Carmel Ridge Winery-Doesn't get better than this!

Carmel Ridge Winery Tapas Plate

Last week I had the pleasure of shooting a tapas platter for the Carmel Ridge Winery in Monterey. What a fun time! Gary, the tasting room manager, and I spoke briefly about the opportunity to shoot during one of my random wine tasting trips in June. They needed a photo to replace the older one on their menu and website and he asked me if I could do better than hat they had. No problem! He liked my passion for their wine, especially my favorite, their pinot noir. Now, I have to tell you that I am a wine snob, but not just any wine. I am a connoisseur of the pinot grape. My taste buds can tell you where it is from, how old it is and how long you need the let the wine breathe to get the most out of that touch to grow fruit. Their syrah is pretty darn awesome as well.

 I charged my batteries, filled the tank and headed down to Monterey. Tourist season is defiantly still in full effect. The weather was perfectly warmed by the afternoon sun, the water was calm and clear and I zigzagged through the streets with my gear trying to dodge the swarm of people on Cannery Row. When I go out for a shoot, I take everything but the kitchen sink with me.

While the tasting room sommelier sliced up the delicious cheeses and meats and prepared the appetizer, I set up my light and tripod and tested my exposures. Curious customers kept looking around the back to see what the fuss was all about. "All of that gear for one platter!" the sommelier exclaimed. You just have to trust me.

Carmel Ridge Winery Monterey, California

The counter top they had me set up on was made of a lovely white marble, but it really did not add anything to the rich tones and textures of the plate. I looked over at their gift stand and saw these  handmade wooden lazy susans that they created out of the top of the wine barrels they no longer use. Sustainable, beautiful and perfect for what I envisioned. The crew at the tasting room helped me immensely, even holding my reflector briefly while we discussed lighting, food and of course, wine.

Happy with the shots, I packed my gear, added a few bottles of wine to my cart and left for home to begin the editing process. I love these images! The food is beautiful and rich, the atmosphere defiantly inspired the warm lighting and you just cannot get better than locally harvested wine served by the nicest people you will ever meet. I will be back as a visitor for sure and would love to shoot there again! Go see them the next time you are in Monterey. You will not be disappointed.
http://www.carmelridge.com/

I have to say that having the opportunity to do what I love in a place like the Bay Area truly is a blessing.

Bring on the sweets!

I try to eat healthy 99.9% of the time, but every once in awhile I want to trade my fresh nectarines and oranges for a sticky, gooey, yummy treat. Today was just one of those days.

Icing...the best part!

Now, I might be a food photographer and stylist, but a master chef I am not.These cinnamon rolls were baked fresh at my house...from a can lol. Yea yea I know. Watching me make a mess with flour and sugar until my kitchen looks like a food fight war zone would make a great You Tube video, but  knowing I am the one who has to clean it up later, I opted for the easy way out. 

Before the icing

                                                                                                                                             

And what is my favorite part from this shoot? The icing of course!

www.angelaaurelio.com

 

Friday is finally here and the sun is shining!

Friday is finally here and the sun is shining! Time for an ice cold drink?

One thing (out of many things) that I love about living in Santa Cruz is my lime tree! The first time I was able to see the house I was a bit nervous knowing my husband picked it out without me to give the ok. It was nighttime, the house was itty bitty (but cute) the air was chilly, but then I walked out onto the back deck and smelled this glorious aroma of citrus blossoms. I had a lime tree! I think I called everyone I know to tell them of my new discovery. Because this tree is abundant with fruit, limes will be a fresh and lovely addition to my food photography.

Enjoy!

Happy first day of summer!

What a beautiful first day of summer in Santa Cruz! I absolutely love it here and the weather and area inspires me everyday. Here are a few quick shots of a lovely summer salad I shot this afternoon. Made with lovely Cali strawberries, mango, feta and beautiful lettuce. With a touch of freshly squeezed lemon from my garden, this salad is A+. Enjoy!

Beautiful day in Monterey!

View from tasting room #2

This last weekend my husband and I decided it was time to leave the paradise of SC for a quick trip to the paradise next door..Monterey! I dined at The Fish Hopper on a wonderful an ahi and broiled prawn salad topped with mango and papaya. Really fresh seafood which is such a nice treat after living in Vegas. The view overlooked the beach and the bay where people swam and kayaked beneath us.




After lunch we stopped at lovely wine tasting at The Carmel Ridge Winery.
Really friendly folks to chat with, awesome handmade wooden accents in the tasting room and what a perfect Pinot Noir! A 2008 born locally in Carmel, this one has a few years to fully blossom, but with how tasty it was, I don't think we can keep it corked for that long.
http://www.carmelridge.com/index.php

The happy photographer

After the tasting we decided on another at The Taste of Monterey tasting room which had a great atmosphere and a great view as well. There is nothing like tasting great wines, eating great food and looking out over the water. This was our first short but sweet trip to Monterey. Cannot believe such beauty that is within a 45 minute drive! We will be sure to return as soon as possible! 

www.angelaaurelio.com

Santa Cruz Farmer’s Market and My First California Shoot

Organic strawberries

I have recently moved to Santa Cruz, California and it has been an amazing experience! The natural beauty that surrounds this place can be overwhelming, particularly to this photographer. I am on a total sensory overload with these brilliant, bright blue ocean waves, and colorful people roaming around town. The biggest added bonus is that Santa Cruz has the freshest produce I have ever seen and/or tasted in my life!

As a food photographer having fresh ingredients can certainly make or break a dish you are styling for a shoot. I recall visiting several groceries and markets, when I lived in Las Vegas, searching endlessly for tomatoes that were either not under ripe or flat out rotten.  That proved to be quite a challenge!

So colorful!

Abundant goodness

 After living in the desert for three years I knew the Santa Cruz Farmer’s Market would be one of the first stops on my list of things to do once I moved here. When I arrived at the SC Farmer’s Market the first thing that impacted me were the colors. Every color of the rainbow was under those tents and struck me like a sip of strong coffee. The most lustrous produce lined and overflowed every stand, basket or bowl. I could smell strawberries from several yards away from where I stood. In every direction there was something simply beautiful to take in - bright red berries, vibrant leafy greens, real live garden fresh herbs, row after row. I purchased a box from the farmers market filled to the brim with organic blood oranges that smelled up to high heaven. I got cilantro that was so fresh and green, that I’m sure you would never find anything even similar in a supermarket. I also purchased some of the most beautiful asparagus I have ever laid eyes upon. I did a quick photo op of these before lightly steaming them for dinner. Needless to say, it was delish!

Locally grown asparagus-tasty!

The trip to the farmer’s market most certainly inspired the direction I took for my first shoot in California. I chose an organic salad of forbidden black rice, chunks of mango, blood oranges with bits of cilantro.

The ability to fill my life with so much simple goodness leaves me feeling truly blessed. 

A.A.

June ‘12

Blood orange and mango salad with forbidden black rice and cilantro