is Au Petite Chavignol before; I photographed the owners being inducted into the cheese hall of fame (technically called the Guilde de Fromagers) and I hosted the 2 year anniversary for my business there with a group of about 40 friends and clients. Needless to say I recommend it to anyone looking for a hoppin’ place on the weekend, the very best mac n’ cheese, or for the best cheese in town (because their cheese shop, Les Amis du Fromage, is right next door).

Over the past couple of weeks I’ve photographed some of this fabulous cheese, a few gewurztraminers, and a full leg of a pig, just to name a few things. Here are some of the shots…I hope you enjoy.