New blog home! :: Seattle Food Photographer

Thanks for stopping by!  Since the redesign of my website last year, I’ve been weighing the pros and cons on how to move forward with my blog.  And in an effort to simplify my life and yours…I’m officially moving my blog space to my website!

Come check it out!: www.charitylynne.com

I hope to see you there!

Charity

Cookbooks! :: Seattle Food Photographer

Okay, guys – here’s the beginning on what’s new (or in some cases, old)!  I was about to make up a huge long post about everything, but instead you get a bunch of mini posts…to start:

Cookbooks!

To say the least, I’ve been busy in the studio this last year, shooting lots of amazing cookbook projects!  The first to release was ‘Plum‘ (back in April) and it has been quite the jumping off point.  With rave reviews from the likes of Oprah.com, Amazon.com, PBS.org, Eater.com, Shape and Laika magazine – just to name a few – it has been pretty surreal to be a part of it all.

‘Aphrodisiacs, with a Twist‘ will be out next week, and I’m super excited to see where Mark takes it!  He’s probably one of the most tenacious people that I’ve ever known – with a pretty cool book, to boot (if I do say so myself…).

August you will see the release of the ‘Gluten Free & Vegan Pie‘ book by Jennifer Katzinger, and in the fall the re-release of Sharon and Julie Kramis’ best-seller, ‘Cast Iron Skillet cookbook‘ will be out with an updated selection of images and recipes.

It has been an honor to work on all of these projects with amazing stylists, Julie Hopper and Kimberly Swedelius, and wonderful designers, Anna Goldstein and Stephanie Hansen, and it’s proving to be just the tip of the iceberg – as I have at least 3 other finished books up my sleeve, and hopefully many, many more to come.

~Charity

Why, hello there?!

Wow, so the last time I’ve managed to post was May 2012, huh?…clearly I’m winning at this whole blogging thing?!  Well, goodness.

There’s so much that has happened in the last year+, and I hope to have the chance to share it all very soon.  But in an attempt to address my inspiration for writing in the first place (you can all thank her at the end), I’d like to keep to a single topic – my friend of 23 years, Amanda Waltman.

(and she can thank me later for using this image) 

I met Amanda in 2nd grade.  We became inseparable *almost instantly (*to be completely honest, like all of my great friendships, I did not like her at first…analyze that!)  When they were able to separate us, we were tying up the phone lines with our teeny bopper jabber about *whatever 7-16yr olds talk about (*boys, music groups, boys, tv talk shows, boys) for most of the day.  I think we hit the 8 hour mark once, maybe twice – and that is likely under estimating our mad skillz.  (Even now it’s hard to get off the phone with each other in under 20 minutes!?)  Our parents would even have us join in on family vacations, because that is essentially what we became; family.

So, it’s perhaps to no one’s surprise that we fell into the same career path. (I’m still a little taken aback by it, but it fits us).

After growing up together being gaga over the same boy bands and boy crushes, we started college with the same degree of concentration (photography) and worked together at the same portrait studio.  It wasn’t until then that we started to find a slight ‘Y’ in the road, and I found my photographic voice through food, while she kept at photographing babies and families.  Every once in a while we’d meet at that dip of the ‘Y’ to photograph pets together, but that’s mostly Amanda’s thing now – while I keep to cookbooks and other food related projects.

Rarely do we have the chance to go out shooting together anymore – our time is so limited with work, when our schedules do manage to align we’d rather sit with a cocktail and sushi, and jabber about *whatever 30yr olds talk about (*boys, tv shows, work, boys, family, work, boys).  But we finally made a plan to go out and take pictures – of each other.  Truth be told, we both were in dire need of some updated head shots (mine was from 2010 – and I’ve surprised at least one person with my very opposite of a pixie cut recently).

