Nick Squires Photography

9 years ago, on a high school photo club field trip, our instructor Mr. Ken Neely took us to hendrik point to photograph the golden gate bridge. I decided to go back while i was up here on business and shoot it again. It's hard to describe the feeling i had standing in the same place, photographing the same subject as i did 9 years ago. I couldn't help but be overwhelmed by the fact that i was standing there a completely different person than i'd been 9 years prior, but that Hendrik Point was exactly the same.

Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to travel to the JW Marriot Desert Ridge in Phoenix, Arizona to photograph the Amoretti National Pastry Team Championships. The winning team goes on the compete for the World Pastry title next year. 

When I first heard about the competition, I have to be honest - i pictured cupcakes and the like, but what i saw when i watched the 2010 world competition on TLC blew my mind. 5 foot sculptures made ENTIRELY from sugar and chocolate - no supporting structures allowed. 13 hours and teams of three, these teams create several pieces, most judged by appearance and taste, including bonbons and a frozen dessert. The real show, however, begins on the second day, when the teams create their sugar and chocolate showpieces, 3 feet high or more, and move them from their kitchen to the judging tables - ensuring that the team creates something that can be moved, like you would a wedding cake.

With all 4 teams competing at once, it's one of the trickiest things i've ever photographed - imagine shooting 4 weddings simultaneously - take too much time shooting one team and you're guaranteed to miss something happening with the other 3 teams. It was tricky, but that made it a blast to shoot.

I hope to be back for the World Competition in 2012, and congratulations to the National Champs, Team Wressell!

Thanks too to the Title Sponsors, who made this event happen:

Amoretti amoretti.com and amorettistore.com