Blown Out! (blog)

'Rodoballo a Punto"- Whole Turbot in Olive Oil and Vinegar

Client:  Quadras Integrated

for: La Tienda

All content ©Mark Petko Photography (click here for permission)

Last month I took a weekend excursion back to my OG stomping grounds in Ohio to participate in a friend’s wedding.  The beginning of our friendship took place on the first day of Kindergarten.  We were standing in line for whatever reason and he asked me a question, when I replied I got reprimanded for ‘talking’ and was sent to my desk to put my head down while the whole class was able to do something else.  I can’t quite remember what I missed, but I’m sure it was an extraordinary activity like listening to a story, snacking on cookies or playing with a box full of puppies.  Soon after, when I was released from my confinement Sean apologized.  I accepted only to spend a lifetime designing my revenge.  That’s how I remember it, I’m sure he tells a different tale.

Sean and Amy created the day of their nuptials to be an expression of themselves and their families.  It began with a small personal exchange of vows and rings (handmade by each other) standing atop a carved tree stump found in Holden Arboretum.

After the ceremony the bride and groom bussed their guests to the Museum of Art in Cleveland to participate in their entry for the annual ‘Parade the Circle’.  Their entry was ‘Just Married’ and involved costumes and props created by the couple showcasing the importance of books and reading.  They spent months before making wearable 10′-15′ ‘Where the Wild Things Are’ characters using mainly recycled materials.  They also created a rolling-float Storybook that characters could emerge from.

someone lost a flip-flop…(Sean, his niece and me mum)

Made with grocery store plastic bags…………………….and bubble wrap.

paper mache pirates

yarrrr…

…there he is.

storybook on wheels

this was the final image before my Canon ’sh*t the bed’.  I heard a kler-chunk and when I removed the lens the mirror popped out.  Back to Canon.

The recent neglect of my own personal visual-food blogs, Spoonfed (Atlanta) and Spoonfed (Raleigh) is due in part to a recent assignment that I had obtained with Our State Magazine.  They had found me (I think) through my work on Spoonfed (Raleigh) and were working on an article “100 foods you must eat in 100 counties” by David Bailey.  I was asked to travel to six different locations, all generally surrounding the Raleigh area, and shoot some of the food and atmosphere.  I had heard of and seen Our State Magazine before and was thrilled to participate, even though they are a regionally based magazine, their photography seems to be way above par of what would typically be expected of a publication that size.  I am also happy because this is the first editorial assignment booked as a direct result of my visual-food blog, reassuring my theory that it may be a good marketing tool.  Spoonfed (Raleigh) just past it’s 1st year birthday and I am just now starting to really see some positive momentum results.  Unfortunately the more work I get from it, the less time I have for it, a problem I will have to learn how to balance.

Below are the layout-spreads from the article with my imagery, which is currently on the news stands and in book stores:

Sherefe Mediterranean Grill (link)

Jackson Bros. BBQ (link)

Neal’s Deli (link)

Wasabi 88 (link)

Duplin Winery (link)

Carolina Country Snacks (link)

Look for the issue now on news stands:

Cover shot by: Stacey Haines

Other photographers included in the article: congrats on some great work!

Elizabeth Zongolowicz

Lissa Gotwals

Matt Rose

Taylor Mathis

daily shots…6_8_10

ugh…need coffee

much better.

oatmeal and blueberries breakfast, out of focus…still groggy.

there was a bunny to greet me as the garage door opened, he sat (and posed, in fear) for a couple of shots…then I chased him.

NPR for my morning commute, apparently there is some kind of oil trickling somewhere.  I’m sure it will all blow over as soon as the next celebrity dies.

Who has weathered the recent economic storm enough to build a new house?…..the Lord, (dude is Rich!)

Being one of the early birds to Quadras, Inc and with no one with keys to get in what shall one do?  Portrait of Adam with his new-old car.

Justin Weaver (aka Buttercup) edits some vid.

snack: before

snack: after

my home for the past 2 1/2 weeks, (stylist Yvonne clamped to the dead man)

Tobes shooting fashion…Genie “loooooovin it!”

Here are a collection of images submitted to www.tastespotting.com and www.foodgawker.com.  I was often surprised at what was accepted vs. what was declined.  So here is my own little “Gawkspotted” page.

All content ©Mark Petko Photography (click here for permission)

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All content ©Mark Petko Photography (click here for permission)

Check out these and more images at Spoonfed (Atlanta) or Spoonfed (Raleigh)

I just received an email from A Photo Folio notifying me that they have designed iPad versions for all of their existing customers websites (including me www.markpetko.com).  This is one of the reasons that I am a fan, supporter, and happy customer of A Photo Folio.  They are always making strides and updating their products capabilities for the benefit of their customers (at NO extra cost).  They are the first portfolio web design company, specific to photography that has released custom iPad versions, aiding their customers in staying ahead of the curve and remaining relavent.

If you have an iPad have a look at my site www.markpetko.com

If you are shopping for a photo-based portfolio design website consider A Photo Folio.  I have been a customer for approximately 3 years and have never been disappointed with their products or service.

©Mark Petko Photography (click here for permission)

Chef Ricky Moore from Giorgio in Cary, NC

Read Chef Moore’s bio at Giorgio website (and see another shot from our session)

©Mark Petko Photography (click here for permission)

Click to see more portrait photography from Mark Petko Photography

Jason Wu

Pit Master -Ed Mitchell from the Pit in Raleigh, NC

©Mark Petko Photography (click here for permission)

All content ©Mark Petko Photography (click here for permission)

For the second month of my ‘monthly self assignment’ project I challenged myself to accomplish some environmental portraiture.  Some was random, some planned, some I stumbled into and others were requested.  Towards the end of the month I realized that my attempts had been dominated by male subjects, oh well, that just makes room for a month later on down the line consisting of only female subjects.  I find portraiture to be challenging because it is difficult to describe one’s personality in a visual language.  This is what I came up with…

This sweaty mess was one of 6000 participants in Raleigh’s annual Krispy Kreme Challange.  A charity event started in 2004 by a couple of NC State undergrads to raise money for the North Carolina Children’s Hospital consisting of running 2 miles, ingesting a dozen Krispy Kreme doughnuts, running 2 more miles, (vomiting optional and yes…many opted).  Notice his doughnut is actually a stack of 3 pressed together.

This is Dave Jones, Atlanta food blogger of Eat Buford Highway.  See a showcase of Dave on my photo-food blog Spoonfed (Atlanta)

Zack S.  As I was shooting recently in an Atlanta restaurant I noticed Zack busing tables and keeping everything organized.  I inquired about his eye, asking if the patch was permanent or just some recent surgery or something.  He said it was permanent, 3 years ago he got into a fight and the other person came back with a gun.  Zack got shot 3 times.  I suddenly remembered the golden rule that was drilled into me during many years of martial arts training, ‘the first thing you always do when getting into a fight…run like hell!‘

These gents run Atlanta’s Top Flr, Underground dinner party, and a soon to be named and opened restaurant.  (This was a challenge, lighting 5 subjects recessed into a booth surrounded by black, pull (dark) curtains because outside scene was undesirable, two wearing white, two wearing black, another down the middle in gray.  I give myself a pat on the back for the results)

This is Andrew (and Leo).  They live downstairs of our Raleigh apartment.  Cool neighbors rock.

All content ©Mark Petko Photography

Check out some more portraits from Mark Petko Photography

©Mark Petko Photography

From the kitchen at Top Flr in Atlanta, GA.

Follow Mark Petko Photography on twitter

See more food photography on Spoonfed (Atlanta) or Spoonfed (Raleigh)

Contact: Mark Petko Photography