In the Kitchen

Last weekend feels like it was a year ago. We were being cautious, making sure to wash our hands, and hearing news of city closures in New York and France, but it hadn’t really hit northern California yet. Fast forward to a week later and it’s a new reality — we’re face-timing our friends for brunch, doing our workout routines on Instagram Live, and shopping for paper products at restaurants-turned-bodegas. I know that this too shall pass, and most of us will be ok, but this is an undoubtedly strange and difficult time for all.

Anyway, back to last weekend…

I had a great day shooting a “Plant Based Sushi” collaboration between Chelsea Farrah Koptke from The Dancer’s Pantry and personal sushi chef, Nicholas Rush Butler. Chelsea and I have been good friends since kindegarten and Nick knew Chelsea from high school. And… it turns out, Nick and I also know each other from elementary school! Kismet!

I arrived at Chelsea’s fabulous home kitchen a bit early to photograph a simple (but delicious) Sunomono (Japanese cucumber salad) and to plan out and prepare the space and items needed for the collaboration shoot. Nick got there about an hour later and we went to work! Nick showed Chelsea how to sharpen her knives and Chelsea taught Nick about cooking and flavoring vegetables in a way that would make any sushi traditionalist seriously consider vegetarianism.

They made a sushi roll with blistered shishito peppers, avocado, and green apple, a sautéed eggplant nigiri with ginger and scallions, and even a cheeky hand-roll whipped up from leftovers. Chelsea’s husband, Eric ( a sommelier and fellow foodie) helped me with lighting and then paired the food with a fantastic champagne. It was such a special day filled with laughter, reminiscing, good food, great drinks, and creativity. It was such a warm memory to hold onto, as the reality of the dire world situation descended upon us in the following days. Our day in the kitchen reminded me that bright spots can be found in even the darkest of places if you keep your heart and mind open.

As Leonard Cohen said, “There is a crack in everything; that’s how the light get’s in.”

Notes from "Avant"

I can’t remember the exact time or reason that I was first drawn to taking photos, but the nature of cautiously  “observing” has always been within me.

Because I like to quietly take in the world, street photography has often appealed to me. I love capturing the fleeting moments of life that may seem ordinary to the naked eye, but become magical when frozen in time. Conversely, I have frequently felt self-conscious when taking photographs of others, and dislike being noticed because of my camera. This project helped me push through my fear of being watched, and taught me to wait for the right moment, instead of rushing and just trying to get out of the way. 

I think my photo of the “Hotel Marshall” marks this change in my abilities. There was at first just one man in front of the hotel door, cleaning or surveying the entrance, and then I watched another man exit the hotel and light a cigarette. They looked at me watching them from across the street, and my first instinct was to turn away. But I loved the way they were framed by the entrance overhang, lingering in the last bits of early morning mystery, and I couldn’t bare to ignore the quiet light slowly creeping toward the hotel door and illuminating the street.

So, I paused and held my breath.

They turned away and went back to their own business, and I took the picture… even though I was afraid.