Istanbul Foodie

As many of you know, I’m a food photographer by profession and a foodie by avocation. So, on my recent trip to Istanbul, Turkey, I could not pass up the chance to photograph a few of our meals. Not the best lighting conditions, but the food tasted great regardless!

Traditional Turkish breakfast of sliced tomatoes, cucumbers, mixed olives, hard boiled egg, and four kinds of local cheese. Included is a basket of soft bread with creamy white butter soaked in honey. To left is a caffe Americano made from Turkish espresso. In background is plain fried eggs served in skillet and traditional Turkish tea in glass fluted tea cup. © 2012 Terry Ownby.

Plain fried eggs (sahanda sade yumurta) served in skillet at Faros in Taksim Square, Istanbul, Turkey. © 2012 Terry Ownby.

I had to try the local beer, which was Efes Light. © 2012 Terry Ownby.

After several Turkish meals, we needed something mild and settled on Cafe Italiano, just a block from our hotel. Here I had a three-cheese tortellini dish with a glass of Efes beer (local Turkish brand). © 2012 Terry Ownby.

Turkish style French fries with curried yogurt sauce, although the young lady chose to dip them in mayonnaise. © 2012 Terry Ownby.

Cafe Rumeli in the Old City area of Istanbul serves incredible traditional Turkish and Ottoman dishes. This is grilled prawns with peppers (biber ile ızgara karides). © 2012 Terry Ownby.

Lamb kebabs (kebap) at Rumeli Cafe, in Sultanahmet (Old City), Istanbul, Turkey. © 2012 Terry Ownby.

Turkish figs with walnuts, sultanas, and fresh cream. © 2012 Terry Ownby.

Candied pear with ice cream and chocolate sauce, sprinkled with crushed pistachios. © 2012 Terry Ownby.

Brooklyn in B&W

While on our recent trip to New York over spring break, I had an opportunity to spend a morning in Brooklyn. Specifically, I was in the DUMBO area (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass). During the late 19^th century, this area was a manufacturing district and housed numerous warehouses and factories. The whole area reminded of the work by documentary photographer and sociologist, Lewis W. Hine. I could easily imagine him photographing children laboring within these massive structures a hundred years ago. I think it was that feeling of his documentary work that helped me pre-visual my images as black and white. After wondering some of the narrow cobble-stone streets between towering warehouses, I ventured down to the waterfront along the East River, to the Brooklyn Bridge Park. This park lies between the Brooklyn Bridge and the Manhattan Bridge. Here I happened upon Jane’s Carousel, which I had previously learned about on CBS Sunday Morning. Housed in an all-glass pavilion is a 90-year old carousel that has been painstakingly restored to its original look, after being rescued from Youngstown, Ohio. While photographing the carousel, a lady standing next to me told me her story of riding that carousel as a child and she was visiting it with her sister so their children could ride it as well. Neat story. Enjoy my B&Ws!

The Manhattan Bridge with Empire State Building in background.
© 2012 Terry Ownby

Support stanchion on the Brooklyn Bridge.
© 2012 Terry Ownby

Manhattan Bridge viewed from Brooklyn's DUMBO district.
© 2012 Terry Ownby

Jane's Carousel beneath the Brooklyn Bridge.
© 2012 Terry Ownby

Detail shot of Jane's Carousel with Brooklyn Bridge viewed through glass pavilion.
© 2012 Terry Ownby

Close-up view of carousel horse figure after restoration.
© 2012 Terry Ownby

Carousel in motion with Manhattan Bridge in background.
© 2012 Terry Ownby

Storefront for Grimaldi's pizzeria in Brooklyn.
© 2012 Terry Ownby

Another great French meal! Boeuf en Daube Charolaise

Ok, so here’s the deal. The small town I live in has no respectable dinning establishments and I can’t afford to drive into KC every time I need a taste of civilized food. This forces me to get creative in the kitchen! Years ago while living in Wisconsin, my local library was selling old books…really cheap. I found this nicely bound copy of Antoine Gilly’s 1971 issue of  “Feast of France”. This was back in the mid-1990s and I’ve never used the book until moving here to the hinterlands of west-central Missouri. Over the last couple of years I’ve experimented with Gilly’s recipes, modifying them to my taste and to what foods are available locally. After posting some comments about the success of this dish on Facebook, my friend Bob (my former Army squad leader down in Panama) inquired about the recipe. So Bob, and any one else who might enjoy something different, here’s what I cooked up this afternoon. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