We decided to take a day trip to the beloved Port Townsend, and for late May in Seattle it turned out to be a beautiful day for pictures…perhaps too beautiful (‘Yay!’ for God’s diffusion panels aka clouds, or in our case, trees)

(ferry ride, and a much-needed visit to one of my favorite coffee shops)

After some yummy salmon chowder and house made chai at Better Living Through Coffee (why didn’t I think to start that business in that exact location first!? – I’m not sure it get’s much better than that coffee shop…I digress) we headed to Fort Worden to find the magic light.  All the while jabbering away…if you couldn’t tell already, that is just what we do.

We arrange a photo shoot like this every couple of years – she has always been my go-to headshot photographer, and somehow I end up being hers?  And every time she makes it so easy to turn the camera on her that I begin to wonder if I should be shooting more portraits…but I’m pretty sure that what you see is more Amanda’s skills than my own. (don’t be fooled)

Without trying, this was actually a more significant process of taking pictures than we had originally planned.  You see – we both turn 30 this year.  Amanda did back in February, and had regretted its rapid approach for about 5 years…I, on the other hand, have been excited to dive into my 30’s for probably those exact same 5 years. (My birthday is at the end of this month)  So it quickly became apparent not only the history that we both hold as friends, but the milestone that we were both documenting of each other – a milestone that we have managed to witness, together, as friends/sisters.  Officially adults.  In the middle of our crazy, wonderful, freelancing careers that we worked hard side by side to create.  Still learning, still finding balance, but well on our way – with a support system that is above and beyond rare a find.

Thanks for the new headshots, Panda!

Let’s go on another photo adventure again soon – maybe cap it off with some sushi?!

Love,

C

Art Culinaire :: Seattle Food Photographer

I had the distinguished honor to work with the Art Culinaire team last fall, which in turn put my camera and I along side 3 very accomplished chefs.

The issue was just released earlier this month, so I thought I’d share a few of my favorite photos from the assignment.

This will be a short photo story of these 3 unique individuals, and the diverse environments in which they work.

Blaine Wetzel; Willows Inn/Lummi Island, Wa:

Blaine in the kitchen.

Blaine foraging along the shores of Lummi Island.

Smoked Tequila Oysters (to die for!).

King crab and the beginning ‘snacks’.

Halibut “chop” and Grilled celery root w/ horseradish mousse and chestnuts.

The smokehouse.

Organic grains with pickled mushrooms, and Blaine in the kitchen (once again).

Jason Franey; Canlis/Seattle, Wa:

Jason and his crew, in the kitchen.

A breakfast ‘style’ dish “Smoked” salmon with maple syrup on the left, and a Froie gras and rabbit torchon with pine ash dish on the right.

Jason and his crew on the roof of Canlis overlooking South Lake Union.

Matt Dillon; Sitka + Spruce, Corson Building/Vashon Island, Wa:

Matt Dillon and his piggy friend.

Whole beets in spiced brown butter with pickled rose petals.

Matt in his home kitchen.

Smelt with grated beets.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

~Charity

In the studio, pt 2 :: Seattle Food Photographer

I had planned to write this post about a week ago (maybe four five weeks now?), but it had proven to be more difficult to put into words than I had thought.  I’m not the best with words.  If you knew me personally you would probably chuckle and nod your head in agreement at that statement.

After going over and over what it is I want to say, I will simply say this:  I never thought I would have so much fun working with a crew of people in the studio.  Photography can be such a lonely art form, and Kimberly inspired a collaboration that felt more like a ‘dream team’ sport.  I’m pretty sure we could conquer the world if given the chance and proper tabletop.  I’ve learned a great deal from her over the past few months, and she has inspired me to grow in directions I didn’t know I could even sprout.

Movement is happening, people.  So are shadows.  It’s a beautiful thing.

glassware // studio view

You might remember in the last post an image of us building the shot?  Well, here’s the final:

cardamom // hibiscus cocktail

simple syrups

and…a new favorite:

In the studio :: Seattle Food photographer

2012 has started off with a BANG!  I have found myself in a new ‘home’ also known to many as a studio.  It’s a cozy little place.  There’s a full kitchen, props galore, a coffee pot (all necessary staples to keep one sane and productive) and cocktails….lots and LOTS of cocktails.

