If you know me then you know I have an appetite for food and image. I’m fortunate that I can combine the two passions in my food photography. This week I spent a day with two assistants, a chef and two restaurants shooting various dishes none stop.

The great thing about being a Nashville food photographer is I get to work with a wide range of clients who create a wide range of eclectic fare. That’s a long way of saying I like variety.

Monday was a day with SOL Restaurant and Red Pony Restaurant in downtown Franklin, TN. These two sister establishments are lead by chef Jason and his very talented chefs and crew.

I’m looking forward to even more days of shooting with them but in the meantime, I’m going to take Amy on a date to go, sit, eat and enjoy.

Here’s one food shot from our day. You can see food photography at Kyle Dreier Photography.

Enjoy,
Kyle Dreier

I’ve noticed on a few specific products where shrinkage is intentional. Have you noticed it? Ice cream … I’m seeing what used to be a 1/2 gallon is now often 1/3 gallon.

I was surprised the other day when I went for my long time favorite … Nabisco Graham Crackers … suddenly I’m seeing that they fit all to well into a glass of milk. Upon further inspection indeed they have reduced the size dramatically. The box appears to be the same as there is a great deal of movement of the contents.

I feel deceived, cheated and disappointed. The disappointed part is that I won’t really get the opportunity to teach my boys the art of breaking graham crackers on the perf so optimal milk dunking can be performed.

What next? I bet a gallon of milk will not be a gallon of milk.

I’m sick, tired and just pretty much peeved at the idea that the government is going to ’save’ our economy.

Our economic system was setup with checks and balances (supply/demand) to work out any issues relative to the buying and selling of goods and the sustainability of companies. Get out of the way!

What the Washington DC politicians are trying to sell us as a “stimulus” package is nothing more than a SPENDING package. Stop it!

I’m fed up. I run three small businesses. I have to operate within my means. I have to provide services which are of value. I have to navigate change. I have to watch my bottom lines. I’m not alone. I don’t think I’m going out on a limb to say that small business is what keeps the economy going.

What if the government were to make the tough decisions we have to make with our personal budgets and with our small businesses. Cut spending. Do without. Let people go. Adapt. Instead, it feels like our government is going the direction a selfish adolescent would go with an attitude of entitlement and lack of fiscal responsibility.

I’m SICK OF IT!

I’m writing my senators Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker to tell them to simply vote against ANY that increases spending. Just stop it. Stop spending. Stop trying to distribute money. Stop. Stop. Stop!

There are a lot of “good” programs that should lose funding. It’s a time of tough decisions. I believe the great and worthy programs would survive through other means if forced to. Yes, I may be naive but I’d rather test it than head down the road we’re headed … broke at a country!

Get out of my pocket. Get out of the way. Let the strength of our economic system cycle through this downturn and watch as people adjust, businesses adjust and see that less government is better.

- Kyle Dreier
always Mr. Critical

I’m a tightwad. Let’s just start there. That being said, it’s difficult for me to enjoy overpriced entertainment. I admit, this attitude filters down and ends up effecting (affecting?) my entire family. It’s for this reason that yesterday marked the first time in 2008 that we went to a movie as a family. The last time we went was December of 2007.

Yesterday’s outing was filled with expectations. Taking a family of 5 to the movies is expensive. So, we combat that by going at the matinée time. It still costs us $32. Ouch. You don’t even have to ask if we bought popcorn or drinks.

My highest expectation is that by picking a G Rated movie it might be appropriate for my 3, 4 and 6 year old. I sat there through 20 minutes (no exaggeration) of previews in a state of miff and anger. Not only was the decibel level uncalled for but the imagery and content were NOT age appropriate for a G movie audience.

As for the movie itself, The Tale of Despereaux was mediocre at best in my opinion. Sure, the animation was fun and the story premise was OK, but it didn’t find it terribly entertaining. Granted, I did just spend more than I think is reasonable for admission and did sit through 20 minutes of inappropriate trailers.

Maybe next year I’ll just hand over $32 to my boys and let them go buy sacks for of candy.

- Kyle Dreier

Yesterday, by way of a Google search for “Dreier”, I learned that the Dreier name is now Mudd.

What looks to be a scandal of large proportions, Marc Dreier of the law firm of Dreier, LLP is being “accused of stealing” as the New York Times puts it. The Wall Street Journal reports that he faces charges of “$100 million fraud against various hedge funds”.

What a mess.

Prior to this, the Dreier name was popularized (while be it limited) by California Congressman David Dreier.

I can only speculate as to any blood relation to either of these Dreiers. Being that our name has gone through some changes from being spelled at Dreyer, I would assume that there is some link … maybe back to Hannover Germany.

The recent events of Marc Dreier remind me of when I was paying for gas with an out of town check in a community where the Dreier name has a positive connotation. The clerk looked at the check and said something like “oh, you’re a ‘Dreier’ … I don’t need any other information.”

At least the Dreier name is a good thing in that little community in the middle of Kansas.

- Kyle

I found myself this morning looking down on my walk. I was nudged to look up. Why? Well, up certainly has more to see … at least it did this morning.

I have a natural tenancy to look down. I guess I’m watching out for something that might be dangerous … oh, watch out for that barely recognizable dead bird, oh … there’s a piece of trash … or that very dangerous blade of dried up grass …

I’m not in danger of quicksand or a huge sinkhole … so I looked up this morning on my walk.

What did I see? I saw a fantastic light show with the sun coming up and coloring the wispy clouds, I saw the largest v-formation of birds I’d ever seen … probably 200-300 birds heading south.

So, this morning I’m reminded that I need to look up and enjoy what God has in store for me.

– Kyle (Mr. Critical)

Well, if you know me then you know that I enjoy both … food and photography.

So, with this I am able to “feed” two passions.

To see more of my food photography check out my photography portfolio at www.dreier.com.

-Kyle

Since moving to Franklin, TN from Dallas, TX my wife and I have noticed that we’re not the only ones in love with our new surroundings yet loyal and proud of our previous home state, Texas.

We continue to get people asking us where we got our window sticker … I Texas TN … so I decided to make them available to anyone who desires one for themselves.

Want one? Send me a message via my site www.dreier.com and I’ll stick a few in the mail for you.

If you’re from Texas, post a “comment” and let us know where you’re from, what you miss from TX and what you like about TN.

Kyle Dreier