With Hank on the road this year, I’m not doing any food photography (outside of one freelance assignment), and I really miss it. I’m realizing just how much I looked forward to the regular puzzle of combining Hank’s cooking with my props collection, experience, and creativity to produce images that are both mouthwatering and inherently beautiful. And occasionally quirky.
Well, first of all, your food photography is among the best I’ve ever seen in publications. In fact, I’d say the best ever but I’m sure there are some who would take exception.
What really warmed my heart is how much enjoyment you are experiencing while cooking for yourself. I find the same satisfaction in the entire process, from recipe selection, prep, cooking, dining, and even the mountain of dirty dishes that usually result from my culinary experiences. Next week, my wife is joining her sisters for a “sisters trip” which means, I will spend four days in food exploration, taking tried and true wild game recipes and and “tweaking “ them to explore new variations of the dish. I may fail in some cases but, as you shared, that’s part of the learning process and still an enjoyable experience.
Hope you stay in food photography for Hank’s sake but, I’m also anxious to hear more about your cooking adventures in future blogs. Fire up the pan, Holly!
Apr 4, 2023·edited Apr 4, 2023Liked by Holly Heyser
Brilliant alchemy, indeed! I am so thrilled that you are enjoying exploring your creativity in the kitchen. As you know, that also brings me great joy.
Relieved that you won’t be giving up food photography entirely…I wholeheartedly agree your food photography is among the best I’ve ever seen in publications. I have enjoyed it as beautiful artwork lingering on it far longer than a nanosecond! As I’m writing, wondering if you sell your photos or have such an interest.
I am smiling to read about your kitchen adventures. My cooking had come to a stand still until a divorce a few years ago brought me back into the kitchen. Wow, the joy I missed came flooding back. I’m really grateful to have happened across some of Hank’s recipes & started following to find more bliss. And when I didn’t think I might be interested in something, there was your photography of that dish that made it look so wonderful & enticing that I’d change my mind.
Thank you both for all that you do and sharing your world. It’s a real highlight! Looking forward to more posts!
Holly both you and Hank will continue to be what I'm striving for. The online business Hunt Fish & Dine was conceived before Id found you both. I'm so glad I did. It will be Live in about 90 Days. Living in Louisiana and having spent a lifetime Hunting Fishing and cooking I hope you find some useful recipes and information there. I have so enjoyed your photography writing and of course Hanks creativity as a chef. The Pro staff selected for the business includes some of the most talented and successful outdoorsmen anywhere. Including Don Landry of Dons Seafood Huts a now 100 plus year old restaurant group. A friend of more than 40 years and a continuing partner in crime searching the offshore waters of the Gulf of Mexico for all things piscatorial that are good to eat. Have been thinking that at some point it might be fun for you both to make a trip south and be a part of all that we do. Be on the lookout for the barbecued Crab recipe they are far worse than potato chips.
Well, first of all, your food photography is among the best I’ve ever seen in publications. In fact, I’d say the best ever but I’m sure there are some who would take exception.
What really warmed my heart is how much enjoyment you are experiencing while cooking for yourself. I find the same satisfaction in the entire process, from recipe selection, prep, cooking, dining, and even the mountain of dirty dishes that usually result from my culinary experiences. Next week, my wife is joining her sisters for a “sisters trip” which means, I will spend four days in food exploration, taking tried and true wild game recipes and and “tweaking “ them to explore new variations of the dish. I may fail in some cases but, as you shared, that’s part of the learning process and still an enjoyable experience.
Hope you stay in food photography for Hank’s sake but, I’m also anxious to hear more about your cooking adventures in future blogs. Fire up the pan, Holly!
Brilliant alchemy, indeed! I am so thrilled that you are enjoying exploring your creativity in the kitchen. As you know, that also brings me great joy.
Relieved that you won’t be giving up food photography entirely…I wholeheartedly agree your food photography is among the best I’ve ever seen in publications. I have enjoyed it as beautiful artwork lingering on it far longer than a nanosecond! As I’m writing, wondering if you sell your photos or have such an interest.
I am smiling to read about your kitchen adventures. My cooking had come to a stand still until a divorce a few years ago brought me back into the kitchen. Wow, the joy I missed came flooding back. I’m really grateful to have happened across some of Hank’s recipes & started following to find more bliss. And when I didn’t think I might be interested in something, there was your photography of that dish that made it look so wonderful & enticing that I’d change my mind.
Thank you both for all that you do and sharing your world. It’s a real highlight! Looking forward to more posts!
Always have a next adventure or two on your radar. The difference between an Adventure and an Ordeal is Attitude!
Holly both you and Hank will continue to be what I'm striving for. The online business Hunt Fish & Dine was conceived before Id found you both. I'm so glad I did. It will be Live in about 90 Days. Living in Louisiana and having spent a lifetime Hunting Fishing and cooking I hope you find some useful recipes and information there. I have so enjoyed your photography writing and of course Hanks creativity as a chef. The Pro staff selected for the business includes some of the most talented and successful outdoorsmen anywhere. Including Don Landry of Dons Seafood Huts a now 100 plus year old restaurant group. A friend of more than 40 years and a continuing partner in crime searching the offshore waters of the Gulf of Mexico for all things piscatorial that are good to eat. Have been thinking that at some point it might be fun for you both to make a trip south and be a part of all that we do. Be on the lookout for the barbecued Crab recipe they are far worse than potato chips.
Best
John Hardy
Hunt Fish and Dine