It's a Monday alright

So back in June, I just happened to see a tweet from Stephmodo about a food styling workshop that she and Aran from Cannelle et Vanille were organizing in the Dordogne. Since I help style the photos for Les Madeleines photo shoots or my own photos, I thought this could be useful. The focus was completely different from the class I took at FCI, and it was being held in France in October. That made it a no-brainer.

To sign up you had to be ready when they announced the details and instructions for registering. With my schedule at the bakery, this was going to be a challenge. I didn't know how many people would be interested, and I knew that they were only accepting 6 participants, so I figured I need to be speedy.

I locked myself in my office -- Do NOT Disturb sign, and all. I had warned my crew that I would be ignoring them for the time it would take me to sign up. Nothing burned down. We didn't run out of anything. I'm not even sure anyone walked in. Perhaps everyone knew to leave me to it. I sent in my request and hoped for the best.

Here I am on day one of the workshop. After our giggle-filled drive from Bordeaux, I'm ready to learn and take photos. Lots of photos. The first assignment would be to style a bowl of soup. I'm used to taking "product shots" where it would be just about the soup, but in this case it was about setting a scene to go with it by adding linens, cutlery, and other accessories that may be on a table.

To say it was a struggle would be to put it mildly. Later I learned that it was in large part to the surface I'd selected. Also, for me, less is more.



Yogurt wouldn't prove to be much easier. I find that my still is a bit simpler. Lighting was a bit strange in the spot I was working in, so I'm not sure I love any of my shots.


I did find that I got some good shots of other things, so the day was not "lost."






After the workshop, Kim, Lorna and I set off in search for gas and provisions. I desperately needed a Coca Cola. We set Claire in search of the Carrefour in Sarlat and off we went. I should say that we first attempted to visit the Jardins de Marqueyssac to see the boxwood topiaries and to get ice cream, only to be told that they close in 5 minutes. This CABANOIX et Châtainge. The restaurant is within the walls of a Bastide, or fortified medieval city, with one-way traffic and alley-like streets. I had to park right up against a wall and crawl out the other side of the car.

Dinner was delightful. I had two foie gras appetizers (one raw and one midi-cuit with cocoa. Both required toast. Each table came equipped with a toaster, and I was named toastmaster for my side of the table. Master might have been premature because when i ejected the toast early, toast went flying everywhere. So much for being on my best behavior. For subsequent toastings, I covered the openings with my napkin. I'd be lying if I told you I wasn't afraid of lighting it on fire.



Dinner ended around midnight when the village was asleep. Well they were asleep until I got in the car. Let's just say that part of my body that isn't my arms, leaned up against the horn for a considerable amount of time. Oy. We made a quick getaway, feeling guilty, and headed back to Vezac to rest up for Day 2.


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Location:Vezac, France