Wk 7

Pomegranate

Feijoa Fruit

Buddha's Hand

This week I went exploring the weird. Okay, maybe the pomegranate isn't exactly weird.

Wk 6

Egg Plant

Thai Egg Plant

Turnups

Well, what can I say, I am way behind on my weekly posts. This is actually week 11 of school and I am very excited things are wrapping up. I am ready for a break. I have been working hard at work and school, so 3 weeks off school will feel like a mini vacation. Portfolio class has kept me photographing food, so here is the latest.

Wk5 Fall

Sweet Dumpling Squash

Honey Crisp Apples

Baby Pumpkin and Acorn Squash

I love the colors of fall. When the leaves start to change and you hear the crunch of leaves under your feet as you walk, there is almost nothing better. With the fall comes various varieties of squash and other fruits and vegetables that you can only find that special time of year. Fall also provides me natural backgrounds and props for my photographs.

Gatlinburg Week 4

Peek-a-Boo

SHARK!

I'm watching you!

Just Chilling

Jelly in a jar?

This summer the family vacation took us to Gatlinburg. To escape the heat in Gatlinburg we took a trip to the aquarium. The aquarium is always one of my favorite places to visit, I love looking at the fish and seeing all the bright colors.

Week 3 The Zoo

Life as a bear is pretty ruff.

Hmmm, what exactly is in my hand?

I've been a very bad bear:(

Feed Me!

Hide and Seek

HoHumn

What's out there?

More pictures from my trip back to Wisconsin. It was a great fall day and my sister, niece, and I decided to spend the day at the Milwaukee County Zoo. We saw it all, lions and tigers and bears oh my!

Wisconsin Colors wk2

Photo by: Lori Ray

Photo by: Lori Ray

Photo by: Lori Ray

Photo by: Lori Ray

Photo by: Lori Ray

This week I am choosing to post my first non-food related photography. Nature photography is something that I really love, it is a great relaxation for me. Late September while I was in Northern Wisconsin I was able to kick back and photograph just for fun. While the colors were not at their peak during my visit I was able to find the occasional pocket of color. Although the last picture doesn't have a whole lot of color I really like how the slime in the water actually looks like sand on the beach.

Fall wk1

Hedgeball

Hedgeball

Horned Melon

Fall is here and so is a new semester of school. Once again we have been given the assignment to post weekly to our blogs. Over break I went home to Wisconsin and stumbled across a few items that would fit well into the first project I ever posted on my blog, "A Macro Passion for Food." The first item I found while visiting my family in the Milwaukee area is a Horned Melon (yes I know it is the last picture). It is quite a cute little melon that is bright orange and spiky  on the outside. When you cut the melon open you find a slimy green gel and seed combination. Everything I read about the melon said that it tastes like a cross between a cucumber and kiwi, they were right, that is exactly what it tastes like. While the melon had a nice fresh taste I am not sure it is worth the $4.99 is cost.
While in Northern Wisconsin I stumbled on a Hedge Ball. On the outside it looks like green brains and the inside it is light green with seeds. Eventually as you let the ball sit a milky white substance oozes out of the ball. Hedge Balls are not poisonous but the milky substance can aggravate your skin. It is believed that the Hedge Ball helps to repel spiders and snakes, but that may be an old wives tale.

A Bit More wk 10

Adding a little smoke.

Tuna

Burger w Tomato Jelly

Dragon Fruit

Dragon Fruit

Pomegranate

 

A few more of my favorites from North Harbor Club. I also picked up Dragon Fruit and Pomegranate on a trip to Florida. I was hoping to find these to fruits when I was working on my Macro Passion for Food project, but they were not in season. I love the contrast of the snow white flesh with the black seeds, then you catch a hint of the pink skin of the fruit.

North Harbor Club wk 9

 

Shrimp Cigars w/ Aged Balsamic Syrup

Flat Iron Steak w/ Goat Cheese Scalloped Potatoes, Jalapeno Roasted Cream Corn, & Tortilla & Micro Greens Salad

Miso Glazed Tuna w/ Fingerling Potatoes, Roasted Shallots, Dates, Italian Green Olives, & Pea Sprouts

Burger w/ Roasted Poblano Peppers, Apple wood Bacon, Heirloom Tomatoes, Monetary Jack Cheese, & Tomato Jam on a Brioche Roll

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This week I would like to give special Thank You to North Harbor Club in Cornelius. Brad and his crew provided me with the beautiful works of art you see above. It was a pure joy working with Brad and his crew, they went above and beyond in their creative plating and their personalities made photographing at the restaurant an awesome experience!

 

North Harbor Club is located on the banks of Lake Norman in Cornelius and is definitely the place to stop when visiting the area.  I have never had a meal there I didn’t like (my favorite is the Filet Mignon).  No matter what you decide to try on your visit to North Harbor Club be sure to order dessert.  The Peach Brioche Bread Pudding and the Chocolate Tasting are two of my favorites!

Wk 8 Dessert

Fruit Tart

Red Velvet Cake

White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake

My sweet tooth was bothering me this week so I decided on desserts for this week's subject matter. Ironically when you photograph desserts it pretty much takes care of the sugar craving, sounds like a new diet craze to me. Later this week I will have my 2nd restaurant photo shoot, stay tuned until next week to find out where I photographed and the works of art they create.

wk 7 Home Cooking

Stuffed Peppers

More Stuffed Peppers

Fruit Kabobs

Homemade Pizza

This week I stuck close to home, cooking up (or in some cases not cooking) what was fresh or what was on hand. I have turned my kitchen into a photo studio. What ever comes out of the oven or across the stove makes a stop on the island to be photographed. With the exception of a business dinner out tonight I am getting used to eating cold food (some things just do not need to be heated in the microwave). I am looking forward to my next photo shoot at a local restaurant in Cornelius late next week, there food is truly a work of art. Until then enjoy this week's selections.

Baja Soul Wk6

Margarita

 

Yucatan Shrimp

Puebla Mahi

Carne Asada

Last week I had my first restaurant photo shoot. I would like to say THANK YOU to BAJA SOUL TAQUERIA in Birkdale Village for providing me with wonderful food to photograph. If you are not familiar with Baja Soul, they have Mexican fare with a southwestern twist. There is a wide variety of Tacos (among other things) on the menu all made with fresh ingredients and several salsa choices to please anyone's taste buds.