What are you up to this weekend? Want to see some good friends and eat great food? Then come out to the BLP BBQ!
This Saturday at Proper Fools Studio – 55 Chrystie Street between Canal and Hester.
2 PM.
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See you there!
Entries filed under Capricorn
Saturday BBQ!
Herman Miller – meet Jim Bastardo
In case you missed the Herman Miller sale that happened earlier this summer, you certainly can’t miss the stellar photography that Jim Bastardo always brings to the Design Within Reach table.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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!
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!
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
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.
Capricorns, Aquarians, Big Leos – Oh My!
Capricornus, the Sea Goat, represents the tenth zodiacal constellation. It was associated with the rainy season and water in ancient civilizations around the world, including Mesopotamia, China, Egypt and Aztecs.
For Big Leo, the Capricorn represents hard work, loyalty and dedication which takes the form of the photography of Jim Bastardo and Hector Sanchez. These hardworking, shrewd, practical, responsible, and persevering persons, are capable of persisting for as long as is necessary to accomplish a goal they have set for themselves. They think profoundly and deeply, thoroughly exploring all possibilities before deciding the answer.
Hector spares no attention to detail when it comes to the quality of his photographs. A team player, he works to arrive at the best marriage between lighting and composition.
Jim Bastardo is a master of capturing the life within an image whether the moment intends to showcase a beautiful interior for a high end catalog or the community of a work environment for a Fortune 500 company. Check out Jim’s new email promotion below!
On the Aquarius side of our beloved roster are the incredible talents of travel photographer Andrea Wyner, prop stylist Sarah Cave and food stylist Heidi Johannsen. Aquarians are said to be friendly and humanitarian, honest and loyal , original and inventive , and independent and intellectual. Nothing could be more true of these three!
If you long to travel, to see far off places and to eat exotic foods that exist only a mere plane ride away, take a glimpse at Andrea Wyner’s amazing travel photographs for a just a moment’s satiation. The warmth and character living within her deeply traditional images just might make you book a ticket right now.
Over the holidays, in light of our economy, Sarah demonstrated how even poor old Saint Nick had to hit the couch! Her display design and construction for the MOSCHINO windows are always clever and detailed from inception (see her amazing illustrations, too!) to completion. Whether she is physically constructing a set, hand crafting holiday cards for editorial shoots, or working magic on a Macy’s print advertisement, Sarah Cave can always be counted upon for one of a kind creativity.
Heidi Johannsen is the quiet genius behind many of the beautiful food stories you’ve seen in Food & Wine, Bon Appetit, Food Network Magazine and Everyday with Rachael Ray (to name a few). Her calm hands and irreplaceable talents have well translated into many book projects as well as ads for LG, Kellogs, Duncan Hines, Wal-mart and more.
Ladies and Gentleman, our January/February artists! Oh! and a quick shout out, too, to our very own in-house Capricorns: Willie Mullins a.k.a FARRAD right here in the Big Leo office and Riley, our mascot, at home.
Holiday Flan-tasticness!
Hector Sanchez spent the holidays down south with his mother this year. He was very intent on one thing while away: learning and perfecting his family’s recipe for flan. During one of his attempts, something about the gooey glistening caramel color of the flan as it cooled on his mother’s kitchen counter made him want to photograph it. Hector searched through his mother’s kitchen to find some usable props, thinking: minimal would be best so that the flan would really shine.
When his mother mentioned that some families like to eat their flan with a small serving of candied coconut, they went out and bought a fresh coconut, baked it , grated it and made another one.
In places like Miami, canned candied coconut is available, which is very different from the bagged coconut found in most grocery stores, but Hector wanted to make the real deal. It took three tries under his mother’s direction to get the flan right. Finally, the third one, which was the most beautiful, was the one he wanted to make an image of.
Personally, we’d like to make a MEAL of it. Now that we have such a beautiful image of this Sanchez household recipe, perhaps we can get the secret as well! We’ll keep you posted on that one…
