During the photographing of my second cookbook project, Nigella Bites, I discovered that showing the “journey” food goes through during the baking process was often more interesting than the final dish in all its “plated glory.” Seeing how the recipe should appear at the end is important, but the process itself can be visually intriguing as well as very informative.

As a food and garden photographer I’m not only interested in capturing the beauty inherent in the final presentation of a dish or a pretty flower; I’m also looking for the gestures and key moments that reveal the real “feeling” of cookery and gardening … the “nitty gritty.” Beauty can be found in unexpected places and the trick is to be open to possibility and recognize it when it’s there. The image shown here was made while I was photographing for the The Nick Nairne Cook School cookbook and shows a stage in the making of a pizza.

Learn more from Francesca in her workshop

From the Garden to the Plate
with Francesca Yorke
September 19 - September 23, 2011

See more of her work on her web site www.francescayorke.com