Outside of the normal cocktail consumption on a shoot (kidding) the abundance of said alcoholic mixtures is because I am shooting a cocktail cookbook written by Mark Sexauer.  It has been a crazy fun experience thus far (just a few more days in the studio before it’s a wrap), and I’ve learned a TON about angles, glassware, ingredients, my tripod, and well – cocktails.

By the time we are finished, we (Mark, Kimberly Swedelius, and myself) will have created, styled, conceptualized, and lit close to 100 aphrodisiac delights.

And yes, we do drink them afterward.  😉

(or at least taste them.)

Here’s a little behind the scenes action that I have documented with my phone over the last few…well…months.

Kimberly working her magic…

Textures, textures, textures!

The styling table…

…and building the shot.

More sneak peeks to come!

Hope everyone is having a wonderful winter season ~

C.

One more Top 10 list for you to soak in… :: Seattle Food and Travel Photographer

Wow! What a whirlwind of a year?!  Plenty to catch you up on, as it seems I never took the time to sit and write in 2011 – so I thought, why not pick 10 things that happened and rank them accordingly?  Play a fun little game of catch up!?…I don’t blame you if you skim through the whole thing…it’s a doozy!

Here you have it:

“My Top 10 Favorite Moments of 2011”

#10:  Isaac Marion; Seattle-based Author of “Warm Bodies”  aka  …a little something different.

Over this past year I’ve worked on a handful of assignments for an iPad publication called, The Daily, they’ve sent me on some great adventures, but this one was pretty unique from what I’ve grown accustomed to shoot.  Strictly a portrait session, I was assigned to capture author, Isaac Marion and the RV that he called home – it was a fun/interesting/enlightening change of pace.  I’m sure it helped that Isaac was an easygoing gentleman and Baleen* (his RV) was a bad-ass homestead; making the shoot remarkably painless.  You should check out his book, “Warm Bodies”, which has impressively been made into a film (coming to theaters summer of 2012).

{*Note: the link attached to Baleen is a really silly video that I helped Isaac make about his blue whale of a home.  – updated note – he no longer resides in Baleen.}

#9:  Doe Bay Fest; music, nature…aka Seattle migrates to an island.

Otter Cove :: Doe Bay Resort

I was able to take a little time off this summer, and brought my camera along, of course.  Two of those adventures are included in my Top 10 list because they brought inspiration in ways that can only be found when ‘playing’.  Making #9 is the 4th annual music festival at the Doe Bay Resort on Orcas Island – the music festival to forever ruin all other music festival experiences.  Combine a line-up of brilliant local musicians, a Pacific Northwest summer on the most beautiful San Juan Island (in my humble opinion), and a crowd of 1000 Seattle artists (musicians, photographers, writers…baristas)…you get a community setting that is nearly too good to be a reality.  Camping, bonfires, music floating into the air during the wee hours of the morning, beautiful vegetarian meals at the resort’s cafe, a community vegetable garden, and everyone taking the time to smile and say ‘hello’…it was beautiful.  From start to finish it was a long weekend to cherish – even while we waited for the ferry to take us home, Sam Anderson (the cellist from Hey Marseilles) played Bach on his cello, the notes wafting into the sea as only a few of us sat close enough to listen.  There must be some way that I can live in a world like that always…

Kelli Schaefer & friends finish out her outstanding set.

Misty morning on Otter Cove

#8:  Local Faire; mini adventures…aka seeing my city in new ways.

The Sitting Room :: Monorail & EMP

It tends to go without saying that you often overlook the things that surround you on a daily basis, so it was an interesting challenge to play the role of ‘Seattle tourist’ on a number of occasions this year.  I’m still baffled by the number of ferry rides that I’ve taken in the last 12 months!? (silly, but true.)

