Photo by Andrew Purcell, props by Sarah Cave, food by Carrie Purcell

When I first laid eyes on this image a miraculous thing happened to me.  In a time when production budgets are tight, creative is struggling, and commissioned shoots are thinly divided within our inundated industry among a mass of photographers, I was blown away by the simple beauty of … dare I say it?  ART.  A confident reassurance that we ARE doing what we love to do and for all of the right reasons came over me and sent a calm quiet through my frustrations with our industry.  For every possible issue or drama we’ve encountered on a given shoot, an iconic image like this emerges to remind me of why we hang in there.

With a penchant for the modern and eye for great design, Jim’s sophisticated yet approachable point of view is a perfect match for the quality brands that DWR has to offer.

Check out the full page Herman Miller ad that ran in the Wall Street Journal!  Great design mixed with the unmistakable aesthetic of Jim Bastardo’s work is the very essence of professional photography at its best.

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!

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

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.

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!

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?

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!

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!