Food shoot #2 cook book

Today was a location food shoot. There were two locations and there will be more to come. This is the second shoot for this cook book however while shooting the first we got caught on the beach in an absolute down pour and it will have to be reshot. Our first location today was historic sponge docks of Tarpon Springs FL. At one time this place was the sponge capitol of the world now it is a tourist destination. It is nearly like stepping into Greece. Much of the population speaks Greek as a first language even today. Truly as we arrived early around dawn we walked around to find some coffee. We stumbled into what can only be described as a social club. What I mean is there were many tables and several elderly Greek men. We asked about coffee and were told yes but only Greek coffee no American coffee. well as adventurous coffee lovers we said bring it on. What we were served was a very small cup filled with what looked like bubbly motor oil. As I finished my tiny cup of rocket fuel I found that the bottom was covered in a thick dirt like substance that was my unfiltered coffee grounds. We asked about breakfast but were told only coffee no food and were sent next store for a pastry that consisted of a large filo filled with feta. As far as I was concerned this was one of the best breakfasts in a long time. The second location was the back yard of a nice home on Tampa's Davis Island.
For this shoot the goal was really as much available light as we could muster. We did employ a large soft box to balance the table and background while shooting towards the sun on the sponge dock as well as a large white reflector. When shooting with our backs to the sun we used no strobes just a 6x6 gold and silver checked reflector. At the back yard location we had many more shots and employed a few different techniques. The large table shot in mid afternoon was all available light the result was vibrant but contrasty. We shot this a second time in late afternoon with mostly available light but with a beauty dish with a grid and a warming gel for a little kicker of light. we shot this twice strictly to give two options of mood lighting. Other shots were a grill shot, all available light, a drink shot, with a beauty dish from behind again with a grid and warming gel, a piece of key lime pie same lighting as the drinks, and a close up of a lobster with all available light.
GEAR:
Camera- Cannon 1Ds MK2 tethered to capture one pro
Lenses-50mm 1.4, 85mm 1.4, 24-70mm 2.8
Chimera large softbox
Profoto pro 7b power pack and light
profoto beauty dish w grid
warming gel
large white reflector
gold and silver checked reflector





the historic sponge docks

Sponge Boats

checking the light

set stylists and food stylists

the set

food stylist

styling

set stylist styling

shootin

shootin

the soft box and reflector as we shoot into the sun this is done to balance the fore ground and the background

shooting with sun behind using a reflector to kick a little light to lift the shadows and give the subject a little pop

shootin

set styling second location mid afternoon

stand in food

stand in food

hero food

a view of capture one pro showing our flaming grill shot.

testing lobster close up

better light and background

styling

second large table shot note the more even sunlight compared to the earlier shot.

great day
good times