Mary Dail — THE DEN by Big Leo

Posts by Mary Dail

More Fine Cooking by Carrie Purcell

For those of you who don’t know Big Leo food stylist Carrie Purcell – where on Earth have you been? Carrie’s recent work for the August/September 2010 issue of Fine Cooking Magazine, joins her with the talented food and lifestyle photographer John Kernick whose entertaining shoot entitled Bites for a Summer Night showcases “acepipes” or Portuguese small plates. Not to be confused with tapas, these dishes are far more interesting and substantial and beautifully styled, of course.

In the same issue, her coolly-crafted food illustration opens for 10 Ways to Eat Less Meat shot by staff photographer Scott Phillips. You’ll be seeing a lot more from Carrie in the coming months with her contributions to Health, Prevention, The Nest, as well as Bertolli and Palmolive and whole slew of personal projects! To keep up with her amazing skills, check out the Pictures and Pancakes blog she rocks out with her photographer husband, Andrew Purcell. Happy (almost) August!

Posted July 30, 2010 by Mary Dail |
Filed Under: Aries, Cancer, Leo

Hector Sanchez goes Bridal!!!

For the July 2010 issue of BRIDES Magazine, Hector Sanchez shoots foodie-inspired wedding delicacies created by Danny Meyer’s Hudson Yards catering company (see story excerpt below). YUM!

Posted June 17, 2010 by Mary Dail |
Filed Under: Capricorn, Leo

Jim Bastardo – He’s the real thing.

Photographer Jim Bastardo’s new Design Within Reach image featuring The 111 Navy Chair made of recycled plastic Coke bottles leaves us with a very interesting question: How did he sleep after drinking all that Coca-Cola?! All for a good cause, this chair is helping to keep 3 million Coke bottles out of landfills. Check out 111NavyChair.com to find out more about the production of this eco-llaboration between EMECO and Coca-Cola.

Personally, the Southerners in this office are waiting for the PEPSI chair, but we won’t hold our breath.

Posted June 14, 2010 by Mary Dail |
Filed Under: Capricorn, Leo

Sweet Memories

Ever felt like a kid in a candy shop? You would if you were at our office today where we received a basket of vintage sweets reminiscent of the days of roller skates, skinned knees, and real arcade games like, Galaga, Space Invaders, Donkey Kong and Super Ms. Pac Man.

Pop Rocks, Bazooka, Charleston Chew, Jolly Ranchers, Good n Plenty, Pixy Stix, Big League Chew, Sugar Daddies, Fun Dip and yes even candied necklaces. It’s in there!

The candy came to Big Leo courtesy of an awesome client who spent the day shooting with our very own Björn Wallander, whose work and stellar demeanor simply inspire this sort of sweetness.

Posted June 9, 2010 by Mary Dail |
Filed Under: Aquarius, Aries, Cancer, Capricorn, Gemini, Leo, Libra, Pisces, Sagittarius, Scorpio, Taurus, Virgo

A Summer Big Leo Trio

The onset of summer always brings with it thoughts of half-day fridays (if you’re lucky), vacations (also if you’re lucky), ocean breezes, flip flops, sweet iced tea, frozen fruity drinks and of course ICE CREAM (cue Mr. Softee jingle here)! It also happens to be our signature season over here at Big Leo. Inspired and armed with fresh blueberries, kiwi, peppermint, coffee beans, buttermilk, pistachios and more, food stylist Carrie Purcell made delicious ice cream treats that had us excitedly anticipating the very first 80+ degree day in the city. Photographed by Hector Sanchez, prop styled by Pamela Duncan Silver, and sampled of course by yours truly, the images are a perfect treat frozen in time. Just don’t look for too long or you might get brain freeze.

Since this story was shot there have been several 80+ degree days in the city – we look forward to what inspires the next Big Leo Trio!

Posted June 7, 2010 by Mary Dail |
Filed Under: Aries, Capricorn, Leo, Taurus

That’s so CHEESY!

Recently, Big Leo photographer Andrew Purcell was commissioned to shoot images for a UK based international exporter of diary based products, ranging from cheeses, creams, to butters and créme fraîche. Here at Big Leo, we love cheese. And wine. And bacon! The list goes on…

As an inspiration for such delicious cheesy comestibles, we’ve composed a personal cheese montage straight from Andrew – and his food stylist wife – Carrie’s kitchen! The light and composition is sure to make anyone crave a little fermented curd!

In honor of his new promo – coming soon from a mail carrier near you – we’d like to share our favorite Monty Python sketch “The Cheese Shop”. Venezuelan Beaver Cheese anyone?

Posted May 18, 2010 by Mary Dail |
Filed Under: Leo, Libra, Virgo

Jim Bastardo’s playful search for Eva.

Big Leo photographer Jim Bastardo, who regularly shoots for Design Within Reach (DWR), was commissioned by the modern furniture company to create their ad campaign featuring some of the industry’s most prominent designers. To our complete surprise (and excitement), the first installment in a series of three features the legendary Eva Zeisel, whose influential work in ceramics sent her on a self-proclaimed “playful search for beauty”. Jim’s image, shot just this past winter, is proof positive that beauty and design inspires at any age.

We asked Jim about his experience shooting this amazing design legend, who herself, at 103, transcends time and beauty:

BLP: When you first heard you would be shooting the legendary Eva Ziesel, were you intimidated at all?

