Q&A: 3rd Ward's Max Kelly On The Flavor of Food Photography

All photos by Max Kelly

With 3rd Ward's Culinary Incubator on the horizon, food has been on our minds quite a bit (read: nonstop--someone make us something now.) Anyhow, as we yearn for that mouth-watering future, we've been busy feasting our eyes on the food photography of 3rd Ward member Max Kelly. We caught up with him to find out more about how it all began.

You can check out some of Kelly's delicious shots both below and on his new website--but first, our Q&A:

3rd Ward's John Ruscher: So how did you get into food photography?

Max Kelly: I've always known that I wanted to work in a field in which I could physically see my accomplishments at the end of a day's work. Before food photography, I worked as a camera operator on commercial film sets, and realized that while I enjoy video, still photography is where my true passion lies.

The thing I love most about photography is that it's a gateway to any other subject matter that you find you're passionate about. I'm fascinated by the mechanics of cameras, the ways in which light can interact differently with a subject, and the effects of composition on a viewer—and it's a privilege to explore my other interests through this lens.

JR: Where's the passion for food come from?

MK: I grew up in Brooklyn, in a very food-minded family that cooked and traveled often—so I had the benefit of being exposed to many different flavors and cultures at an early age. Food is a vast topic, and one which is universally shared. I'm captivated by the fact that there are infinite possibilities and variations for any dish, and that two people from different parts of the world can look at the same ingredient in totally different ways.

JR: Does food photography require a different approach from shooting other subjects?

MK: Still life photography is more focused on creating an environment than other types of photography. Sometimes, this means rearranging or adding props to a real-life location, while in other instances, "locations" are fabricated from scratch. Creating environments and choosing props that impart visual cues about a dish is a large part of food photography.

Beyond that, there is of course the factor of having a small window of time to photograph the food before the ingredients wilt, dry or otherwise lose their fresh appearance. For this reason, communicating well with your team and having a clear vision of the final product before beginning to shoot is essential.

JR: Did anything at 3rd Ward influence your work in particular?

MK: I found 3rd Ward's classes and coworking space to be a great help when I first struck out on my own as a freelancer. The Branding Your Vision class for photographers drove home the point that it's essential that your work have a unique and consistent look. It helped me create a style that was my own, and not rooted in what I thought was "popular" and "marketable". 

The Business of Photography class gave me insight into how publications hire photographers, as well as the most effective ways to get my work into the hands of photo editors and creative directors.

...and now for some of Kelly's gorgeous attempts to make you eat your laptop:

-- John Ruscher

Epic Ideas // Illustrator James Gulliver Hancock Hopes To Draw Every Building In New York

All the Buildings in New York - Mott St, by James Gulliver Hancock.

Brooklyn-based Australian illustrator James Gulliver Hancock loves drawing. He also loves buildings. It makes sense then, that he's taken on an epic project bringing those two passions together. The project's name, All the Buildings in New York, says it all. His goal is to draw all of the Big Apple's buildings. While that ambition might be as far-fetched as Sufjan Steven's Fifty States Project, Hancock has done quite a few, and you can browse them by location via this nifty Google map. Hit the jump below to watch a video interview about the project.

Here's Hancock's explanation of how All the Buildings in New York got started, from an interview with CasaSugar:

I'd been doing this series of drawings where I capture a cliché of each city I'd visit; you can see the other ones on my website. So when I moved to New York, it was natural to do one here. However, moving to this great city, I was a little overwhelmed, so this became a special one.

It was interesting, because when I moved here it was like moving to a familiar place. Being originally from Australia, I'd seen so many pop culture images of New York that I almost didn't believe it was real. When I arrived, it had this kind of movie set-like mystique, so the blog was a conscious decision to try and tackle that, to make connections to my new home through drawing. And it's worked, through sitting down and taking in different places through the city, I've made new connections, planted markers of familiarity for myself within its structure and its reality, almost to the point that the buildings become little friends everywhere.

That sense of fascination and connection with his surroundings is what we love about Hancock's work. His project doesn't come across as a gimmick or contrivance, but a genuine glimpse of what it's like to discover the city. That's probably a familiar feeling for anyone who's moved to the New York, as is another moment that Hancock describes in that CasaSugar interview:

Sometimes in Summer, crossing one of the bridges, I've found myself with an uninterrupted view of the city, and I get heart palpitations, worrying that I may not be able to draw it all. I am a really focused person and it almost stresses me out the volume of buildings! But I hope to be here for a while, so we'll see!

Want to make sure Hancock gets to your building before he's old and gray? No problem: Commission the NYC building of your choice via his website.

