Q: How did you get involved in this project? A: The commision was advertised and I responded with an idea / proposal to produce enlarged food items within their own setting and environment. Insite, together with Essex County Council invited me to interview too discuss my ideas and I feel very fortunate they selected me to develop my project. Q: Where did the ideas for the images come from? A: The concept came because I felt that society is very busy. We rush around all the time and we can be guilty of missing the small but significant things in life. I felt this included the abundance of food that is produced, on our doorstep, within the County of Essex. Therefore I thought if I enlarged the food products to an enormous size, as if they really could be in situ, they may draw peoples attention. I then had to find the food products from around the County and try to include lesser know items. This involved a vast amount of research, on the internet, from books and by talking to various organisations. The location of the food wasn't a problem because you are never far from a beautiful scene in Essex. Q: How did you create the images? A: Should I really give my secrets away? Oh ok then. I took the food to the selected venue and laid it on the ground. I then took one photograph of the landscape, making note of the angle of horizon and ensuring I left enough space for my food. Facing the same direction, I then took a photograph of the food. I had to lie on the ground to get the correct angle - same as the landscape picture. The pictures had to be done in this way to ensure the light and conditions were the same for both images. Using Photoshop, I placed the two images together and added additional shadows where required. Simple! But don't tell anyone. Q: What do you hope people come away with after seeing your exhibition? A: I hope people come away from the exhibition with a smile. The images are very unusual and surreal. The pictures should be enjoyed and hopefully people will recognise or want to find the food and the locations in the exhibition. I had a really good time sampling the various wines, beers, chocolates, vegetables and oysters. I want others to do the same. Q: If you could place any food in any location what and where would you choose? A: If I had a choice of any food in any location it would be "Borscht" which is a vegetable soup, usually including beet roots. I would want to photograph it on a cold winters day in front of St. Basils cathedral in Moscow. Having said that I am quite happy sitting on the shore at East Mersea with a bottle of beer from Mersea Island Brewery. | 
