Interning and Shooting

I had an opportunity to do my first shoot at IMSTEPF studios . I was asked to come up with three donut stories.

I was expected to pre produce, plan, shop, style, prop, and have something to contribute at a pre pro meeting about the donut story shoot, only the night before our multiple set shoot.

We had long pre production meeting about existing "donut stories". We talked the direction we'd like to go as collaborative group.

Our goal is to produce a finished body of work we could string together that has cohesion.

Initially, the whole thing seemed easy enough. My first shoot went..well..I guess I could say it went by too fast.

Some setbacks were learning how to use a few new pieces of equipment; styling the food itself; which is a pain, and getting my set together all for my first time.

I've done it before.. at school and independent projects. But this is a commercial studio; during my internship. This was a bit much to manage, juggle, toggle, organize, prioritize, and think about thoroughly. This was an equation with lots of variables that ran overtime.

In conclusion, I loved the idea of Bacon donuts! My star for this shoot and shot #1 out of the starting gate. Piece of CAKE,.. well donut. Wayyy ... way more difficult than it sounded. WHY?? I did not anticipate some details. For example, the bacon is dark and much darker than a powder white donut. Hmm... it becomes a technical lighting riddle to solve...being that that bacon is so dark in contrast to a white sugar donuts. It can be done.. just a bit more work. ahhh! Not so convenient or time saving:(

At the end of the day as well as the conclusion of my 2nd month here, it's been an amazing experience of learning, growing and expanding in the areas of anticipating, planning, projecting a vision of how I want to see the finished project, shot, and realizing a very satisfying result. There is more to come, for next update. Signing off for now: CG

Nathan Tomaszewski! Put another candle on the birthday cake!

Nathan,
our trusty production assistant and everything else guy celebrates, for just a moment.

We've entrusted Nate with everything from painting the cove to assisting on set during shoots. He is a 'blaze' when it comes to getting the job done.

Blaze is a valuable asset at IMSTEPF, as well as an aspiring director, producer, writer and collaborator. He joined the IMSTEPF crew 2 years ago in JUNE 2008.
He just returned from from traveling through Utah and Colorado with Herr Imstepf, the boss. When he returned, We made the most delicious, delectable mocha chocolate cake ever!!

INTERNING: Nuts, Bolts to Know

Interning for a food photography studio like IMSTEPF studios exposes me to a complex layer of experience.

I am Week 8 into the practical universe of photo knowledge. It's a distant stretch being at Brookes Institute in Santa Barbara.

Let me tell you more on the topic of Photo Interning.

My four week trial period of being a photo 'INTERN' was completed by Aug 19th.

I had been providing general support throughout studio, and specifically the Broadcast Department.

My Lens shifted on September 14th as it did for the studio. The last two week period changed focus on tasks, and responsibilities.

Here's just a sample of TASKS that have been expected of me in the last 2 weeks....

Time management, prioritization, project management, research and development, shooting, pre-production, writing blogs on my experience as an intern, emails, end of day summaries loaded with details about stuff I wasn't dealing with only weeks earlier, bringing in fresh cupcakes in exchange tardines, creative round-table meetings, and staying as late as it takes to get a job done, oh, and being selected as crew member to interview new interns.

NOT, exactly, a walk in the park, while juggling pre-production on upcoming art show of my personal photo work!

Blue Diamond Smoothies

16 smoothies and days of prop production.. oh I meant pre-production from... well the Blue Diamond Almond growers. We love almonds and Huerta Quorum. HQ is the agency that does marketing for Blue Diamond. They sell it at Trader Joes if you haven't tried it. Really quite yummy. We collaborated with Barbara and Suzanne to finalize the plan before 2 days of shooting. Our beloved prop stylist Kira Wohlman came to the rescue and managed to sniff out every potential smoothie glass and matching theme available on the open/closed market. We published some of our favorites on our website FPLA or foodphotographylosangeles.com-- our new favorite place to share off new shots.

Uncle Eddies Cookies: live action.

After spending a good amount of time shooting high-speed short commercial clips of assorted chocolate chip cookie scenes, we just couldn't help but turn into true cookie monsters. All in good, messy fun though... Imstepf sought out a couple of models who didn't mind getting down and dirty for the day. The concept involved having the basic ingredients of chocolate chip cookies literally being chucked at a girl's face from all directions. Of coarse, this all just looks so sweet utilizing a super duper high speed camera that could capture every grain of flour rebounding off our model in mid-air. Other ingredients that were thrown at the models included chocolate chips, oats, and..yes..even a generous bowl of syrup. What can we say, food.. and everything that goes into it..is our forte.

Fish and Fruit a Dole Party

Who could think fish and fruit fit together?

Well the diet dictocrats have alot to say about fruit and mixing it with anything other than itself.

