One of the great things about studio food photography is the chance to collaborate with people across disciplines: food as art, image as art. A couple months ago I had another opportunity to play with Rachel Sherwood on some personal work.

My colleague Nate Ryan was nice enough to swing by and film a little behind the scenes of the day, and I think he did a good job of conveying how a food shot comes together: the experimentation with composition, ingredients, and propping, then the careful preparation of the ‘hero’ dish and capture of the final shot.

Behind the Scenes: Chicken with Rachel from Chris Bohnhoff on Vimeo.

Thanks to Rachel and Nate for the chance to create together.

I’ve had the good fortune to work with Rachel Sherwood, Minneapolis food stylist extraordinaire, on a handful of projects over the past year – my Rest Stop Gourmet and Ice Fishing Gourmet among them. Earlier this summer she emailed me about a personal project she and her friend and colleague Anna Kevile Joyce were working on, inspired by various farm-to-table dinners sweeping the nation these days. Rachel and Anna had an event of their own in mind, and wondered if I would be interested in documenting it. Are you kidding?? I said.

Out Styling in the Field – Images by Chris Bohnhoff

The oppressive temperatures were defeated by Rachel and Anna’s chilled dishes: fried polenta squares with savory tomato relish and onion straw, peach and tomato salad, raw corn chowder, basil and lime sorbet, chilled pork roast with arugula and mustard sauce, chocolate truffle cake – topped off with a homemade limoncello. All delicious, and beautiful wildflowers and place settings to compliment the rustic backdrop. Great times, and beautiful and delicious food.

Ahhh, summer! Thanks so much to Rachel and Anna for including me in the good times and artistry.