Our Favorite Images of 2016
You may have already noticed, but we here at Edible Capital District we believe that visuals can be equally as compelling as the written word—from visiting a chef at his picturesque home in the countryside to getting your daughter to pose while eating a ice cream cone with sprinkles, to name a few of the memorable images our photographers captured. We’ve traveled the Capital Region to bring you a taste of the bounty of local flavors that is available, and we hope you enjoyed the adventure.
With a new year upon us, we’ve assembled a gallery of 12 of our favorite photos from 2016. Enjoy them here, and thank you for joining us on this ride and for all your support. We can’t wait to share lots more with you in 2017.
Alex, Margot and their trusty four-legged farm-hand of Sugar House Creamery make for an uncompromising cheese-making trio (and a great team photo!) Photographer Brent Harrewyn.
Every photographer wants to be a fly on the wall. At Blueberry Hill Market and Café, the pace was so fast in the kitchen, all I could do was set up a ladder and wait for the moment. Customers came and went and the staff whizzed around preparing food and waiting on all. The sound of espresso machines and other culinary appliances was overwhelming. I waited on that ladder like a fly until the composition fell into place. The feel, smell , sounds and positive energy of Blueberry Hill rewarded me and seeped into that photo! Photographer Liz Lajeunesse.
“Every photo shoot is different, but they all have interesting details that tell the story just as effectively as the main images. This portrait was captured during an afternoon shoot at the home of Kelly and Garry Brown for a feature on their beef stew. Their two dogs were excited and curious and most likely hungry from the smell of the stew cooking on the stove. They expectantly sat under the table waiting, listening, and hoping for some of the delicious food. As a photographer tasked with capturing the concept of a cozy and comfortable home at the holidays, happy dogs under a beautifully prepared meal is a detail I couldn’t pass up. “Photographer John Bulmer.
“I really enjoyed this shoot from start to finish. We got a ton of great details and a bunch of portraits that I really like. My mom was a baker (when she wasn't working as a nurse) so it felt awesome to hang out around baking. The owner gave me a ton of stuff to take home and I intended on using a bunch of it for some styled shots, but I ate all of it before that could happen.” Photographer Stan Horaczek on location at Bake for You.
“There are details of a process that cannot be ignored. Cheese-making is a process that moves so fast and the visual nuances become a documentary experience. Some of these details are not “pretty” but are crucial to the process. These boots, necessary tools for a cheese-maker, are evidence that nothing can be slowed down but only recorded as part of the process. If cheese gets on the lens….so be it.” Photographer Liz Lajeunese on location at Four Fat Fowl.
“Chef Suvir Saran was a delight to photograph in his extremely picturesque home in the countryside! Both he and his partner Charlie were enthusiastic and hilarious. They cooked and we sampled and I took some pictures. We talked about all the interesting things in their home. Those roasted sweet potatoes with the kiss of lime juice were so delicious, and we now prepare them like this all the time! It is great fun to shoot these projects because it exposes you to the food and culture and warmth of people, and when you eat that food again it brings back the sweet memory of meeting them.” Photographer Brie Passano.
“This was one of my favorite projects of the whole year. I spent the whole day making deliveries and met a ton of cool people, but James and Lee were fascinating. I grabbed this portrait when we had finished dropping off a load of food in Troy. We were waiting for the final paperwork and we had decent light without a great background so I grabbed my backup camera with a pretty basic 50mm prime lens that I like for these loose headshot style portraits. I only got in a few frames and then it was time to go. It was a small moment in a big day that left me feeling really inspired.” Photographer Stan Horaczek on his day following the Capital Region Food Pantries.
“ I was heading back from the few days I spent out in upstate New York photographing the cyclists and their activities with Cycle ADK, and I was looking for more photos that would capture the essence of the area. While driving through the hills, I saw this beautiful lake and then the person in the canoe came into view just as the fog was rolling out. I knew I had to pull over and take a picture!” Photographer Jenn Bakos.
“Mazzone Hospitality is built upon a few core ideas, including laughter, fun and pride. Angelo exudes these principles. One can tell as he talks about food and while he prepares it. He tells great stories and has an amazing amount of pride in what he creates as a dish. There is only one way to show what Angelo does and how he does it. Precision laughter! As a photographer I decided to set the camera stably and hold the shutter as to not miss what happened.” Photographer Liz Lajeunesse.
“This one actually has a really funny story. The photo shoot at Snowman Ice Cream was scheduled for Sunday, but I wanted to scout it out a little on Saturday. My daughter had a lacrosse game that morning so we stopped on the way home. I bought her that ice cream, shot a few frames with it (she didn't even want sprinkles but I wanted them in the photo!) and then told her she had to ditch it because we were on our way to lunch with the family. She was so mad that I wouldn't let her finish it. Every time someone would congratulate her for having her picture on the cover of a magazine, she' would immediately reply with "You know my dad wouldn't even let me finish eating it!” When we first started shooting it, I totally pegged it as a test shot, hence the hair band on her wrist that needed to be cropped out.” Photographer Stan Horaczek.
“This was shot from inside the barn looking through to Margot flipping cheese in her creamery. Strict sanitation practices separate the cheese-making process from the outside word. I think this image speaks to that.” Photographer Brent Harrewyn on location at Sugar House Creamery.
“This was a lot of fun because it was my first assignment for Edible, and Jude is my boyfriend which meant we had a lot of time to play and explore creative ideas for the pictures without getting sick of each other! The best part was that I got to capture his process of cooking from start to finish. It always amazes me how much love he puts into the food he cooks even in the gentle way he washes each vegetable. It is all these little things that really influence the quality and taste of the food. This photo also takes me back to warm summer days in Saratoga and all the fresh produce available from local farms!” Photographer Brie Passano.