And now for that video interview with Hancock, by Marisa Guzman-Aloia:

-- John Ruscher

NEW MEMBER PROFILE // In Yulia Gorbachenko's Photography, Pleasure Produces Perfection

Yulia Gorbachenko was well on her way to a career in marketing when a birthday gift that changed everything. Having graduated with a marketing degree from the Kyiv National University of Trade and Economics, she scored an internship in the United States and was excited about entering the professional world. "During the internship I began to wonder if marketing was something I really wanted to devote my life to," she says. It was then that she received that gift: a Canon Rebel XS.

It quickly became clear that photography was what she really wanted to pursue. "I spent all my spare time photographing, editing, reading about photography, and basically, breathing photography," she says. "I slowly understood that photography was the thing I enjoyed more than anything else." It soon became clear that she was a natural. "I won’t deny that I was pretty good as a beginner and that fact made me even more confident that I found my place," she says. "I actually got so good at it that the company I was working for hired me to photograph their main shows instead of dealing with marketing, which was the initial job I was intended to do. In that point I realized that I found my real passion in life."

Read more about Gorbachenko and feast your eyes on her dazzling photographs after the jump.

With her dream coming into focus, Gorbachenko packed her bags and headed to New York, where she's made it a reality. She's worked with a variety of prominent modeling agencies, and her work has been featured in many major publications, including Harper's Bazaar Ukraine, Marie Claire China and PDN. She's also been recognized multiple times in the International Photography Awards, as well as in many other major competitions. In 2010 she signed with JUMP Management, which recently connected her with a major beauty company for an exciting collaboration later this year.

A look at Gorbachenko's work makes it obvious that she's a jaw-droppingly talented photographer, but her extraordinary use of color is particularly remarkable. "For me colors are as important in my works as composition and cropping, they simply draw the eye of the viewer," she says. "Colors can change the mood of the story dramatically so they give me an amazing opportunity to bring the mood that I want to my pictures."

She's found 3rd Ward to be the perfect home base for a career that requires a large studio but also frequently takes her overseas. The space is there when she needs it and doesn't go to waste when she is away. She was also drawn to the friendly atmosphere. "When I first entered 3rd Ward I felt at home," she says. "The people were cool and nice, and the great design immediately caught my attention."

If you're looking for proof that pursuing your true passion is a worthy goal, you'd have a hard time finding an example better than Gorbachenko's story. "Aristotle said that 'pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work,'" she says, "and I agree with every word.

In addition to her professional work, Gorbachenko will also be traveling to Russia and Ukraine in February to teach master classes on fashion and beauty photography. She's also planning workshops in New York and Washington, DC, so stay tuned to her Facebook page and website if you're interested.

And now for more of her stunning images:

-- John Ruscher

PROFILE // Mieka Pauley Brings Independent Tunes To Saturday's Craft Fair

In addition to the many mind-blowingly crafty vendors, Saturday's Handmade Holiday Craft Fair will also feature some superb live music from singer-songwriter Mieka Pauley.

If you haven't heard Pauley's music, we think her press bio sums it up nicely: "Imagine Radiohead tiptoeing silently behind Patty Griffin as she makes her way backstage. Imagine Jeff Buckley in drag, singing along loudly at a Nirvana concert. Imagine Death Cab hiding in the back of an Emily Dickinson reading."

After receiving her degree in Biological Anthropology from Harvard in 2002, Pauley didn't embark on the career path you'd expect from a typical Ivy League graduate: She threw her guitar in the trunk and hit the road. By summer's end she had won the BMI/Rock Boat Song Contest and made a serious impression at Colorado's renowned Telluride Festival. After snagging few more awards and playing major showcases like the Newport Folk Festival, Pauley was back in Boston in 2004, opening for the legendary Eric Clapton. She hasn't let up since, winning the first ever Starbucks Emerging Artist Award in 2005 and the nationwide Cosmopolitan StarLaunch competition in 2008 and sharing stages with Jason Mraz, Citizen Cope, Wyclef Jean and Black Eyed Peas, just to name a few.

Pauley's debut album, 2007's Elijah Drop Your Gun, was funded entirely by donations from her fans, and she's taking the same route with her forthcoming record, which has already surpassed her fundraising goal. You can still donate, though, with perks ranging from a digital download of the album to your own intimate acoustic concert.

The success and accolades that Pauley has racked up over the past decade are a perfect example of the independent and creative spirit that we thrive on here at 3rd Ward. She's proof that you don't need to settle for a desk job or wait for a major label to come along before you can follow your dreams. Just get out there, do what you love and show the world what you've got!

Watch the video for Mieka Pauley's "All The Same Mistakes" after the jump.

