GoodEye Photography + Design » Architecture

Bonny Doon Residence (Real Estate)

Chris Schmauch — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 01:46:34 +0000

My parents-in-law are selling their lovely property they’ve raised their kids in – it’s about 30 minutes out of Santa Cruz in the mountains, near a small town named Bonny Doon. It’s a large piece of land with expansive yard, beautiful garden, separate garage, storage, play area, and of course an amazing three story-ish house that I have many fond memories of. Their kids are in middle/high school now, so it makes more sense to live closer to town. I’m sad to say goodbye to the place (as I’m sure they are as well), but hopefully it will go to a family that will appreciate all it has to offer. I was honored they asked me to take all the photos of the property – this will help everyone remember it at its finest state. Here’s a select few, the rest are here.

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Baklava (New Restaurant)

Chris Schmauch — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 20:20:39 +0000

Newly opened in Palo Alto, right off University Ave., Baklava is a welcoming, open sidewalk/patio Mediterranean restaurant specializing in a blend of Turkish and Greek cuisine (and drinks). People may be familiar with a similarly-named restaurant in Mountain View, and this is the newest incarnation of that well-loved location. I met with the owner over two days, and although there was a language barrier, I resorted to simply “doing my thing.” I got a nice blend of details, interiors and nighttime shots with customers present. I got some nice action photos back in the kitchen, as well as intercepting a few dishes headed for customer tables (this is not the way I typically work, but I couldn’t convince the owner to prepare dishes simply to shoot…). Definitely a challenging shoot, but ultimately a successful one, as when the owner saw the photos he was really excited. C’est la vie… Here’s a few of my faves, click here for more!

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Blue Rock BBQ (Interiors)

Chris Schmauch — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 17:43:36 +0000

Owen and Marie Jobson have done a fantastic job with their first restaurant, Blue Rock BBQ (San Jose). The interior, signage and and identity all indicate a corporate franchise – but alas, this is simply a well executed vision by two entrepreneurs who are passionate about southern cooking and bringing service back to the service industry. In fact, every single time I’ve gone in to Blue Rock to get my pulled pork sandwich and slice of delicious pecan pie, Owen or Marie (or both) are always present. If more small businesses took this hands-on approach to ensuring quality service, perhaps we’d have more success stories on our hands, recession or not.

I’ve gotten to know these guys over the past year, and although we’ve talked about doing a shoot, we never got around to scheduling it. Finally, Owen decided to take it upon himself to hand over a generous stack of gift cards, effectively putting the ball in my court to get something on the books. Needless to say, the shoot commenced to their great satisfaction. Here’s a few for y’all to enjoy More to see here.

Like what you see?

Click here to see Chris’ Restaurant Photography Portfolio

Inquire today about scheduling your next photo shoot (408) 431-4808

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Medallion Steakhouse (Interiors + Food)

Chris Schmauch — Tue, 04 May 2010 03:09:41 +0000

I had a quick shoot today with Lee Duvall’s Medallion Steakhouse in Burlingame. She wanted some interiors of the restaurant that opened late last year – and since this is my specialty I was on the case. We managed to shoot a tasty-looking steak (it was wayyy too rare to eat unfortunately) and some crab cakes, paired with appropriate vino, of course

Scroll down a little for the slideshow of my favorites, check out all the photos here.

Hint: Click Slideshow Below for Full-Screen Presentation

Like what you see?

Click here to see Chris’ Restaurant Photography Portfolio

Inquire today about scheduling your next photo shoot (408) 431-4808

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Mill Rose Inn, HMB (Interiors / Exteriors)

Chris Schmauch — Sun, 02 May 2010 17:48:06 +0000

The inn truly shines at night

My wife and I recently stayed at Mill Rose Inn, nestled near downtown Half Moon Bay. It may not boast an ocean view, but once you walk into the secluded gardens, you’re immersed in an oasis of comfort and class. You’ll feel like royalty occupying one of the six unique rooms – the design of each is decidedly antique, but not over the top or gaudy. Eve and Terry, the owners, are at your beck and call, happy to cater to your needs. It was nice to know that the contents of the fridge and liquor on the table were complimentary; we didn’t feel like we were being nickel & dimed. There’s a secluded jacuzzi gazebo that can be reserved; it’s quite romantic, especially with all the twinkling lights adding sparkle to the night. The beds and linens are so comfortable, you won’t be missing your home anytime soon!

Breakfast spared no expense with delicious champagne, fresh fruit, a wonderful banana-orange-juice concoction, the best mexican hot chocolate I’ve ever had, croissants, bacon, and a curious egg dish that defies explanation but delights the tastebuds. There are many nooks throughout the property where I was tempted to curl up with a good book, but alas I was on the clock and had to earn my keep with some photography. I highly recommend visiting Mill Rose Inn for a special experience you won’t forget.

Scroll down to the slideshow, or click here for all the printable photos from the shoot.

Renaissance Room

Eve & Terry Baldwin, Mill Rose Inn Owners (and Gracious Hosts!)

Floral boquets from a recent wedding

Hint: Click Slideshow Below for Full-Screen Presentation

Like what you see?