1lb beef stew meat 2-3 carrots, chopped ½ yellow onion, chopped 1 leek, white part sliced 1½ stalks of celery, chopped ¾ bottle red wine (cabernet sauvignon, merlot, or burgundy) ½ cup of vegetable or chicken stock 6 portabella mushrooms, thick sliced olive oil

Herbs de Provence, 1-2 pinches Salt and pepper, coarse chopped parsley all-purpose flour 2-3 sprigs fresh thyme fresh ground nutmeg (good sized pinch) ground glove, dash or two 1-2 bay leaves heavy whipping cream

Serving for 2-3, proportionally increase for more

In a non-stick skillet, pour about a tablespoon of olive oil over a medium/high heat. Lightly dredge beef cubes in flour, salt and pepper and sauté in skillet until browned on all sides. When finished, place browned beef in crock-pot. Add remaining ingredients. Withhold heavy whipping cream until end.

Cook all ingredients in crock-pot on high for 4-5 hours. Beef should be tender. Transfer contents of crock-pot to large pot on stove and bring to a good boil. Meanwhile, combine about ¾ cup of warm water with 2-3 tablespoons of flour, whip until smooth. Gradually add to boiling stew to thicken. Reduce heat to simmer. Add 2-3 tablespoons of heavy whipping cream. Skim any fat off top. Serve with warm, hearty rustic bread of choice. Bon appétit!

Colorado Fish Tacos–A Touch of Eclectic Culture!

Fish tacos have to be one of my all-time favorites! Living on Colorado’s Front Range, one is exposed to fish tacos everywhere. I must admit, when I first moved there and heard about these incredible tacos, I was a bit put off. It took me a couple of years to warm up to trying fish in taco shells. I’m glad I finally came to my senses and tried them!

Throughout the Front Range one can find an eclectic eatery called Wahoo’s Fish Taco. These restaurants have an interesting story and a unique fusion of Mexican, Brazilian, and Asian foods, combined with an eccentric surfing culture. You can read more about the three Asian brothers from San Paolo who created this awesome dynasty in California, Colorado, Texas, and Hawaii on their corporate website. But, on to my story!

When I accepted a professorate position at a regional university in central Missouri, little did I know the withdrawal problems I would have by not getting my regular fix of Wahoo’s fish tacos! There’s one local Mexican joint (sorry, no website) in town that I frequent, which serves fish tacos, but still, just not the same! So a couple of years ago out of shear desperation, I tried my hand at creating my own version. I’m fairly happy with the final dish, although since it’s impossible to get the correct fish (Wahoo or Mahi-Mahi) in this one-horse town, I had to settle with tilapia.

This affair with fish tacos reminds me of a similar story from one of my PhD colleagues from Colorado State University, and her quest for Mexican food in her new home in England. You can read her story (and great recipes) on Laura’s blog. Meanwhile, here’s my version of fish tacos. Enjoy!

Tacos de los Pescados de Colorado
(Colorado Fish Tacos)
Recipe by Terry Ownby, © 2007.

Tacos:
•    1 pound white flaky fish—Tilapia (wahoo or mahi-mahi if available)
•    1 lime, quartered
•    ¼—½ jalapeno, finely diced (more if you like spicy hot)
•    ¼ chopped cilantro leaves (fresh)
•    shredded white cabbage
•    shredded Colby and Monterey Jack cheese
•    corn tortillas

Marinade for Fish:
•    Old El Paso Taco Seasoning Packet
•    ¼ finely diced jalapeno
•    ½ chopped green onion
•    coarsely chopped cilantro
•    1 garlic glove finely diced
•    red onion, finely chopped to taste
•    ½ lime, juiced

Pico de Gallo:
•    diced Roma tomato
•    a few slices of red onion, diced
•    cilantro, chopped
•    ¼ finely diced jalapeno
•    ½ lime, juiced

Place fish in a medium size dish or mixing bowl. In a small saucepan, combine Old El Paso Taco Seasoning with water (amount indicated on package). Add remaining marinade ingredients, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until mixture slightly thickens. Remove from heat and pour over fish. Let marinate for 20 to 30 minutes.

