Find a friend who knows me and they will tell you how I truly love food. Hence, it seems so right to start with a mouth-watering dessert.

I’ve just spent five days up north in San Francisco and I left a piece of my heart there. My friend Katie Mahoney and I got to offer our photography service to a non-profit organization called Flashes of Hope. A big thank you to Jay Ganaden for letting us participate. Check back soon as I will be posting an update when Katie posts some photos on her blog.

SF had so much to offer and I could never soak it all in! I discovered the great downtowns of the Bay area such as Burlingame, Palo Alto and San Mateo. I also checked out Chinatown and North Beach. It was such a delight I got to spend time with friends and have my fair share of photography work. I’ll be posting other photos soon, but for now, enjoy some of these food photographs.

I feel like I haven’t blogged in such a long time. I’ve been wrapped up in a different world of photography (assisting, the post production, etc.) and I absolutely love it. As a photographer, you realize you love it all because its from your peers that you get inspired by, so assisting or retouching for them is icing on the cake… and going on location. :o)

I had dinner with my friend in LA and during our meal, we where showing each other our camera phone photos of the latest location we went to. Hers was of modern interior and exterior. Mine was … well, let me just show you:

Majority of the time, I’m behind the scene (or in front of a computer). But of course, I can’t be a photographer and not take photographs! So every now and then, I try to take time to photograph things that I love. With training like mine where portrait photography is mixed so well with commercial/still-life, I’m happy photographing jewelry and food. With that thought, let me leave you with something bittersweet…

I graduated from Hallmark Institute of Photography and walked away not only with a great education but some wonderful friends. We just finished a workshop in Balboa, CA and it was amazing. Having my colleagues around was an aphrodisiac and I took so many photos. Everyday that I held my camera, I looked at my environment differently. Nothing was normal anymore.

Following are some of my favorite takes.

Working in Pasadena, CA, I have been exposed to some great wine bars, restaurants with top chefs, and, of course, what I dearly love, food. My senses have been intrigued visually by the ambiance of a garden, an intimate bar and a radiant café; and my palate have been teased by smooth wine, flavorful cocktails and decadent meals.

Take a moment to enjoy these delights: