Minneapolis, Minnesota
www.davidpaulschmit.com/
All images © David Paul Schmit
Food Styling: Lara Miklasevics, Prop Styling: D’Ette Roberts, Digital Tech: Nyla Schroeder
“Cutting Calories”
Second Place – Series
“This series was inspired by methods of restricting calories for weight loss. Since my twin sister died in 2003 of anorexia, I have become more interested in food photography. Photography has become a method for me to find answers as well to cope with the loss.”
ASMP: What type of setting do you prefer?
David Paul Schmit: When I’m doing these type of photo studies, I typically prefer to work alone. It becomes an almost meditative situation. However during this series, I collaborated with a food stylist, Lara Miklasevics, and a prop stylist, D’Ette Roberts. I knew that I wanted to elevate the final outcome and working alone I am sometimes held back by my own viewpoint.
ASMP: Is there anything unique about your style or approach?
DPS: My approach is typically very minimal. I don’t like a lot of clutter and complicated scenarios. I rely on composition and graphic arrangements to be the focus point.
ASMP: What type of lighting did you use for this image or series?
DPS: I kept the lighting very simply as well. I used one key strobe light with multiple fill cards. I don’t like conflicting shadows and I want the lighting direction to be very natural.
ASMP: How long have you been shooting this type of photography?
DPS: This typically is not my main style of photography, but I am always open to exploring new ways to approach a shot. It gets boring to always approach a food shoot with soft light and overhead point of view, which is so trendy right now. I wanted to break out of the typical approach for this series in order to make a statement.
ASMP: What other photographers’ or artists’ work inspires you?
DPS: Believe it or not, Robert Rauschenberg has always been an artist that inspires me. I have always loved how he can make such beautiful images out of such a chaotic mix of elements.
ASMP: What kind of gear do you use?
DPS: I use Canon and Fuji cameras and lenses, Norman strobes and a lot of natural/available light for most of my work.
ASMP: What do you know now that you wish you had known when you first started your career as a photographer?
DPS: I have been pretty fortunate in my career and have been blessed with the decisions I have made. I am not sure I would do it any differently. If there had to be one thing I wish someone would have told me, it probably would have been the importance of relationships in the industry. I was lucky that I was able to ride the coat tails of some amazing photographers who already made these connections. I think I took this for granted. Now that I am working for myself I realize how important the relationships can be.
ASMP: Is there anything else you’d like to tell us about yourself and/or your work? Go ahead, surprise us with something unique and unusual.
DPS: There is an amazing amount of talent in Minneapolis. It’s unfortunate that we are often get looked over due to the lack of an east or west coast area code. I know for a fact that photographers, stylists, digital techs and assistants are more humble and work harder here. That’s something to be very proud of. Don’t get me wrong, I am aware of the talent else where, but the work ethic that is instilled into Midwesterners has a direct influence on the type of people that we become as professionals. That is something we will always be superior at over an other city.
See other second place ASMP Taste 2018 Contest Winners