So for you techies:  To get this shallow depth of field, I used my 50mm lens at f/2.0 at ISO 100 shooting at 1/320 sec.  Used ambient light from window off to camera right.  As I’ve suggested in past posts, its not the camera body but the use of fast fixed lenses that can create these shallow depth of field artsy looking images.  Amazing what it does with a simple subject like this little tomato on the vine!

Happy Easter Everyone!

This slide show is from the November 11 dinners:

- Bergstrӧm Wines and Evening Land Vineyards at The Heathman Restaurant

- Sokol Blosser Winery at El Gaucho Portland

Click here to view the embedded video.

This is my fifth “adventure” in covering these Winemakers Dinners. With each event I get the pleasure of reconnecting with winemakers and chefs from previous events and meeting new and exciting talent!

I reconnected with the charismatic and always entertaining Josh Bergström and his beautiful wife, Caroline of Bergström Wines.  Making its debut is Evening Land Vineyards with their petite and enchanting winemaker, Isabelle Meunier.  Wines from both winemakers were paired beautifully with dishes artfully presented and created by Chef Andrew Biggs and his staff.  As I overheard one guest saying that one will never be disappointed when dining at The Heathman!  To view more images from this dinner, click the following link:  09 CWA-Heathman

My second stop brought me to my first visit to El Gaucho located at the base of The Benson Hotel.  El Gaucho does nothing but impress with impeccable customer service.  Maitre d’ Sherwood Dudley greets you with the warmest smile and handshake leaving you feeling like a long lost friend.  With a full house on a Wednesday evening, Chef Alex Parsons runs the kitchen like a Swiss watch – extreme precision.   This dinner took place in El Gaucho’s intimate Vintage Room, where their wine selection would make any vinophile drool like a kid in a candy store.  Alex Sokol Blosser was every bit as charming and gracious as his handsome demeanor.  To view images from this dinner, please click on this link: 09 CWA-El Gaucho

So why is this also categorized as “Techie Talk?”  I’ve been playing with setting up directional lighting to give dimension and interests to my images.  This is the first time using it in an “event” situation.  Usually these dinners take place in low light situations so this would be a perfect time to practice.  I have to say it was a little more challenging to move lighting as I moved to grab different angles, adjusting power levels from the various light sources on the fly, and adjusting settings on my camera.  I do like the way that they turned out and this was one of my favorites from this event that illustrates this “directional” lighting technique .

WEO Network Event at Burdigala Wine Shop and Wine Bar

WEO hosted its August Networking event at Burdigala Wine Shop and Wine Bar located in Sellwood.  What a great turnout!  Poor Didier, the owner, was the sole male in the house that evening.  Speaking to the group, he said he felt a little overwhelmed facing 60-something women with all eyes on him!  Didier has a great selection of wines and pricing to fit your palate and budget.  I love Brunello but the good ones carry price tags giving me pause (btw: Didier only carries his favorites – one being a 2001).  He recommended another Italian blend similar to my taste but less than half the price.  This is my kind of wine guy – Didier is passionate about his wines, doesn’t intimidate you with his wine knowledge and makes great recommendations for food pairings!

Check out more of the fun:  WEO @ Burdigala Slideshow

A fun part for me in photographing an event is the food!  This tray of sliders was just about to go out to the guests.  Light was bouncing off the cement patio and creating this great vignette on the back wall – seriously this is not a Photoshop vignette.  My Nikon 50 mm lens is at f/2.0 to focus the viewer only on the sliders.

Turn off your on camera flash! Look for light bouncing off the ground or walls and use this bounced light on your subjects.  The result will be images that are more interesting to view.

Catered by:  Devil’s Food Catering

Chef Grace Pae, owner Artemis Foods

Grace Pae is chef and owner of Artemis Foods.   I first met Grace in 2001.  She was the caterer at the home garden wedding that I was photographing.  The layout of the house had only one way to get to the back yard wedding-reception area – through the kitchen.

“Grace under fire” was my first impression of her.  With all the chaos of traffic through the kitchen area, including several little kids running back and forth, Grace kept her cool under all this pressure, putting together her fabulous creations and managing to coordinate her servers.  Watching her amazing composure and sampling her talent made me want to get to know her better.

We manage to stay in touch ever since and Grace has been a great source of inspiration for me over the years.

After creating this headshot of Grace, I said it was my turn to have some fun.  This is how I envision Grace when she let’s her hair down and let’s some of the pressure off.  She’s a sassy girl!

Sassy Grace

DOC, NE Portland

DOC Restaurant, NE Portland - w/flash

DOC  is unlike any restaurant.  Its named is derived from ”denominazione di origine controllata” - the Italian controls of wines of “particular reputation and worth”.  Walking through the front door, you enter straight into the kitchen.  The sense one feels seated at the table is having a meal in an Italian cottage out in the rural Tuscan countryside.   Watching Chef Greg Perrault from a candlelit table transports one back to our childhood when we watched Mom preparing meals at home. 

Which image works best to represent the above description?   Where does your eye focus when looking at these images?  These examples illustrate my previous point of how light can be used to control what you want your viewer to see.