Hey everyone! I do hope you’re all rested and had an ace Easter break.
It’s a funny one Easter; you officially get longer off than Christmas, but with limited obligation to do anything but each chocolate. For me Easter generally bursts out of the blue and suddenly I’ve got 4 days off to play with! Clare & I decided to spend about 13 hours of our break on motorways to Dorset & back visiting Clare’s parents and pals. Though I can’t complain really, sleeping most of both ways.
Of course I was selflessly avoiding distracting Clare while she held the wheel.
Anyhoos – today I was back in the wheel & lifting the mirror for Sandinista! Cantina Bar, possibly one of my fave places to drink in Leeds.
Sandinista make a mean Mojito & Caipiniha, even when the bar’s stacked, and are without a shadow the best place to party in Leeds.
But today their manager John, a pal of mine who’s wedding I photographed a long while back, asked if I fancied coming down to shoot their grub.
I said why not. Especially considering their food is TASTY and anyone who knows me knows I’ll photograph for food…
The brief was pretty simple: Si, the owner, likes closeups. So in close I got.
I’d love to know how to make poached eggs like they do in restaurants.
I’ve heard a million ways, whisking vinegar into shallow water and so forth, but my poached eggs generally end up requiring sieving
In case you’ve not noticed, Sanidinista are working a latin Cantina flex, and here we have mini-sweet potato Tortillas.
Squid! Personally I’m a circular ‘non-animal-resembling’ calamari fan, but these tenticular badboys were delicious.
For the geeks: I was balancing my Elinchrom Quadra flash head to camera left, into a silver brolly and window light to camera right, while looking for inspiring viewpoints with either the Canon 70-200mm 2.8 IS or the 100mm 2.8 macro. I rather liked standing up on the table shooting straight down.
Further: if you’re a Quadra owner, I today figured out that you can put the main head into the 2nd head ‘B channel’ and shoot at far lower flash intensity, allowing an achievable ambient balance. I am liking natural punchy feel of these pix. Not much Lightroom was required in post to add life.
Sangria joined Mojito to party by the platter
Orangy lamby yum fun.
And for afters – all the bad stuff: Dolche De Leche, Brownies & ice cream. Mmmmm.
Apparently the blueberries are a superfruit so it’s ok.
It’s funny actually; John’s a keen snapper himself and has taken some private tuition with me to get to know his DSLR better, and he saw me catch the above image as my first frame of this desert. He commented on how I’d probably not better it. And in spite of wasting time trying, I didn’t. It’s funny how instinct often frames the first shot and the mind takes over for the following.
Here’s the man who made the majority of what you see.
If you’re passing Leeds with a thirst or hunger, get yourselves down for grub and a caipriniha. They’re a friendly bunch.
If you weren’t hungry before – I hope you are now!
Barns
ps. I’ve noticed I’ve not posted a wedding for a while, and have two processed weddings in hand to post. They take longer to prep for a blog so I’ve taken the lazy option while busy. But I’ll be posting the highlights soon! Watch this cyber space…