Food

MOTHER EARTH’S BEAUTIFUL BOUNTY: BRETT STEVENS

by Brett Stevens. The mise en place at Jock Zonfrillo’s restaurant, Orana.

BRETT STEVENS

The beauty of the bounty of Mother Earth comes through brilliantly in Brett Stevens’ photography. The award winning food, travel and still-life photographer, based in Sydney, showcases wild and cultivated ingredients sourced locally in Australia and New Zealand -- both places of incredible biodiversity and exceptional culinary masters.

Stevens’ signature style is borne out of deep appreciation for beautiful food, lifestyle, architecture, design and travel. His images have a fresh, innovative flair, combining technical acumen with playful organic freedom.

Inspired by the works of Geoffrey Smart, Joel Sternfeld, Gregory Crewdson, and Edward Burtynsky, Stevens finds creative freedom and experimentation through his many personal projects, which, in turn, inspires his commercial commissions.

Still life with chocolate vino cotto pavlova and flowers. Photo by by Brett Stevens.

Image: by Brett Stevens. Still life with chocolate vino cotto pavlova and flowers, from “At My Table,” Vogue Living.

Photographing the works of top local chefs, Stevens captures the fabulous new food scene that has been building locally, which includes a deep appreciation for the land and sea.

Seared prawns and Davidson plums at Orana restaurant, in Adelaide, Australia. Photo by by Brett Stevens.

Image: by Brett Stevens. Seared prawns and Davidson plums at Orana.

Jock Zonfrillo, of Orana, in Adelaide, Australia, is but one example of a new kind of Australian cuisine.

Diver handpicks urchins and scallops off Kangaroo Island. Photo by by Brett Stevens.

Image: by Brett Stevens. Diver Paul Polacco handpicks urchins and scallops off Kangaroo Island.

Food foragers, hunters, fisherman, divers, and farmers, lend their beauty as well. For example, diver Paul Polacco handpicks urchins and scallops off Kangaroo Island.

Overhead view of people dining. Photo by by Brett Stevens.

Image: by Brett Stevens. People dining from “At Our Table,” book edited by delicious magazine. Courtesy of HarperCollins Publishers.

Stevens has photographed and contributed to more than 40 Food & Lifestyle Books. Check out more of his photos below, and we bet you’ll be inspired to put the beautiful places he features on your travel and dining bucket lists.

And stay tuned for Australian master chef Peter Gilmore’s forthcoming book, From the Earth: World's Great, Rare and Almost Forgotten Vegetables.

Still life with wild greens. Photo by Brett Stevens.

Image: by Brett Stevens. “Greenery.”

John Dory roasted and served on the bone, orach, turnips, kalian, and umami butter, at Bennelong Restaurant. Photo by Brett Stevens.

Image: by Brett Stevens. “John Dory roasted and served on the bone, orach, turnips, kalian, umami butter,” at Bennelong Restaurant.

White chocolate bark. Photo by Brett Stevens.

Image: by Brett Stevens. “White chocolate bark.” Styling by Marcus Hay. Food preparation by Angela Devlin.

Food and drink still life from “At Our Table,” book. Photo by Brett Stevens.

Image: by Brett Stevens. Food and drink still life from “At Our Table,” book edited by delicious magazine. Courtesy of HarperCollins Publishers.

Dining plates at Fujisaki restaurant. Photo by Brett Stevens.

Image: by Brett Stevens. Dining plates at Fujisaki restaurant.

Mango and Thai basil ice cream cones with fresh coconut shavings. Photo by Brett Stevens.

Image: by Brett Stevens. “Mango and Thai basil ice cream with fresh coconut shavings.” Art Direction: Anne Marie Cummins, Food and Props Styling: Marcus Hay.

Green Matcha Sorbet with Ginger Wafers. Photo by Brett Stevens.

Image: by Brett Stevens. “Green Matcha Sorbet with Ginger Wafers.” Art Direction: Anne Marie Cummins, Food and Props Styling: Marcus Hay.

Read more about Beautiful Earth all this week on BeautifulNow. And check out more beautiful things happening now in BN Wellness, Impact, Nature/Science, Food, Arts/Design, and Travel, Daily Fix posts.

Coconut Sorbet with Salted Candied Peanuts. Photo by Brett Stevens.

Image: by Brett Stevens. Coconut Sorbet with Salted Candied Peanuts. Art Direction: Anne Marie Cummins, Food and Props Styling: Marcus Hay.

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Do you have amazing photos? Enter them in this week’s BN Photo Competition.

Endemic flora at Flinders Chase National Park, Kangaroo Island. Photo by Brett Stevens.

Image: by Brett Stevens. Endemic flora at Flinders Chase National Park, Kangaroo Island.