Hot & Hot Fish Club- Chef Hastings

Hello!
I hope you all have been well. I wanted to share with you the amazing experience I had EATING!

Chef Hastings is a professional chef who owns the Hot & Hot Fish Club in Birmingham, Alabama.

Here is a little history to catch you up.
Chris moved to Atlanta in 1984 where he worked as a sous chef at the Ritz Carlton. In 1989, he and his wife moved to San Francisco and helped open the Lark Creek Inn where Chris served as sous chef.
Chris and his wife opened Hot & Hot Fish Club.[1], named for the Pawleys Island, South Carolina epicurean club of which his great-great-great-great grandfather was a member.^[2] In the restaurant’s early days, while Chris focused on the dinner menu, Idie used her pastry experience to develop the dessert menu. Although the menus change daily, highlighting the best seasonal products available, several signature items remain: the Hot and Hot Shrimp and Grits made with Country Ham, Fresh Thyme, Tomatoes and Ver Jus is always a favorite among the locals and Elton’s Chocolate Soufflé with Fresh Cream continues to be a favorite ending to many meals at the restaurant.
Hastings also teamed up with Russell Lands On Lake Martin and executive chef, Rob McDaniel, as the culinary advisor of the SpringHouse Restaurant located in the Lake Martin development Russell Crossroads in Alexander City, Alabama.^[3]
Chef Hastings competed and won against Bobby Flay in Iron Chef America which aired on Food Network on February 26, 2012. The secret ingredient was sausage.

I took my camera, of course! The set up was my 50mm Prime! I loved the atmosphere , food and the staff!

                      The selections, the pairing of tastes is what makes Chef  Hastings a great Chef!

Amuse Bouche- Amusement for the mouth. Paired with a drink to showcase the Chef's talents and to help celebrate a special occasion. This small 1 serving hors d'œuvres  is compressed peach with almond slivers. They served it with a great glass of champagne.

Hot & Hot Tomato Salad- Sweet Corn, Field Peas, Fried Okra and Smoked Bacon

Simple Grilled Fish: Yellowfin Tuna

Farro Piccolo, Swiss Chard, and Black Garlic with Vegetables à la Grecque

 

                                                                   Southern Bouillabaisse

Pompano, Head-On Shrimp, Mussels, Little Neck Clams, Chorizo, Tomatoes, Fennel and Rouille

 

                                                  Elton’s Chocolate Soufflé

                                  Crème Anglaise and Whipped Cream

                                                   Hot and Hot Doughnuts

                                    Red Mountain Honey, Local Chamomile, and Milk Brulee

From The Garden..Weddings...

I think all weddings are unique, due to each couple. I've even known some couples to incorporate natural elements. Straw, Rock, Water, Lanterns , Woods and Grasses , elegant and simple.

These photos below are from my garden. I can see some of these inside water and rock center pieces.

Black Eyed Peas & Tomatoes

Fireworks-Pell City- Cancel

I hate to inform everyone that I will have to cancel my "How to" class on firework photography.

 Several reasons have prompted me to back out of this teaching session. First and foremost is the fact I am healing and I am on extreme medications that leave me wishing for a quick death!
 Second, too much rain, humidity and fight for parking make me want to stay away given how I currently feel.
Third, I have photographed this firework venue before and I thought It be ok to skip this year, teach next year and have a sign up sheet for those who want to learn.

 I am healing, I feel better everyday. Thank you all who have showed your kindness during this time.


Thank you all for your support.

Stacey Layman
Layman Photography
www.layman-photography.com

Have a happy & safe 4th of July

Below are some shots form the Pell City Fireworks Show 2010

Purple Calla Lilly

Just a few shots of the Calla Lillies that I've nurtured for 2 years. Using Several techniques and lenses.
These shots are for my Mother! I love you Mom, I know where I get my green thumb.

Techniques Used:
Open Shade- No flash
Pop up flash only
all Manual settings
50-200mm
28-135mm

I know normally I post all settings but these last few weeks have been hectic and I just wanted to get the images out and hopefully these flower shots help my brides in planning for flowers and colors.

