Featured Chef : The Food and Photography of Chef Simon Sperling

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Featured Chef : The Food and Photography of Chef Simon Sperling

I have to admit now that it was a wonderful blessing the day that I saw this on my dash “aperture24 started following you”, this was back in July of last year. All I saw was an icon of a man with a camera that covered his face. And so I visited his blog and immediately I was inspired! I saw proper photographs of plated dishes (fantastic food photography), street, landscape and travel photography… really a cornucopia of awesome visual images all neatly cataloged in one blog.

Then I started to investigate who is the photographer behind all that tasteful food shots (although I already have an inkling that it must be someone very well connected with the food biz).

I stumbled upon this link on his blog About Me and my guess was right on the money!

The man behind the blog aperture24 is Simon Sperling, a “well-seasoned” Chef with a very impressive resume, holding the Executive Chef position throughout his culinary career in the kitchens of luxury cruise ships and top hotels all over the world.

Elements Magazine: Exclusive Interview with Simon Sperling

Simon Sperling is a chef cum photographer who loves traveling and has a brilliant portfolio of food photography! He has very kindly agreed to an interview with us and believe it when we say that he is talented! Not only that, he has travelled the globe and he was also based in Malaysia for a couple of years and has showcased wonderful food.

- I was born and grew up in the south of Germany . I didn’t really enjoy school, but life sort of started during my chef’s apprenticeship. Food, people, creativity, ideas and lot’s of activities, I loved it.

After apprenticeship I went to work for a year in Geneva , a city I love and remember until today. A few years on, back in Germany , I finalized my master chef title and was looking for new experiences.

I ended up working on a cruise ship for Celebrity Cruise Lines, based in Miami , as Executive Chef. Here I met my love, we stopped cruising and got married in Las Vegas!

We went to Asia and I worked in the Philippines , China and Malaysia for a few years. Best time of my life, also as my son was born in the Philippines . Next stop was the Mediterranean, Africa and the Middle East region, where I am until today. I had the pleasure to work at the fabulous Anassa resort in Cyprus , followed by a classic, the Oberoi’s Mena House near the pyramids. Just imagine looking out of the window and seeing the pyramids everyday.

Then we experienced a completely different environment on the beautiful island of Mauritius . Didn’t stay long though and moved on to Saudi Arabia, where I worked a few years in Jeddah, where I was opening chef for the Waldorf Astoria Collection hotel, the Qasr Al Sharq, or Palace of the Orient.

Recently I worked again in Egypt and am now in Kuwait . Let’s see for how long…I want to see more of the world and take photos of it.

I try to keep my life simple, live healthy, love my family and help others where I can.