portraits masquerading as still life

Photographing food that is as fresh and beautiful and delicious as what we’ve been getting from Turtle Bend Farms, is quite similar to cooking it.

Just don’t mess it up. Keep it simple. Show some respect for the subject.. and the artistry of the farmer. Growing this stuff, organically, is quite a feat.

I’ve been photographing fresh vegetables and fruits for a few years now, and have sort of cooled from that pursuit. But occasionally something presents itself and I make images like this, that are less Still Life-ish and more like a portrait. I keep it simple for a few reasons, but primarily out of respect for the forces in play.

This is actually a pretty heavy handed treatment for me, but there’s something almost comical in this set: watermelon, cucumber and peach (an exotic strain from China, according to Adam at Turtle Bend), so I’m ok with it.

Watermelon on a refrigerator dish lid, 2011 07 07

Cucumber in a blue refrigerator dish. 2001 07 07

Peaches in a tart pan, 2011 07 07