Thank you all for your support.  Don't forget you can order any prints you see on my website in the Art Gallery- Just contact me for sizes and prices.

www.layman-photography.com

As promised.... Calla Lillies

How to photograph Fireworks!

Meet me in Pell City, AL for the 2013 Fireworks on the water!

I am having a meet n greet in person tutorial for those interested in how to photograph fireworks.

8:45pm July 4th- Pell City Park. I will be there early to set up and pic a sweet spot. 8:00 PM.


You will need :
Camera with creative modes/Manual settings
Tripod
Flash Light
Shutter Release Chord
A Great View
Camera Manual Book


Lens depends on you. I recommend a standard zoom lens between the ranges of 18mm- less than 200mm. Wide angle lets you get the crowd in the shots and will look great on the open water, you want to get some of the fireworks reflecting in the shot.

Set lens to manual focus. Once a few burst have gone off, focus manually the best you can. You don't want to have your lens in auto focus allowing it any room for confusion. You will never get your shutter to open if you hear the motor going back and forth trying to decide!

Set camera to Manual Mode, rotate the jog dial to "bulb" reads in the info screen.

Set ISO to 100, though you are in complete darkness, the fireworks are bright.

Control aperture here as well. I like to set mine to start at F11. As the fireworks begin to burst many, I roll my aperture to a few more stops, F13, especially during the finale. Depending on my focal length, if I'm filling the frame, I may even stop the aperture to F16

When you click the shutter to release it, it will be open for the burst of fireworks till you close it. That is what gives you those awesome trail of lights. I recommend a 3-5 sec exposure. Longer for Finale.

With out a shutter release chord, if you have a timer, use that to get your hands off the camera, but still use a tripod!

I will have a photographer's jacket on setting up equipment- if you see me, shout my name Stacey, or ring my cell phone 205-873-1803 I would love to meet you and work on some firework photography.

Here are a few shots using this bulb technique (Tv mode), as you see it applies to more than just fireworks. Hope to see you there.

Vulcan's 109th Birthday Bash

Vulcan, Birmingham Alabama's colossal statue is the world's largest cast iron statue and considered one of the most memorable works of civic art in the United States. Designed by Italian artist Giuseppe Moretti and cast from local iron in 1904, it has overlooked the urban landscape of Alabama's largest city since the 1930s.
But by 1999, the 50-ton statue was in desperate need of repair. The surrounding 10-acre park was closed. Vulcan was removed from his pedestal. Realizing Vulcan's importance to the region's history, city leaders sought public support for its restoration, forming the non-profit Vulcan Park Foundation. The foundation would oversee a master plan to return this colossal statue to his 1904 grandeur.
But there was much more. They would also create a dynamic educational park complex interpreting Alabama's rich industrial history for both residents and visitors from across the globe.
Today, thanks to public-private partnerships and a $15.5 million campaign, this beloved symbol of Birmingham and the nation's iron and steel industry stands preserved and proud as the centerpiece of it rehabilitated and expanded park, now referred to as Vulcan Park and Museum.

HAPPY 109TH BIRTHDAY VULCAN!

 

Vulcan hanging out with some of his closest friends.

Actors perform inside the museum, giving the history "Anything's Possible.

Vulcan poses for the camera.

Cake!

 

 

 

 

 

Fyre Tribe performs.

 

Another performer from Fyre Tribe.

 

Fireworks

 

Finale

 

 

Thank you all for your continued support.

www.layman-photography.com

Beth Hart Performs in Nashville, TN

My favorite photos of just Beth! She is a great blues musician and an amazing performer.


Nashville, TN, I met another photographer, my best friend, Karin McDonald from Ohio.
Saturday Night, with some rain we made our way to 3rd & Lindsley to see Beth Hart

 They announced, Ladies and Gentleman, Beth Hart!, She walked on stage, grabbed the microphone,  Shouted.."Hey!" Bang, the band started to play! She brought the house to it's feet.

It was fantastic, I've been a fan of the blues all my life and Beth Hart is my all time Favorite Blues Artist!

I am totally stoked I got the chance to photograph her.

Enjoy!
Comments Welcomed.
Stacey