In the midst of all the holiday craziness I stepped away from the stove and got my hand out of the sugar to take a photography workshop with the incredibly talented, Penny De Los Santos.

Chances are you have seen Penny’s work as it graces the pages of Saveur and National Geographic. One glance at her website and blog will leave you inspired and hungry.

Since that workshop my photography has changed. You may not noticed as it is as much of a mental change as a visual one. Most of the information I heard from Penny I had heard in my previous photography classes, although I adored her relaxed and encouraging approach. What I did realize is the absolute need for natural light.

In these dark winter months I had grown accustomed to using artificial lighting. I just couldn’t seem to get my act together well enough to shoot during the nearly two hours of daylight (okay I may be exaggerating a bit – but there’s not much). I would use a number of light sources and just try to make it work. But I wasn’t happy with the results. The images were lacking life, light and the quality that just makes you want to reach in and eat it.

I came home from my time with Penny and immediately set out to rearrange our house. We moved the couch so that the large open floor to ceiling window could let the light pour in. Our dining table now sits just off of the window. I now make sure that if I am planning on photographing that day it happens when it’s light out or it waits until tomorrow (or the next day).

Thanks to Penny I am now more intentional with the photography. I plan ahead and anticipate the image before the food is prepared. While I still get most of my favorite images from inspiration that occurs during the shoot, I can now get to that place much quicker by planning ahead.

I still have much to learn and I am so excited to figure it out. Where as practicing piano as a child seemed like torture, practicing taking beautiful pictures is rewarding and so fulfilling.

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For those who want to know these were taken with a Canon 5D 24-70 2.8 The light is au naturale.

click through to Artazza for the recipe

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