-- John Ruscher

NEW MEMBER PROFILE // Jeweler Eva Marcus Hits the Big Time

Eva Marcus models a necklace for her lookbook

It was less than a year ago that Eva Marcus left Los Angeles and an acting career to come to New York and start a jewelry line. She searched and searched for a place to go make jewelry, until she found 3rd Ward and got to work. Now she has a shop on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan and Women's Wear Daily gave her line a glowing review. Apparently a lot can happen in a year.

"I'm not a very patient person," Marcus tells us. "Once I decided this is what I want to do, I didn't want to drag it out." 

Marcus learned how to make jewelry in Italy from a woman experienced in cuttlebone casting, which is the material her pieces are made from. Initially, she did it purely as form of meditation, though eventually people began asking her where the jewelry came from. "I thought it was kind of like how your mom hangs your pictures on the fridge when you're little," she says. "I didn't think people actually liked it." Meanwhile, disenchanted with show business, she decided to give the jewelry line a go. 

Hit the jump to find out more and catch a glimpse of Marcus' work.

                             

When we ask about the relatively primitive nature behind actually making the jewelry, Marcus explains, "What's funny is I'm not an outdoors person at all, and I don't really pay attention to the trends. I'll just put on a song or something and start sketching and carve that right into the cuttlebone." She loves the rustic, imprecise nature of the entire process and how substantial the finished products actually feel. Her prices range from about $200-$2,000 (hey, it's the holiday season, people.)

We, for one, are thrilled to have Eva on board as a member--and for your further enticement, here's one more gorgeous piece of hers:

--Layla Schlack

PROFILE + WORKSHOP // Friday Night: Learn To Make Mistakes With Laurie Rosenwald

"The only way to cure my hiccups is to offer me 20 bucks to hiccup again," says Laurie Rosenwald in a Communication Arts article about her How to Make Mistakes on Purpose workshop, which comes to 3rd Ward tomorrow night. (Reservation required as space is limited, so get on it.)

One of the main premises of Rosenwald's creative approach is that once you start trying, things can actually get a lot harder. "Instead of focusing on a problem to solve it, do something careless, pointless, opposite, random," she says. "Something that has nothing to do with what you're doing or wanting." 

Mistakes are good. That's another key Rosenwald-ism. "It can be a dot, a blog, an object, a word," she says. "The important thing is that the 'mistake' is not carefully chosen. It must be found, and not created with the intention to use it in any particular way."

Rosenwald's got some serious credentials under her belt, so hit the jump for more on why you won't want to miss this.

We can't tell you much about what goes on during a Mistakes on Purpose session, as Rosenwald asks participants to swear "omertà," the mafia code of silence. But, based on the places where she's taught the workshop (SVA, Google, Stockholm Design Lab and many more), it's clearly something of a big deal. Check our previous write-up to hear about the IKEA sheets too.

On her website Rosenwald describes herself as "the world's most commercial artist," and while there's some humorous hyperbole in that statement, she certainly has been commercially successful. Her illustrations have appeared in the New Yorker, New York Times and New York and many other publications, and she's received lots of awards. Her animation work has nominated for an Emmy, and she designed the awesome typeface Loupot. She's even appeared in an episode of The Sopranos.

Rosenwald's not in it just for the money and fame, though. It's more about doing things that haven't been done before, and making things that haven't already been made. Some of those "things" include the award-winning children's book And to Name But Just a Few: Red, Yellow, Green, Blue, the illustrated guidebook/sketchbook New York Notebook and All the Wrong People Have Self-Esteem, an "inappropriate book for young ladies." 

She also recently collaborated with David Sedaris on David's Diary, an app featuring diary entries read by Sedaris and animated by Rosenwald herself. 

-- John Ruscher

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT // Nick Kuszyk's Robots: From Street Art To Children's Books

If you walk around Williamsburg much, there's a good chance you've strolled passed Nick Kuszyk's robots. The Brooklyn-based artist has been painting them for over a decade, filling entire walls (and often more) with these brightly-colored mechanical creatures. Kuszyk's work hasn't just been limited to the streets. His canvases are equally awe-inspiring--his colorful robots can be found on album covers for the No BS Brass Band, decorating an arcade case for DIY video game makers Babycastles and even in a children's book named R Robot Saves Lunch, which Kuszyk wrote and illustrated.

We caught up with Kuszyk to ask him about his work. He enjoys the balance between doing large murals and smaller paintings. "Both help life in different ways," he says. As for his influences, he tells us that there are too many to list, but they include fifteenth century European painters Hieronymus Bosch and Jan van Eyck as well as modern geometric abstractionist Josef Albers.