Recently I heard the line “it’s like having a key to the city” and that is exactly what having a camera/assignment is like.  I felt honored to be given the key so many times in 2011.

Top Pot doughnuts

The Coterie Room

Sitka & Spruce + Calf & Kid cheese class

Beecher’s cheese

Victrola Coffee Roasters

#7:  Port Townsend; mini escape…aka the first time I seriously considered buying a house.

I have no interest in settling down anytime soon, but Port Townsend is tempting – has been for a while now.  I took a weekend trip there with my dear friend, Stephanie, and we found that we have a mutual daydream to one day move to this quiet little town by the bay.  Upon arriving we were greeted by a busking bluegrass band alongside people dancing on the sidewalk to their music, we sat down to a happy hour of wine and freshly shucked oysters harvested that morning, took in the local coffee shops, attended a jazz festival, visited their lovely co-op, and of course strolled the beautiful coastline.  We spotted a few homes for sale while we were driving around and tried to reason with ourselves why buying a house right now would not be a good idea.

#6:  An Incredible Feast; Neighborhood Farmers Market Alliance…aka ‘hanging out with the cool kids’

I was asked to photograph the Neighborhood Farmers Market Alliance’s annual event/fundraiser this year – which meant I got to hang out with all the cool kids in the Seattle food community.  Farmers, fisherman, chefs, and those that dedicate their time/energy to the local bounty that makes up our neighborhood markets – it was a fun night, a delicious meal, and a group of people who I’m honored to be acquainted with.

Each table was represented by a farm and a celebrity chef that would incorporate the local faire onto the tasting plates.

For the first time the event was held at Swanson’s Nursery – it was pretty much perfect.

#5:  Macarons;  Lilli-Pilli…aka the pretty little treats return.

Of all the macarons that I’ve experienced since I’ve been home from Paris, Rhiannon Devine’s have made me the most homesick for my little apartment in the 20th arr.  She takes great care in her technique, and I absolutely love how she experiments with flavors and color.  They are the perfect little treat!  I met her while working at the Bellevue Farmers Market, and was in awe of her dedication to keeping her ingredients seasonal, local, fair trade, and as best she can – organic.  I was thrilled when she asked me to come into her kitchen and document her process, we even had the chance to re-vamp her website – www.lilli-pilli.com.  At just a year old, Lilli-Pilli has a bright future up ahead.  I’m so excited to see what 2012 has in store for her and her magnificent little treats!

#4:  Covers; Edible Seattle and then some…aka surreal moments in the grocery store and people recognizing me on airplanes.

This wasn’t my first image to make it on a cover of a magazine, but something about this instance was slightly more significant than others.  Perhaps it was because it was being presented among my Seattle peers, or maybe it was because I had no clue I was shooting for the cover…true story.  Or perhaps it was my run in at the grocery store that made this cover experience so strangely unique?  It’s not everyday that when I buy a magazine with my groceries the gal ringing me up stops, looks at the magazine cover, and says “Isn’t this cover just so great!? My co-workers and I have just been going crazy over how beautiful it is!”…at which point I awkwardly laugh and say, “oh wow, really? I shot that.  Thanks!?”.  This then proceeded into a moment I didn’t think you could experience as a food photographer – her announcing to everyone around her that I took the photo, trying to find her co-worker that she said, “would love to meet you”, announcing that she was ‘star-struck’…fumbling…it was a moment.  It was a good moment.  A moment that you never expect to happen, and a feeling that once it’s over you know you need to tuck it into your ‘once in a lifetime’ pocket.

Right up there with the feature I contributed to Delta Sky Magazine on the San Juan Islands.  I have had spreads before, but never one that included a contributor photo and info section at the beginning of the magazine.  Nothing is more surreal than having a passing acquaintance approach me and say ‘Hey! I was on a plane coming back from China and I saw your picture and realized – wait!? I know that girl!?’

