Last week Noah and I spent the day making coffee and frying eggs.
To see these videos in HD click on this link.
Food Styling: Noah Witenoff Prop Styling: Madeleine Johari
Blasted by the Sun
'It's a dry heat'. My trusty assistant Matt said to me over and over again as the sweat poured off his face. We were recently sent out to Nevada to shoot Enbridge's new solar plant, the Silver State North Solar Project. The heat was intense and we were scorched by the constant desert sun, but there is something that I just love about being in these wide open spaces.
Here are some images from our shoot.
Canadian Living Holiday Issue
Christmas in June is such a strange thing to get used to. Nevertheless, the holidays were in full effect as we teamed up with Canadian Living for their annual Holiday issue.For our 2 week shoot we had Katty D-Ho on the props with Nicole Young cranking out the food. I was hoping we'd get to shoot the old Festivus Pole, but unfortunately we ran out of time. Maybe next year!
Art Director: June Anderson Food Editor: Annabelle Waugh Prop Stylist: Catherine Doherty Food Stylist: Nicole Young
Quinoa Revolution
Last winter we teamed up again for round two with the amazing quinoa sisters, Patricia Green & Carolyn Hemming. We spent two weeks shooting their new cookbook Quinoa Revolution and enjoyed a preview of all the tasty recipes it will feature.This book is a follow up to their best selling Quinoa 365.
Food Stylist: Nancy Midwicki Prop Stylist: Madeleine Johari Publisher: Penguin Quinoa Revolution Website
The crew from left to right - Patricia Green, Madeleine Johari, Ryan 'Big HEAD' Szulc, Carolyn Hemming, Nancy Midwicki, Matt Gibson
Toronto Life Cooks!
I recently had the opportunity to work on Toronto Life's first Cookbook. Working with 40 of the city's top chefs mostly on location, it was such a fun project to be part of.The formidable duo Raina+Wilson shot some amazing portraits of the chefs and Reena Newman did some really nice food shots as well. Here are my favourites from the book.
Editor: Maryam Sanati Art Director: Una Janicijevic Photo Editor: Anna Lisa Sang Food Styling (Cover): Noah Witenoff
Dan and Kristin Donovan - Hooked - Butter Poached Lobster
Sarah Bell and Allyson Bobbitt - Bobbette and Belle - Chocolate Cupcakes
Rob Gentile - Buca - Puntarelle Salad
Joanne Yolles - George Brown Chef School - Plum Tart
Cory Vitiello - The Harbord Room - Burger
Bruce Woods - Modus - Spaghettini and Mozzarella Meatballs
Rocco Agostino - Pizzeria Libretto - Fresh Ricotta
Jonathan Hamilton and Andrew Richmond - La Carnita - Cochinita Pibil Tacos
Chris McDonald - Cava - Paella
David Cherry and Natalia Simachkevitch - Lady Marmalade - Huevos Migas
Frank Parhizgar - Frank's Kitchen - Oysters Rockefeller
Benjamin Deacon - Momofuku - Bundy Bear
Ben Heaton - The Grove - Parsley Root Soup
Leemo and Leeto Han - Swish By Han - Pork Buns
Woodlot - Bread
Aaron Joseph Bear Robe - Keriwa - Bison Pemmican
Patrick McMurray - Starfish - Seared Trout and Smashed Potatoes
Bitchin' Kitchen Cookbook
A little while back, Bitchin' Kitchen's Nadia G made her way down from Montreal to work with us on her new cookbook 'Cookin' For Trouble'.Such a fun shoot! We were encouraged to make things as messy and crazy as we could. Check out the funky shots. The cookbook is in stores now.
Prop Stylist: Madeleine Johari Food Stylist: Noah Witenoff
Labrador
"What are you doing here?" "We just wanted to see what's going on up here." "There is nothing going on up here"
This was the gist of our conversations with people we encountered on our 2700km drive from Toronto, through Quebec and the interior of Labrador, up to Cartwright.
Once we passed into northern Quebec the dirt roads kicked in. And when I say kick in, I mean kick your car's ass. Cracked windshield, tires shot, something funky going on with the suspension, amongst other minor things.
dirt road dust
the local northern Quebec airport
1500km of mostly dirt/gravel roads is quite the experience. You eventually get used to the loud, droning sound of your tires on the loose gravel. What you don't get used to is the feeling of your car sliding out dangerously close to the road's shoulder which frequently have 10ft drop offs where you are certain to roll your car if you get too close to the edge.
too close to the edge
the locals bomb down these roads
this wreck has apparently been there for almost 2 years
The drive from Baie-Comeau to Labrador City to Churchill falls to Happy Valley-Goose Bay to Cartwright is one of huge expanses of pure wilderness. It's 4-9 hours between any of the towns. You can see the occasional marks on the land from mining and logging companies, but for the most part it is just pure, dense Boreal Forest. It often feels like there is a barrier between the road and the wild. Any ventures beyond the road into the woods within steps results in soakers from the soft spongy ground followed by a ferocious horde of black flies that seems to increase in size exponentially.
motel
a couple we helped out with a flat tire
Having said all of that, the interior of Labrador is one of the most beautiful, remote locations I've ever seen. The stars at night along with the northern lights are truly humbling. It feels like you're in another world.
Talking to a resident (a huge Toronto Maple Leaf fan) of our final destination in Cartwright, I found it kind of charming that one of the main concerns for the town of 500 is that the emergence of cable tv and internet has really started to have a negative impact on the turnout at the monthly dance at the town hall.
So yes, there isn't much of anything going on up here, but that seems to be the allure of this great expanse called Labrador.
a memorial for a person who died on the recently completed road from Happy Valley/Goose Bay to Cartwright
Toronto Star Cookbook
Here is a fun little video of us working on a bibimbap shot for Jennifer Bain's Toronto Star Cookbook, which is coming out soon.This cookbook features Jennifer's favourite recipes since she became the Star's food editor in 2000. The recipes tell the story of Toronto's diverse food scene with dishes from over 32 cultures.
Food Stylist: Noah Witenoff Prop Stylist: Madeleine Johari
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Applied Arts Photo Awards 2012
I'm thrilled to have a few of my images selected for the Applied Arts photo awards this year.Here are the ones that made the cut.
Congrats to all of my peers who's work is featured. To see the rest of the winners click here
Ryan Szulc Applied Arts 2012
Bake with Anna Olson
Just wrapped up production on over 160 recipe photos for Anna Olson's new show 'Bake with Anna Olson'.We've been working on this show since September and it's premiering tonight at 7pm on the food network... so check it out!
Crew shot:
From left to right: M.I.A. Bachmaier R. Kelly Arsenault Anna 'the Animal' Olson Laughin' Lisa Rollo Matt T-Bone Gibson