JB: Well, she’s had a long and storied life. I’m just happy to have had a small place in it.

BLP: Did you have an idea of how you wanted to shoot her? Or, did the shot come about more organically once you met her?

JB: Well, my first thoughts were that the whole series had the possibilities of being amazing – not just with Eva, but as a project, if the approach was correct. The continuity had to be decided upon early for the session to hold it all together. I wasn’t able to shoot everyone at the same time or location, I needed to decide on an approach that I could create over and over anywhere. It needed to be clean and simple but to have a strong graphic to it. I’m one of those few photographers that actually likes layouts, text and design on their images. And, in talking to the art director about the approach we knew it would worked well with the DWR brand.

BLP: What struck you the most about her: first as a person, then, as a designer, and finally as a subject behind your lens?

JB: With Eva, the first thing you think of with your approach is her age. She’s 103. Having never photograghed someone that age, it was hard to know what effect that would have or what she is capable of. What I did know is that I wanted to make sure she had a strong presence in the images and to really celebrate her. Her wit and spirit made the images amazing – She just shined.

BLP: Did she flirt with you? (Just kidding.)

JB: The whole session with Eva was really great. I had already shot the first portrait of the series in the studio and the approach worked well. Shooting her was going to be the first on location – so I was curious to see how it would play out.

BLP: We think it played out VERY well, Jim.

While Jim got to know Eva in front of his lens, you might enjoy getting to know Eva just a little more as she discusses her search in this TED video filmed in 2001 (and posted just two years ago). Enjoy!

Posted April 13, 2010 by Mary Dail |
Filed Under: Capricorn

That’s some Fine Cooking!

Big Leo food stylist Carrie Purcell exemplifies fine cooking at its best in the April/May 2010 issue of the Magazine.

The story was beautifully shot by photographer Pernille Pedersen.

We’re always impressed, but never surprised by the talents this extraordinary stylist serves up on a platter!

Posted March 15, 2010 by Mary Dail |
Filed Under: Aries

Show us your ♥

This past Valentine’s Day, we asked a few of our artists to show us their hearts. More to the point, we asked them to share with us what about this industry makes their hearts beat faster – gets them moving, and inspires them.

Carrie Purcell wanted to share this polaroid from Zuni Cafe in San Francisco. “What gets my heart going is food! I guess that would be expected since I’m a food stylist, but not everyone in this world is lucky enough to do what they are passionate about for a living – not just food, but the experience of food and what it means to share a meal. Whether it’s a cheese plate & bottle of wine at home with my husband, a spread of comforting classics at a holiday meal with family or new flavors shared with friends in a cozy cafe – food brings us together and moves us”.

The house of Big Leo was full of new arrivals in 2009, so it’s no surprise that there is new inspiration in the lives of our many talented artists. For photographer Melissa Punch, her very own “sweet pea” will surely provide enough beats of the heart to last a lifetime. It’s nice to watch the circular motion of life continually influence the work of our artists.

Stylist Scott Horne literally gave us the key to his heart (he’ll take these, in no particular order, please):

- Timbuktu eau de toilette by L’Artisan Parfumeur

- Farrow salad at Al Di La, Park Slope (YUM!)

- Air Vail winter boot by Cole Haan

- Liam soft grey baby alpaca throw by Area

- Almondine baguette, by Almondine Bakery DUMBO

- Deep tissue massage, Great Jones Spa (this is the way to ANY Big Leo’s heart)

- All things White Forest, pottery
- Large Black Coffee from Ninth Street Espresso

- Ultra Lightweight Hiking Crew Socks by Patagonia

- leather goods by M0851

and the *bonus* skeleton key to his heart:
- Humanity! (ala The Red Cross)

What gets photographer Jim Bastardo’s heart going is the promise of possibilities. Captured in the aspirational lifestyle images he creates, moments like this do indeed convey the possibilities of what can happen today.

• possibilities- unspecified qualities of a promising nature; potential.

We asked Australian photographer Justin Bernhaut what gets his heart beating and this is what we got:

Who needs an answer with an image like this? We don’t know about you, but it makes our heart beat, too! “Rocker” sure does run in this family…

And, when we asked photographer Frank Heckers, the answer was pure and simple: “when my heart is moved I believe what I see”.

Finally, it’s impossible for anyone who has ever heard of Big Leo not to know what gets our hearts beating. There’s this little gimpy pitbull named Riley whom we’ve unofficially assigned to be our mascot:

But, more importantly, what gives us motivation to do what we do, what makes our hearts beat day in and out is the enormous sense of pride and satisfaction we feel when each and every one of our artists is appreciated for their incredible talents, then booked and re-booked. As Jim Bastardo puts it, “the promise of possibilities” is what drives us and keeps us looking forward in the direction of our dreams.

Posted February 16, 2010 by Mary Dail |
Filed Under: Aries, Capricorn, Gemini, Leo

Frank Heckers gets personal.

For the past decade, Frank Heckers has timelessly captured the essence and pure beauty of baby-dom with an unprecedented ease.

Though his photography was initially comprised of edgy fashion, his soft, ethereal style made an immediate and relevant translation into the gentle and tender world of babies and kids. After ten years at the helm of children’s photography, his inspiring work once again comes full circle.

With the creation of his new and personal website, Frank gets back to his roots with the unmistakable influence of his growth as a photographer and his experience as a human being.