Remove fish from the marinade and cook. This could be on a BBQ grill, oven, or in a lightly oiled (or non-stick spray) skillet. Cook until opaque white and fish easily flakes with a fork. Fish should flake into chunks.

Heat the corn tortillas. Steaming is great and easy. Take a 10” skillet half filled with water and bring to a boil. Place a metal splatter screen (used to keep grease from splattering while frying) on the skillet. Place tortilla on screen and steam for a few moments. Using tongs or a fork, flip tortilla and steam other side until soft. Remove.

Place fish chunks and flakes on tortilla. Sprinkle with cheese, then cabbage, followed by Pico de Gallo. Give a fresh squeeze of lime, fold and bon appetite!

Vineyard in Winter: Update

Just a quick update. The vineyard book project that I’m shooting at Baltimore Bend Vineyards is still moving along. Since the project visually investigates life in the vineyard over the course of a year, winter is no exception for photographing. Fortunately just a few days ago we had a nice snowfall, so I ventured north for some shooting. Since the university is on winter break, my students working with me on this project were off on vacation. My colleague and friend, Wilson Hurst, came along and we decided to try our hand at shooting star trails that evening. This was my first attempt and I have a ways to go before I’m comfortable with type of shooting. But it was fun!

Here’s a quote from my working project journal: “The vineyard was snow covered under a nearly full-moon, with crisp, cold night air at about 18^° F, accompanied by beautiful white and black snow geese on the wing overhead. Enchanting evening to be out photographing the vineyard.”

© 2009 Terry Ownby

© 2009 Terry Ownby

© 2009 Terry Ownby

Life in the Vineyard: A Book Project

Vineyards. For me, being in the vineyard is like a fish in water, it’s completely natural. In a previous life I was a Frenchman and I really think my work back then (1930/40s) was in the vineyard and winery. Now, fast-forward to the late 1990s; I owned a 60-acre farm in southern Wisconsin and on a gently sloped ridge to the southeast I planted my vineyard. The wine grapes I grew were French hybrids designed to withstand the prolonged cold temperatures of the northern-tier states. Foch, Millot, and Seyval Blanc were the red and white varietals for wine; I did have some table grapes in there also, such as Edelweiss and Concord.

Working in the vineyard was hard work, but mentally, it was a time of meditation and mental relaxation. Often times I think it was the only thing that kept me sane while I photographed food for my livelihood. Everything about vineyard life I enjoyed, from the fresh smell of plowed earth to pruning and tying the vines on the trellis wires. Speaking of trellis systems, the one I used was called a GDC—Geneva Double Curtain.

Ever since I had that vineyard in Wisconsin, I’ve had this driving desire to publish a book that would combine my passion for photography with that of vineyards and wineries. This past summer I met the owners of Baltimore Bend Vineyard, near Waverly, Missouri. After a couple of conversations and knocking around some ideas, I’m photographing and writing a book about their vineyard and winery. I’m following the yearly circle of life in their beautiful vineyard, not far from the Missouri River. When it’s finished, I plan to publish a book of about 80 pages mostly of photographs, but also of text telling their story. What’s also been great about this book project is that three of my students (Matt, Rosie, and Phil) from the university are working with me, learning about the complexity of book publishing.

Every time I go into the Baltimore Bend Vineyard, it’s like a sense of déjà vu, taking me to a time when I was a grape farmer in France, or Wisconsin, or wherever reality may be!

