Sprite

Another addition to the soda series, Sprite is a standout drink. I felt like it required a slightly different approach - especially considering that it’s crystal clear. A black background seemed like the best direction.

This played perfectly with the bottle, which has the classic dimpled design – and the color: I love the green punch of the bottle.

It all came together in a very simple and straightforward photograph that displays the crispness that is Sprite. Much like the Fanta a few posts back, this one is imported and, in my opinion, tastes like nothing you can find here. You’ll just have to pick one up and see the taste difference.

Perhaps my favorite aspect of this photograph are the bubbles at the top of the glass, brought about by the first few seconds of a fresh pour.

Also, happy June! I think it’s going to shape out to be a great summer with all kinds of projects in the works. To those of you that stop by often, thank you for your views and support. Your comments are always welcome and appreciated.

Enjoy!

Jack & Coke

A slight sidestep from what I have shot recently, I decided to photograph my favorite cocktail – Jack and Coke.

One part Jack Daniels Tennessee Whiskey and three parts Coca-Cola make this drink a nice blend of carbonated refreshment along with the smooth aftertaste of the Old No. 7.

I am far from a connoisseur of fine beverages so my abilities in describing this are limited - but this drink hits the spot after a long week.

Stay tuned, I have an entire series of cocktails in the works.

For the time being, enjoy a Jack & Coke:

Dr. Pepper

What can one really say about Dr. Pepper? It’s nearly impossible to describe its flavor – and I’m not just saying that because of their advertising. You just can’t go wrong with a classic.

I wanted to try a little something different for this shot – something a bit more exciting. So while making a huge mess, I ended up with the shot I had in my head.

At 1/1600 of a second, Dr. Pepper is still delicious.

Thanks for reading!

Big Red

This soda totally stands out on its own – there is nothing quite like a Big Red, especially this version with real sugar.

It’s a little hard to describe the taste of Big Red, and as someone said today, it doesn’t taste anything like its color; one would think that it would taste like cherries or maybe strawberries, but it is actually more along the lines of a cream soda.

A perfect addition to lunch!

Enjoy!

Fantastic Fanta

As a continuation of my Soda Series, I photographed another of my favorite drinks – Fanta Orange.

This isn’t your regular Fanta Orange either – this particular Fanta is imported from Mexico and is not as sweet as the American counter-part. It definitely has more of an orange taste that is not as overbearing as other drinks.

I love the design of this bottle too.

So if you’re looking for a flavorful drink on a hot day, check out this Fanta Orange! It may be hard to find at some places, but you’ll be glad you looked for it.

Thanks for reading!

Grape Revisit

A few weeks ago I made a post about one of my favorite drinks: Grape Soda. I was pretty happy with the shot – but after receiving some critiques and feedback, I felt could that I could improve the image, both compositionally and visually; there could have been more “oomph.” So instead of contemplating the things I did wrong, I decided to reshoot the soda and learn how to do them right. See below:

I changed the glass because in the previous shot, the glass and the bottle were almost too similarly shaped. Something about their relationship to one another did not feel right. This glass is roughly the same size as the other, but to me it just adds another element of intrigue. I reworked my lighting and my main (and only) light came more from the back than from the side. It helped illuminate the bottle and the drink – if you notice in the original shot the bottle is pretty dark. It’s a pretty dark liquid to begin with, so it was a bit of a challenge to get light through that bottle. I think seeing more of the true color of the drink helps convey the grape story.

Lastly, the ice. I love the ice in this image much more than the ice in the other image – I believe it helps convey the idea of “refreshing.”

One of the more important things that I did was put myself in the shoes of the viewer or in this particular type of photography, the customer, and compare the two shots in terms of which one I would buy. “If I wanted to choose a drink on a hot day based on these two images, which one would I buy?”

“Which one looks more appetizing?”

So, more delicious or less delicious than the original? If you have a moment, let me know.

Working on this soda shot has inspired me to continue the series with other sodas – so keep an eye out for those. There are lots to choose from!

Thanks for stopping by.

A Pets Guide to Fashion on Cinco de Mayo

I had the privilege of once again working with the East Lake Pet Orphanage during their annual Wine on the Roof fundraiser. As part of the event, a pet fashion show is held with fun and quirky costumes that are later auctioned off to help raise donations for the group. This year’s theme: Cinco de Mayo. Last year’s theme of “Gone with the Wind” was pretty great, with plenty of characters and pretty accurate costumes. So as you can imagine, the fashion designers this year certainly did not disappoint!

Enjoy the shots below!

(Yes, that’s a pig! Zoe!)

If you’re interested about learning more about the East Lake Pet Orphanage and how they are helping the community, please visit their website.

Thanks for stopping by!

Grape

Carbonated drinks are quite the delicacy. I tend to stay away from them for a number of reasons – water is usually my first choice.

However, there is one particular flavor that I just can’t say ‘no’ to – Grape Soda.

There’s just something about its taste…artificially flavored or not, Grape Soda always brings a smile to my face. Spring and summer are generally heavy with Grape Soda consumption and I am definitely looking forward to it.

I decided to shoot my favorite drink. See below:

I bet you want a drink of Grade Soda now.

Thanks for stopping by.

Silent Shadows

I have had the pleasure of working with a very loving and talented group of people at The East Lake Pet Orphanage in Dallas, TX for the past few years. Through various projects such as charitable events, shows, and promotional photography, I have used my talents to help communicate their message which continually shines through the various lives that they have helped connect.

One thing that I learned very early on from working with the staff at ELPO is that they don’t just help pets – they help connect those pets with people so that both may experience a mutual growth and a happiness that is hard to find elsewhere. I have seen the unconditional love that people share with their newfound friend and it’s quite a contagious affection. It’s also pretty fun to get to work with so many pets – their personality really shines in front of the camera. Much like a person, each one has their own way of showing who they are – some shy away, while others beam proudly with confidence.

I have been lucky enough to contribute my passion in helping them pursue their mission, and on Friday, March 30th, will have the opportunity to further do so with a photography show that I hope will not only raise donations, but also raise awareness to the wonderful actions these people take in connecting lives for the greater good.

Alongside Dallas photographer Manny Rodriguez, we will be hosting a photography show titled “Silent Shadows,” where we each took our own meaning from the theme and explored those uncommonly common places with photography.

If you’re in the area and would like to see some of our work or are interested in seeing what The East Lake Pet Orphanage has to offer, I invite you to come see the show on Friday, March 30th, at 7:30PM.

Prints will be available and all proceeds will go towards The East Lake Pet Orphanage and their efforts to help the homeless pets of Dallas.

If you would like to know more about The East Lake Pet Orphanage, please follow this link.

Thanks for reading – I hope to see you at the show!

Tea

This time of year brings along a lot of projects and it’s easy to get caught up in the fast pace. Though, sometimes it’s necessary to take a small break and reflect on what’s going on.

Why not have some tea?

Enjoy.