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William J Shaw Photography
Jul 27
by William Shaw in food photography, Nature, People 0 comments

Healthy food

Healthy  Food This week seems to be health week. Monday we had a manic day shooting recipes aiding your fertility! This is where this shot came from. We were on location in South London. a beautiful house with loads of old surfaces to use. There was a great garden with a Summerhouse. so plenty of choice for set ups. Then for the rest of this week I am back on the Owl Pellet book. Our editor is saying the food is too brown. Sadly this sort of food is exactly that…. brown. So I am trying to up the colour factor through props etc. Sara is luckily not too worried as we both know that we can’t do anything about the food being brown. It is also compacted by the weather. The studio seems to suck out any freshness, and leaves us in a atmosphere more akin to an oven. Luckily we have not needed the actual oven on a lot. There has been a lot of drinking of water. The weather is on the break now so should get easier. Lets get back to working on the potential cover trying to avoid the brown.  
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Jul 22
by William Shaw in Uncategorized 0 comments

Power up

Power  Up Nutrient Snacks I have just started to shoot another healthy book. This time the subject matter is the trendy subject of nutrient snacks. Our task is to make this basically brown owl pellets look lovely. Yet again I am in the hands of the very talented Sara Lewis food stylist whizz. They are her recipes and she has had in her mind how they will look. This makes it much easier for me as a photographer. There is nothing worse than worthy food that also looks worthy. Brown balls of health are not very photogenic. So Sara has tried to keep them, healthy, varied and attractive. This is some challenge. Then of course we need to get the props right. A good variety of containers, packaging and backgrounds. The idea is that you take these little balls of power with you to work, the gym, the park or school. So they have to be portable. I am shooting in my usual studio in Kennigton and using daylight. It is during our mini heatwave so not the best of conditions. Shorts and T shirt the dress code. There is only the two of us so a calm shoot. We […]
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Jul 19
by William Shaw in food photography, Nature, People, Rural 0 comments

Modern Farming

Modern Farming Over the last few weeks I have visited 6 farms, looking at modern farming. Varying products and sizes. all have been intently keen on making a success in troubled times. The last farm I visited was quite an intensive enviroment. Their bio controls were very strict to help prevent the spread of disease. Hence the Welly shot. We had to wear these then once in the barn having dipped them twice into disenfectant. We the put a welly bag over them and only then could we enter the shed.
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Jul 18
by William Shaw in food photography, Nature, People 0 comments

Yet again down on the farm

I visited a chicken farm last week for a major supermarket. It was fascinating learning about the welfare and business side of modern farming. In quite a contrast to the smaller farms I have visited for the National Trust. The investment that goes into this industry and the infrastructure is immense, and I don’t think taken into account while we are eating our chicken pie.  
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Jul 12
by William Shaw in Nature, People 0 comments

Lake District

Part of the reason I love my job so much is I get to travel and see so many great locations. Last week for the National Trust I found myself in one of my favorite places Grasmere. So many happy childhood memories of people no longer around. I had a half day to myself so I dashed up Loughrigg to be rewarded with these views.
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Jul 11
by William Shaw in food photography, Nature, People 0 comments

Down on the farm part six

The last place I had to go for the National Trust was in the South Lakes. Here Richard sell unpasteurised milk from his dairy farm. He has a very clever self service dispencer in the yard only feet away from where the cows are milked. You cannot get closer to the source of the food. Talk about locally sourced! He has only been producing it since March and it is proving very popular. He has a small herd of 170 cattle. 95 are being milked at the moment. Grazing on lush lowland grass and living in a National Trust property. Seems idylic but I bet at 5.30am in the midst of winter it is not quite so Beatrix Potterish.
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Jul 08
by William Shaw in food photography, Nature, People 0 comments

Down on the farm part five

Working again for the National Trust this time up in the North. Meet Alan one of the friendliest subject matter I have had the pleasure to work with. He entered his cider in the Fine Farm Awards, made on location at Dunham Massey. They live in the Bothy for the estates kitchen garden. His is a small production but great quality.
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Jul 04
by William Shaw in Uncategorized 0 comments

Down on the farm part four

Here is Daniel holding a large piglet who’s journey will take him to the picture on the left…. bacon. I think it is important that the real story of the journey of our food is told honestly. People need to know where our food comes from. And it if it comes from farms like this where the conditions are very good and the standard of welfare is high then that must encourage people. That is why the National trust hold the Fine Farm Awards each yera to show off the best in farming today.
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Jul 01
by William Shaw in food photography, Nature, People 0 comments

Down on the farm part three

New farm, new animal. This time we are at Standleys Barn Farm in Derbyshire. Yet again a National Trust Farm. Pigs this year. They are great characters and must be one of the more photographic animals. This farm has also always done well in the Fine Farm Awards and I have visited here many a time. They are on The Calke Abbey estate, which is worth a visit, great grounds with Deer and longhorn cattle.
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