Seven years ago when I bought my first DSLR, a Canon 450D, I did not imagine for one minute my work would make it to the finals of an international food photography competition. My ambition at the time was to become a competent photographer so that I could write and illustrate features for the Yorkshire Post and other publications without necessarily having to hook up with a photographer.
This year the five images in this post were shortlisted for the Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year and one has made it through to the finals. The winner of the competition will be announced on Wednesday 6th May and an exhibition of the finalist images is being held at the Mall Gallery London.
So what prompted me to start taking my own photographs?
The short answer is I had a bad experience with a photographer. I had been commissioned to write a feature for the Times on teenagers cooking. The copy and recipes for the feature had been approved by the editor and then I had to create a scene with teenagers cooking food for their own party. It was a Saturday evening and an agency photographer showed up with his girl friend in tow. His mind was not on the job. I had no idea how to direct him and the upshot of the whole thing was the photographs were not good enough. The piece was 'killed' and I was very disappointed. I had blown my chance of writing for the Times.
In 2007 I went on an Arvon Foundation Food Writing course and met Alastair Hendy who not only writes about food but takes amazing photographs. Alastair advised me to learn how to take my own photographs. In effect he gave me permission to have a go at something which I thought was beyond my capability. I decided to follow his advice.
In 2008 I bought a DSLR, went on lots of courses and practised taking photographs almost everyday. Soon Catherine Scott at the Yorkshire Post was publishing my features and photographs and I went on from there....working hard, studying other photographer's work and really enjoying the results of my efforts.
I made progress quickly with a photograph I took in Laos being placed in the University of Leeds, School of Medicine photography competition. Then I was asked to mount a small exhibition of my food photography at the Gallery on the Green, Settle, a quirkly little gallery housed in a disused telephone box. Then last year one of my photographs came third in the Food for Celebration category of the the Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year.
I thought I would finish this post by saying something about the photographs that have made it through to the finals of this year's competition.
This black and white photograph was taken with my iPad. It depicts a man called Neville Clark making bee boxes for the manuka honey trade in New Zealand. This photograph really tells a story because Neville is related to Ada Clark, Sir Edmund Hilary's aunt. The Clarks were great bee keepers and so in some ways Neville is carrying on the family tradition. This photograph was shortlisted for the Food Sn-apping category.
'Making Gozleme' was also taken with my iPad in the Rocks district of Sydney Harbour. It shows an industrious team of Turkish men and women making a type of filled bread called Gozleme. The dough is kneaded and then thrown down the line, like a frezbie until it reaches a hot griddle where it is cooked. If you want to know how to make Gozleme have a look at my January post. This photograph was also shortlisted for the Food Sn-apping category.
This photograph is called 'Skinny mincemeat' and is a fruit rich mincemeat made without suet.I loved the colours, the shallow depth of field and the shape of the jar. This photograph was shortlisted for the Food for Celebration Category.
This image is of Anneka Davies my great niece. It is called 'Paying attention' and shows her looking intently at the camera as she awaits instructions. She is helping me to make a fruit salad. The photograph has been shortlisted for the Philip Harben Food in Action
And finally I grabbed this shot 'Bonfire Apples' last October when I was at Aspire Photography Training talking to them about running a food photography workshop. I arrange the apples, styled by Yasmin Joughin on a piece of wood and added the gingham cloth which I had in my bag. This image has been short listed for the Pink Lady Apple a Day.
So that is it. I will announce which image has made it through to the finals on Wednesday the 6th. Keep your fingers crossed for me. It would be wonderful to be placed again this year.
PS ....The Bonfire apples were placed second in the Apple A Day category. I am simple delighted.