© 2009 Terry Ownby

© 2009 Terry Ownby

© 2009 Terry Ownby

© 2009 Terry Ownby

© 2009 Terry Ownby

Prescriptions, cafes, and memories

Last week Wilson (photography program coordinator and colleague at UCM) and I headed down to Joplin, MO to pick up our images that had been displayed in the recent Photo Spiva show. Since the day was young, we decided to head over to Springfield, my old stomping grounds when I was a college student. We made our way downtown and started looking for the galleries on Walnut Street. Imediately we found the Elite PhotoArt Gallery, where one of our student’s work was on display…Robert Weston Breshears. He had a set of his journalistic style images from Afganistan and Pakistan, which were on stretched canvas, prominently on display. Stepping next door, we entered the Art + Design Gallery, which is hosted by the Art + Design Department at Missouri State Unveristy, where I earned by bachelor’s in photography and media. The senior exhibit was hanging, so that was great to see current student work. I wish we had a gallery this nice when I was a student there! While in the gallery, I was talking with the gallery director, who turned out to be a good friend and former photography classmate my those early college days…a day of surprises…I hadn’t seen her since the early 1980s!

Eventually Wilson and I wondered down the street to make images. Downtown Springfield has changed somewhat since I was there years ago, but I recognized the buildings. This image below of the Gailey’s Cafe and former drug store (part of the Seville Hotel) was located just down from Ozark Camera, where I used to hang out as a college student and where I bought my first Nikon.

© 2009 Terry Ownby

Big Brutus!

My search for incongruities continues. I started photographing odd and large culturally significant objects about five years ago and doubt if I’ll ever grow tired of this quest. Two years ago I went to a technology convention at Pittsburg State University in southeast Kansas. One of my traveling companions, Wilson, had discovered the existence of Big Brutus and had suggested that we photograph it for my series. We weren’t sure where it was located and time at the convention prevented us from tracking it down. However, this past weekend, he and I had the opportunity to travel to Joplin, MO, to drop off our images that had been accepted for inclusion at the George A. Spiva Center for the Arts‘ annual national photo competition.

On our return trip, we decided to drift over the stateline and explore southeast Kansas. As we were heading north, we suddenly spotted a small sign telling passersby that Big Brutus was just 13 miles off the beaten path. Well, with no timeline or agenda, your intrepid wanderers were off on a new adventure! We did indeed find the brute, but only after stumbling onto another magnificant photo op at a local train club having their meeting. They had refurbished train depots, all kinds of trains, including passenger cars and some really cool cabooses. Anyway, on to brutus. Big Brutus is a monster! The world’s second largest electric coal shovel, it towers 16 stories (160 feet) with a boom that is 150 feet long. The bucket on this behemoth has a capacity of 150 tons (enough to fill three railroad cars). Needless to say, Big Brutus is BIG! Additionally, the non-profit organization running the Big Brutus operation had a really BIG fee to go inside the fence for a closer look. Needless to say, we weren’t going to partake in their highway robbery, so we pulled out our BIG lenses and shot from the parking lot!!!

© 2009 Terry Ownby

Opening Reception of Menage a Trois II Exhibition

Last weekend was the opening reception for the Menage a Trois II Exhibition at the Watson Studio Gallery in Johnson City, just outside of Austin, Texas. Carol Watson, the gallery owner, was kind enough to post a video of the opening reception. Within 30 seconds of the beginning of the video, you will see the camera pan across my three images on display there: Tall Rancher, SuperMan, and Big John.

Opening Reception

Chasing light…

Yesterday was cold, cloudy, and foggy. It’s day’s like that which provide great light and it’s usually incredibily soft. This kind of light is great when it comes through windows of old houses like the one I live in. I love the way it bounces off doors and walls and gently cascades down the stairs. So when I turned around in my office chair and say the light playing in the hallway, I had to stop what I was doing and pull out the camera to start shooting. I never tire of the way light bounces through old hallways and I’ve been chasing this type of light since my undergrad days back in the early 1980s.

Once I felt I had explored enough of what was happening in the hallway, I stepped down on the stair landing and started shooting out the window that overlooks my neighbor’s old house. Again the soft light and hoarfrost clinging to the trees were photographic delights. Who says you have to travel to far-off exotic locales to create images? One needs to be able to create work close to home because it’s all in our personal vision. The most exotic places on earth aren’t going to give you beautiful images if you have no personal vision and being able to see the light. Ultimately, it all comes back to the light and how we interact with this magical substance. I’ve been chasing light now for 35 years and never tire of the pursuit.

© 2008 Terry Ownby

© 2008 Terry Ownby