I am so excited about this post, it is the first edition to my ‘Cake’ project!
I have been trying to think of a wittier name for the series, but just plain and simple – it is about fulfilling my need to shoot cakes. I love cakes, and creating stories with them excites me beyond what eating them does. This series is about visual storytelling and contains no recipe.
My mission is to leave you just as fulfilled as if you ate a slice.
Just out of nowhere, I began to have visualisations of a lone cake in a forest. Recently, Matt and I shot images for our wedding invitations in a pine plantation about an hour out of Melbourne, and little did I know I would be back assembling a three tiered cake amongst the rows and rows of trees. {Um…isn’t that what artists do, of course I was going to be back?}
I kept having this dream about shooting a cake in a forest, and I kept telling everyone that it was going to be my next project. Saying it out loud sounded, well ludicrous – and I loved it. Imagery of a cake dwarfed by the towering rows of straight pines, yet having enough magic for you to instantly connect to.
Maybe it would only ever make sense for a cake to be in a forest in your dreams, but that is exactly what I wanted to bring to reality. A place that would make you feel like you were the only one that existed, like there was nothing to worry about and nothing to do. It’s just you…and the cake. Do what you will, it’s your dream. Just imagine…
Have you ever spent an entire day in a pine forest? Have you seen and felt the light change and dance through the trees? The soft sway of the limbs and the song of the birds on the breeze?
I really had a strong vision with this concept, and it practically translated into a photo just as I imagined it, apart from the cake.
I knew I wanted a layered naked cake, but what resulted was more beautiful that I envisioned. The cake was created by my talented baker friend, Talz, and we picked up a bucket of flowers and stems at the local markets and just ‘had a play’ in her words with the styling. We wanted it to be messy, rustic and just as unique as the space it sat in.
The cake then really took on a life of its own and just became whimsical, fitting perfectly into the story.
The day was spent shooting the story through the ever changing light. No two minutes were the same.
And as the sun fell behind the trees and the light began to fade, my dreams became a reality.
Sini│My Blue&White Kitchen
"In my dreams, there is a cake in a forest" might just be the best post title ever. Gorgeous, gorgeous shots!
Rachel Jane
Haha – it might well be. It is such a pleasure to make fantasies reality. Not often we get to do that. I only have one other vision at the moment, so lets hope some more come along soon!
Sini│My Blue&White Kitchen
"In my dreams, there is a cake in a forest" might just be the best post title ever. Gorgeous, gorgeous shots!
Sini│My Blue&White Kitchen
"In my dreams, there is a cake in a forest" might just be the best post title ever. Gorgeous, gorgeous shots!
Kiki
I love how your shots turned out! Absolutely gorgeous! It really makes me want to grab my photo equipment and do something like that. Unfortunately, in my vision I see lots of people taking a walk through the forest and shaking their head at the crazy woman with the cake :-DDid you spend the whole day in the pine forest to get it all done?
Rachel Jane
Haha, yes I did have some thoughts like that. As it was a pine plantation, I was worried about someone telling me I wasn’t allowed to be there after I had spent time setting it all up! I few people did come past, they probably wondered what the hell I was doing.
I was there for about 6 hours, there was a lot of set up and tear down. I had a filler light as well as the shadows can get quite dark. I also had some shots of me done, so that took up some time too. The light was just always changing and amazing. The best was for sure between 2-4pm, so I’d aim for that next time (but not sure I will go back. I’ve used that spot twice now. It’s probably done!).
Pang @circahappy
What a lovely story that is!!!!! I truly love this project of yours. Sometimes, we all need to experience ‘cake’ without the need to make it. Sometimes, just looking at gorgeous photos of cake + lovely story does satisfy the sweet tooth in all of us. 🙂
I can’t wait to see more and follow this project. I can’t wait to see what you will do next, and I am sure I will be in awe as always 🙂
The Blonde Chef
I love your vision behind this! This definitely reminds me of a fairytale, and I love it! Stunning!
Bea
Holy cow Rachel!You are a genius!LOVE,LOVE,LOVE IT! <3 The most beautiful food photo shoot I’ve ever seen!
Rachel Jane
Sometimes are craziest ideas are the best ideas!
Tuulia
This was so beautiful, loved everything about it! Gorgeous!
felicia | Dish by Dish
SO BEAUTIFUL it blew my breath away!! You’re so talented. So this is what it means when they say creating stories with photos..
Rachel Jane
Yes I guess it is!
matt
If there was a romantic version of Alice in Wonderlands Mad Hatters Tea Party, then this would be it. Just lovely.
Bec {Daisy and the Fox}
This is seriously one of the most beautiful cake shoots I’ve ever seen! I kid you not, this is soooooo stunning!!!You’ve really captured the whole essence of the forest, rustic cake and making it all appear so dreamy.Keep up the amazing work! this is stunning 🙂 I’m such a huge fan of your beautiful photography work!
Bec {Daisy and the Fox}xx