A whole lot of segregation issues. They have bookloads to say on the topic of 'food combining" with fruit.

Nutrition trivia aside,

we found

ourselves spending hot summer days with our fruity friends at DOLE.

HQ was leading this one on setting the market a blaze for the mega fruit empire.

We called on Susan Kucera, our star fish food stylist to lead the way on this project.

The results were no less than stunning, fresh,

light, refreshing and exhilarating for our collaborating Art Directors, and Marketing managers alike.

IMSTEPF's new member: Intern Cristen Geller!

Recently graduated from Brooks Institute of Photography, Miss Cristen Geller couldn't be any happier to have found an internship that suits her perfectly. She a visual artist with a hunger to express her creative soul. Cristen navigated herself into the foodie village of IMSTEPF studios. Cristen expresses a passion for food photography and food culture. In addition she has a great desire to learn, grow,expand her knowledge and experience the business of food photography. Her interest in FOOD, photography, the business,the work, the aspects of shooting, producing, planning, researching, and shooting are some of the things she participates in on a daily basis. Cristen shows great promise in becoming a cohesive and collaborative member of the ever evolving IMSTEPF crew. Born on the east coast, Miss Cristen then eventually moved to Saudi Arabia, for almost a whole decade. She currently resides in the incredible city of Angeles. Imstepf Studios is her current nest. WE are her LA family: a village of creatives and collaborators who she shares yummy treats. Together WE toast to all the sumptuousness of shooting, living, love, and laughs. Hats off to Miss Cristen!

Syrup: Blue Syrup is cool, but is it edible

Blue syrup seduces the creative eye. Well actually its blue soap. This steely blue magic acts like syrup, plays like syrup.. in fact its a good cousin to syrup in texture and viscosity. It gets a bit more bubbly.. as in bath bubbles. It looks so freaking cool-- Technical for cool blue tones/hues; and blown out highlights. This way of shooting does not adhere to conventional definitions of commercial advertising. OOps.. hey let's invent our own rules... let those corporate square pants envy creative ones like us. They can drool over the freedoms of the artist struggle: like the unknown;an inconsistent existence of a working artist -whatever that means-- the endless late nights obsessing over ways of seeing something, or interpreting it, telling a story in your own voice.. not keeping all your ducks in a row! .... ya.. those square pants corporate yahoos,,, can chew on that one, while they enjoy keeping to their calendars!

Syrup: The Journey Continues

The sticky stuff: syrup continues to amaze the eye. It's never the same. Never still, with every movement you see the unlimited possibility of showing such a simple subject in so many ways. Then there is the idea that if you want put it on the reel, it has to be practical. As in how does this apply to the market,, the commercial world. How does an art director see the potential in an abstract shot of syrup. Well maybe an AD can see it but clients, can be very block headed and not see the forest beyond the trees. "They" say .... bla bla.. this is what works.. that is what works.. works for what!?..the reel, the client, the buying audience,, the who? Do we shoot to catch fish, or express ourselves? What about just shooting what you love.. and not worrying about marketing... How about the idea of " build it and they will come?" WE could get lost for weeks generating the coolest shots of high speed... syrup pours over pancakes,,, waffles,,, suspended fantasies of endless worlds withing worlds... Shoot it, and they will come.

Syrup: A Visual Journey through the Sticky Stuff

Syrup is a beautiful viscous substance up close and personal. Drippy drop shots are dutched, and scooped down low, on the high.. macro up close wett gooey oohhhweeey. Point is.. this stuff in the RED camera is an obsession that could last a while. Hours, days, weeks,,, months?… Well, we don’t really want to go that far. Practical is important.. like how about something for the reel, the website,,, the client to drool over. That is another spot. We spent the month counting the virtues of oil, how to light the stuff, on black, white, low light, back light.. under light.. perspective a-z , and surfaces unlimited. Very moody, subtle and requires the patience of a saint. Don’t get that stuff on the camera!!!

10 Days Looking

10 days is a personal project seeking, looking, and lingering in places, and spaces.

Shooting for clients and “working for clients”all the time has a way of getting in the way of SEEing

Feeling makes the way to see again. Coloring outside the lines; following instinct over structure can

be a liberating relief… below is a view into that process.

Vision Quest– the search is on…

Vision Questing our Email Campaign is our current big seed we are cultivating. We workshop by ruminating every week on imagery that we collect. Together we discuss images that inspire, titillate, and move us to act, think and feel. We lay out images across the floor and notice what works, and what doesn't. Our favorites of the very best go up on display for all to see. We continue the discussions until the next meeting. OUR GOAL: to discover our visual integrity for our next email campaign. So Far, So good!

What is in the heart of IMSTEPF studios

Inside the Studio