Neat.

#3:  Farms; Farms, Farms, Farms…aka FARMS! Yay!

It’s no secret my love of farms, especially cheese farms.  Having worked with Culture Magazine for so many years, I feel like I’m almost obligated to say that?!  Joking aside, I do find myself at a lot of farms that produce cheese, to the point where my friends call me the ‘cheese photographer’.  I’m okay with that.  This year, I’ve managed to visit a handful of farms (cheese or no cheese), and it truly is a pleasure to meet the farm crew, roll in the dirt with the animals, and take in the richness of life that encompasses the farmland.  The photos you see here are of Yarmuth Farm, a goat farm in Darrington, Washington.  Owned by Louise Yarmuth and her husband, they (with the help of a dedicated farm staff) raise, milk, and produce a delectable selection of cheeses that are sold in shops like, the Calf and Kid in Melrose Market.  I went up to visit Yarmuth Farm with Sheri LeVigne, the owner of Calf and Kid, while working on her 2012 Cheese Calendar. (Yeah…this is why I’m called the ‘cheese photographer’).  We had a grand time taking a tour of the farm, seeing the up-coming cheese experiments in the cellar, and getting chewed on by goats.

#2:  The Willows Inn;  Chef Blaine Wetzel…aka best culinary team around? (quite possibly)

A bit of a ‘sneak peek’ here (Thank you, Franz for the permission to share!) – I just recently finished a Seattle feature for the industry magazine, Art Culinaire, (due to come out this February) that literally had me pinching myself, I couldn’t believe the beauty of the experience.  There’s plenty to be said about the 3 chefs that I had the honor to photograph, all were a pleasure to work with, all made beautiful and delicious dishes…but Chef Blaine Wetzel and his crew at The Willows Inn on Lummi Island stood out.  Never had I witnessed so many ingredients being foraged to make the meals at a restaurant.  The team would head out with baskets under their arms making a trip to the beach or to the rose garden to gather what they needed for prep that evening.  Humble to a fault, Blaine and his team are some of the most easy-going, down to earth guys I’ve ever worked alongside.  With the inside jokes, weekly culinary experiments, and a mutual respect all around, it made me want to move in and find my niche within the crew (I can wash dishes with the best of ’em!).  At the end of the shoot, Blaine made a point to invite us out for an oyster bake on the beach – moon hanging low in the sky, bon fire at our feet, stories being passed across the flames, and the Willows Inn culinary team making a meal out of  a six-pack of beer and 120 oysters paired with tequila sauce…Everyone’s day should end like that.

#1:  The San Juan Islands; Delta Sky Magazine…aka the beginning of something great.

When coming up with this list there was no doubt in my mind what was going to be #1.  Back in May, I went on a 3-day/3-night adventure island hopping the San Juans, ‘capturing the magic’ for Delta Sky Magazine…welcome to this little photographer’s dream come true.  I was given the liberty to scout what I thought best described the feeling of the Islands, and was given access to some of the top destinations on Orcas and San Juan Island. (thanks, camera.)  I got to tromp through farms, chase orca whales, hang with a harbor seal named ‘Popey’, say ‘hello’ to a camel and a herd of llamas, comb through a low tide with a young family, photograph and eat amazing food, and stay at two of the most distinctly charming Inns on the Islands (Turtleback Farm Inn on Orcas and The Island Inn 123 West on San Juan).  If there was any one thing that I could be assigned to do for the rest of my photo career…this would be it.  Send me out to ‘find the magic.’

It has been a tremendous year!  Thanks to all who contributed to my many adventures in 2011 – without you, my camera and I are pretty insignificant.

And if you have read this far, well then, you’re probably related to me. (Much love.)

Cheers to a new and highly anticipated year – 2012!