Click here to see Chris’ Hotel Photography Portfolio

Inquire today about scheduling your next photo shoot (408) 431-4808

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Junnoon (New Lounge, Cocktails)

Chris Schmauch — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 21:25:50 +0000

I shot Junnoon in 2008 a couple times. The first time was overall coverage of the place, my typical new-client-gets-a-little-bit-of-everything photography. A couple months later I took a few shots to promote their outside brunch dining area, which is really nice. Fast forward two years, and Priya, the COO, calls me up saying they’ve redesigned the lounge area and need some shots for the PR Firm Wagstaff Worldwide to promote. Having worked with Wagstaff frequently in the past, I knew what they’d be looking for, and also was keenly aware that they’re used to my “several hour” turnaround time for the shots. With an evening shoot set up and those high expectations on my shoulders, I was prepped for a late night!

Even though Priya only needed a few shots of the lounge, I couldn’t sit still and just wait for people to show up. I took a few interiors, some candids of the hostesses, some shots outside, some details here and there, some cocktails… you get the picture. In the end, the shots they needed were probably lost in the middle of a full portfolio of new photos – but hey, when you pay for my services you always get more than you bargained for! Enjoy the photos and slideshow below, click here for all the photos from the shoot.

Enjoy the Slideshow Below, Click for a Full Screen Presentation

Like what you see?

Click here to see Chris’ Restaurant Photography Portfolio

Inquire today about scheduling your next photo shoot (408) 431-4808

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MacArthur Park Restaurant (Interiors)

Chris Schmauch — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 20:47:03 +0000

Nestled near the train station at the end of University Ave. in Palo Alto, MacArthur Park is a hidden gem among many fine dining experiences in the valley. On this rainy day I simply showed Faz Poursohi what his restaurant could look like through my eyes, vision and photography. I guess he was intrigued, as I would come back to shoot some food the next day! I used my own HDR photography technique for most of these interiors, check ‘em out!

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Manresa, Los Gatos (Interiors)

Chris Schmauch — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 23:41:15 +0000

David Kinch’s Manresa is a Los Gatos fine dining icon; anyone who calls themselves a “foodie” in the Bay Area has visited the Michelin-rated restaurant at least once. David’s menu is constantly changing, depending on whatever’s “growing in the garden.” The restaurant is not huge, but boasts an intimate, classy atmosphere (dare I call it romantic?). From the Persian rugs to the exotic mix of dark woods, you’ll feel at home when dining at Manresa. I hope you enjoy the interiors below from the quick 20 minute photo shoot.

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The 26 Million Dollar House (architecture)

Chris Schmauch — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 23:58:07 +0000

Nestled on 28 acres of extremely private property in Portola Valley is a living relic from the roaring ’20s, and its name is Villa Lauriston. I won’t go into the history of the house as there are books published about it, but it was literally built from the ground it majestically sits upon. All the rock was excavated from a quarry up the hill and hand-chiseled into what would become garden walls, bridges, walkways and of course the house itself. I was tasked by the owner to photograph all the rooms and the surrounding ponds, vineyard, pathways and all the details in-between. Of course I used my own HDR technique extensively for many of the photos, especially the interiors – which made the shooting process MUCH quicker than using artificial lights for each shot. In fact, I completed shooting the entire project in a little less than four hours!

The goal of this shoot was to capture the property at its peak, the result of 15 years of immense restorative efforts by the owner. He wanted professional photography to preserve the place as he lived in it and would like to remember it. He’ll create his own book with the results of my photos and his writing. It was nice to have an emotional connection with the project, which I definitely took to heart. Below are some of my favorite photos from the shoot, but of course you can check out all the exterior and interior photos if you like as well.

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Kaama Ambiance (Architecture Photography)

Chris Schmauch — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 05:52:41 +0000

I always have a tough time shooting the interiors of really dark places – not that’s it’s a technical challenge, it’s just that it’s so easy to bring out details that you really don’t want to see in a dark place. For example, when someone paints their ceiling black, it’s because there’s nothing up there that’s supposed to attract your attention. But when you’re shooting and processing using a High Dynamic Range workflow, it’s all too easy to show detail where, well, you just shouldn’t.

(HDR tangent begins)

In fact, this is the main problem with 99% of HDR photos you see on Flickr and other photo communities. It’s like everyone’s playing with the latest Photoshop plugin, completely overdoing it. Next thing you know, the “new look” is quickly poo-pooed by mainstream professionals because all the average joes are out there destroying the art of it. In reality, it’s just another tool to use or abuse (drop shadow, anyone?). I’ll be the first to admit I’ve gone overkill with the process, and it’s literally taken me years to reign myself in, to gain finesse and discipline and skill with this process. I’m still learning, as is any honest photographer throughout their career, but I feel safe in claiming that I’m at least above average in its execution. But hey, kind reader, you be the judge. This topic more than deserves its own post – I’ll put that on my mental to-do list for 2010.

(HDR tangent ends, thank goodness.)

Back to Kaama – this place has some amazing woodwork, and the decor is classy, yet welcoming. It’s got long comfy seats, encouraging groups to sit, mingle, eat and drink in a social way. There’s lots of round elements, and no corners you can hide in and sip your martini while nervously scanning the crowd. Kaama oozes with intimacy.; prepare to interact with friends and strangers alike when you arrive.

For this assignment, I was taking more of an architectural approach to the photos. Even though it’s quite dark inside, I wanted to show off the understated glamour a little – there’s lots of reflective surfaces, a variety of natural carved wood, creative lighting, and splashes of color and texture to make it all exciting. I hope the photos communicate the kind of place it is. Enjoy my favorites below, the full gallery is here.

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