How did he end up publishing a children's book? Kuszyk says it was a fluke. "The president of Penguin's kids books is into pilates, and my friend is a teacher [and] dropped my name," he explains. Chance or not, his skill and style have led to many other opportunities as well. Right now some of Kuszyk's work is being featured in an exhibit at Oklahoma City's Womb Gallery, where he got to work with The Flaming Lips' Wayne Coyne, who co-owns the space; "[Coyne's] a sleeper visual artist and a generally inspiring person," Kuszyk says.

As of today, Kusyk's at work on another album cover, several commissions as well as a graphic novel.

We've got more of Kuszyk's work after the jump, so keep going--and keep your eyes peeled for his murals the next time you hit the streets.

-- John Ruscher

CHEF'S CORNER // Beata Zatorska's Cookbook Puts a Familial Spotlight on Polish Cuisine

It's no secret that we're A) always hungry and B) consistently on the prowl for new dishes and recipes. So as part of an ongoing series, we'll be profiling innovators in the field of our primary lifeforce: food.

Today, we talk to the author of a gorgeous new cookbook, Beata Zatorska.

Starting with the name, Rose Petal Jam: Recipes & Stories from a Summer in Poland, Zatorska's cookbook has a charmingly whimsical feel. But hidden among photos of the Polish countryside and recipes for pierogi, pickles, and doughnuts are miniature history and anthropology lessons.

This book was a labor of love for Zatorska, who moved to Australia from Poland in 1981. She went on to become a family physician, but always looked back on her early childhood with her grandmother, a chef who also created herbal rememdies, as a force in shaping her life. So after a vacation to Poland, she decided to spend a summer in her native country and reclaim family recipes, including the namesake rose petal jam, and do a sort of culinary tour of her country.

We caught up with her to learn more about the recipes, Polish cooking, and a woman whose summers in the kitchen with her grandma shaped her entire life.

3W: What made you decide to do a cookbook? Was there a specific event that inspired it?

Beata Zatorska: It was returning to Poland after 20 years away that started it all--I visited my cousins who were still living in the old farmhouse where I spent the first years of my life with my grandmother. Though my grandma passed away long ago, my uncle still had many of her original recipes. Touching those old recipes in my grandmother's spidery handwriting felt like touching her hands again. I felt a strong connection to my past and had to write a story about the place I came from. 

3W: Was cooking a big part of your life in Australia before you started working on this book?

BZ: I live with my husband [and co-author], Simon, and three teenage sons. I work full-time, so we share the cooking--often a matter of feeding a hungry family fast: pasta, salad, risotto, etc. My mother, Lidia, lives nearby and makes pierogi for the boys. They can easily go through 120 in one meal. Such traditional food is more time-consuming to make and sometimes involves the whole family lending a hand, rolling up cabbage leaves or cutting pastry into circles.

3W:Describe your ultimate comfort food, the meal that brings you right back to your childhood.

BZ: It would have to be Silesian dumplings (kluski slaski in Polish). They are chewy dumplings made with potato flour, like giant gnocchi, served with a goulash or pureed beetroot. When I first went back to Poland, all my friends and family kindly cooked these for me (in fact, we were once served them three times on the same day, which was a test of our tact).

But the scent of wild rose petals is certainly the strongest reminder of my childhood. It was my job when I was five to collect these petals each morning in summer for my grandmother to make rose petal jam. I only have to smell rose petals to be back in my grandmother's garden.

3W: Your grandmother also gathered herbs to make remedies, and I know that's part of what inspired you to become a doctor. Do you think food is a form of healing? 

BZ: My grandmother made wild peppermint tea to settle a stomach and valerin drops for colds. She even made her own cosmetics from plants she found in the forests. Any doctor will tell you healthy food leads to a healthy body, but I think food has emotional power too. Recipes that bring back memories of a happy childhood are certainly good for your wellbeing. The smells coming from my grandmother's kitchen (mushrooms or poppyseeds drying, yeasty cakes puffing up) filled our house and provided aromatherapy for the whole family.

3W: What are you hoping will be the legacy of this book?

I love the thought that somebody might find the time to gather wild rose petals and blend them with sugar into a simple jam like my grandmother did. Though I grew up in 1960s and '70s Communist Poland, when food was scarce, we never seemed to go without, thanks to my grandmother's imaginative recipes. I like to think not everything we eat today needs to come readymade from the supermarket.

Rose Petal Jam is the first installment of four seasonal cookbooks. The next one Sugar Orange Peel: Recipes and Stories from a Winter in Poland will be out in May 2012. We'll just be over here devouring pierogi until then.

--Layla Schlack

Profile: Eric Ratkowski

From his shaggy blonde hair to his incredible height, Eric is an all around amazing guy & a cool 3W member. PLUS, he's the first one to fill our new survery. Below, enjoy a quick slice of life from those who use 3rd Ward.