Take care,
Charity

Welcome to Oaxaca :: Seattle Food and Travel Photographer

As I had mentioned in my last blog entry… I was headed to Oaxaca, Mexico for two weeks in July.

Well, I’m back now, and I will say this – my experience was good, INTENSE, but good.

A group of us went on this delegation with an organization called, Witness for Peace, where we focused on the topic of migration.  A very deep and unmistakably raw point of interest that has so many layers it’s hard to piece them all together.  I am working on a more in-depth, long-winded post about the trip on my Sustainable Plate blog that I encourage you all to read (I hope to have it up in the next few days – it has been incredibly difficult to write).

But for now, I’ll go ahead and share some of my favorite images from the trip:

Culture, and well…culture!

I realized this morning that I had all sorts of things I could update you all on!

So much in fact, that I will probably have to break it up a bit.  Yay, blog posts!

First things first – I have to send a little love to the wonderful people at Culture Magazine!  I absolutely LOVE shooting for them, and I’m blessed that there is so much exciting cheese stuff happening in the Seattle area to have the chance to work with them so often.

Their summer issue is out right now, and they have a whole feature about places to go in Seattle for the cheese connoisseur.

I had the pleasure of photographing some great cheesemongers, chefs, and even a goat farmer/activist!…love my job!

You will have to pick up the latest issue to get the full scoop, but here are some of my favorite shots from the assignment (some you won’t find in the magazine).

John Sundstrom working in his kitchen at Lark on Capitol Hill.

…and some of the dishes he created for me (purple potato and smoked trout on the right; prosciutto, young truffled peaches, and sharp cheese on the left.)

The pizza oven at Delancey in Ballard

…finishing touches of the much-sought-after Delancey pizza pie.

Poco Wine Bar on Capitol Hill and Delancey in Ballard

A baby goat, barely 24hrs old – SO lovable!

It may have thrown you off a bit when I included the term ‘goat activist’, but that is kind of what Jennie Grant is – she is the creator of an organization called, The Goat Justice League.  Her and other goat-loving Seattle residents, work to make it legal to own goats within the city limits of Seattle.  So, like chickens and bees, you can also have your very own ‘herd’ of goats in your yard!  It is all about sustainability, and the love of animals.

With her goat, Snowflake, she is able to produce milk and cheese for her family and friends.  I tried the milk – it was quite delicious!

I will have a feature in Culture’s up-coming Autumn issue too, which I am working on this month – I can’t wait to share those images with you in the fall!

And speaking of culture, in the non-cheese sense – I will be throwing myself into some culture next month when I travel to Oaxaca, Mexico for two weeks!  I’m joining Witness for Peace, an organization working to support and sustain local economies and social justice in Latin America and the Caribbean.  A group of us will be going on a delegation to learn from local small-scale farmers and activists about the roots of migration and how the present free trade policy affects their economy – advocating for fair trade and human rights.  Not only am I excited to learn more about these issues, but I’m excited to have the opportunity to document the experience and share it with all of you!  This trip is a volunteer effort, and is certainly not a vacation – so raising funds is necessary to make it a success!  If you are interested in supporting me, my photography, and the work of Witness for Peace, I would appreciate any and all contributions!  You can pledge your support here, and please stick around for photos as I share with you a piece of Mexico in months to come!

Update and Review on ‘My Dream in Prints’, etc…

Hello all – boy has it been awhile!

If you couldn’t tell, I’ve kept myself pretty busy since my return. Not a lot of time for blogging these days.

Photo projects, photo assignments, updating my website (well, that hasn’t happened yet really, but it will soon!), and getting involved in some pretty cool Seattle organizations (more to come on that soon too)!

I wanted to update everyone on the final tally for the Make A Wish Foundation donation.
A HUGE thank you and hug for everyone who was able to contribute, and raise a whooping $370 for a very special child in the Pacific Northwest!
So exciting!

Okay, back to it!
More soon – hopefully!

Take care,
Charity