Craig Stelmack

This shot was one of a series of quick snaps during setup and dressing table for an Italian feast styled dinner. The venues is gorgeous… full of little pockets of light and texture, and the tables were beautifully set and dressed.

This was an impromptu personal project on a day when a client canceled Originally intended to be a black-and-white shot, I fell in love with the different wood colours and textures as well as the light reflected off my wet patio.

I loved this client shoot… the brief for this noodle salad was bright and fresh for the spring menu. Also a couple of my favourite surface props, including some oversized ceramic tiles and recovered barn boards from an old dairy.

Early morning light and the last of the mandarins off my tree. Couldn’t ask for more.
This was an extra shot in a series of black and whites I did using the same props. It ended up being my favourite on the day.

Trying to capture magic moments during the hustle of a busy service in a restaurant is a challenge. Variable lighting, bodies in motion everywhere, action all around. A final grate of lemon zest on this dish of wild kangaroo and abalone.
Chef: Rob Turner. Shot on Canon R 50mm F1.8 STM ISO 4000 f/2.5 1/8000

Fresh raspberries in morning light. I love the white on white and how it makes the red pop.
Shot on Canon R: 50mm F1.8 STM ISO100 f/1.8 1/40 sec

This image was taken as part of a menu collection for a client's new venue. Shot late on a winter afternoon, we were chasing the natural light from table to table.

This image is part of a collection of soup shots for a local meals-at-home producer. The brief was 'a cosy winter feel' ... the client was thrilled with the result and to have her product included in the collection.

This shot was an afterthought of a recipe development shoot for my local speciality mushroom grower. The final shot was a flatly showcasing the product with the recipe for the mushroom cashew tart.

The brief was they wanted rich colours without being dark as so many mushroom shots are. The backdrop I custom made with rough sawn pine, layered first with a matte grey, then arctic white, finally with sage. The whole surface was then scuffed with a wire brush to reveal the various layers.

Natural honeycomb is incredible... its both reflective and textural. It also diffuses light and positively glows when lit from behind. As always, humbled to be able to work with amazing local produce.