Quebec-based photographer Michael Abril teamed up with return client Caribou Magazine to document the culinary tradition of Osechi, a Japanese New Year’s Eve dish, as it is prepared by two Montreal locals. Caribou Magazine is a print publication that covers culinary, gastronomic, and “agri-food” culture as it is reflected in the work of producers, chefs, and artisans of Quebec.
Caribou is one of my regular clients. I have been collaborating with them frequently for several years, as they have a particular fondness for documentary and high-quality photographic series.
Michael primarily shoots Social Documentary Photography and Portraiture in a cinematic style. His ability to blend personal and cultural stories places his subjects in rich and vibrant visual narratives. Michael’s characteristic combination of storytelling and aesthetics has been the foundation of his enduring relationship with Caribou.
The topics Caribou covers in the magazine align with the type of features I create for other clients, focusing on stories or graphic narratives about producers, farmers, and individuals in the gastronomic and food-related world.
Caribou actively seeks and highly values my natural, spontaneous, and lively photographic style, as well as my ability to connect with subjects with little or no experience in front of the camera. They appreciate my experience in working on location with natural light, capturing the authentic environment of the individuals being photographed. It’s a sort of environmental, natural photographic approach, but with a unique perspective that sets it apart.
After many projects working together, Michael and Caribou’s Art Director have an established understanding about expectations, goals, and aesthetics. Planning for a shoot can be a straightforward and stress-free process.
I discussed the initial project with the art director and the journalist who would write the article. Later, I went to inspect the location where the photos would be taken. I spoke with the involved individuals, Keiko and Kana, and explored the options in terms of lighting and ambiance.
For Caribou’s edition #18 Receiving, published in November 2023, the publication wanted to focus on “the art of receiving and coming together.” They covered stories that exemplify the benevolent spirit of the Fall season. Montreal’s Japanese community has continued to foster a special culinary tradition called, Osechi, which embodies this ethos.
The main objective was to document Osechi, a Japanese culinary tradition to celebrate the new year. The magazine aimed to visually capture various elements involved in the preparation and serving of the food, the decoration of the space, and the families gathering to enjoy the prepared dishes.
Of course, every photographer and artist has their personal way to prepare themselves before an important work day. Here is Michael’s:
My customary ritual before any project involves preparing my equipment, selecting the lenses I want to use, organizing the materials that enable me to be mobile and autonomous during the photo shoot. Also, I ensure that I am in good physical condition to move with ease on the day of the shoot.
As a Social Documentary photographer, Michael needed to document his subjects both candidly and poignantly in their personal spaces.
The story was to be presented within the real space where one of the families resides, portraying their home as it is.
The challenge of a professional photographer and the art of photography, at that, lies in achieving these results within the constraints of budget, time, and location.
The challenge was to make everything appear extraordinary, attractive, elegant, and natural within an ordinary and common space, all while photographing individuals who might be shy in front of the camera.
We had a quite limited budget, as editorial projects like these typically don’t allocate significant amounts in terms of budget. However, the motivation was to create something visually beautiful and appealing despite the challenges and restrictions in terms of lighting, space, and budgetary constraints.
Michael’s time with Keiko and Kana was brief. He had to get the most out of their time together by finding the best angles and light to work with in their personal homes.
We had only a few hours for the photoshoot — 3 hours max — and the pictures needed to be taken inside Keiko’s house, one of the two women involved in preparing the Osechi. Her house had narrow spaces, limited natural light, and we wouldn’t know how the space would be decorated until just minutes before the session began.
With many years of experience behind him, Michael understands how to approach these challenges with poise and clarity.
Facing these challenges in many documentary or environmental projects requires me to optimize my technical resources and photographic skills to capture the essence of what is before my eyes and present it in an incredible, attractive, and interesting manner.
Each project and shoot presents unique challenges and complexities that demand something new of a photographer. For Michael, adapting to the unique conditions of every assignment is an opportunity to grow and build on previous experience.
Confronting these challenges sharpens my eye as a photographer. It helps me observe and perceive spaces and elements more precisely. This allows me to enhance my compositional skills, and enables me to respond effectively to what often appears spontaneously before my eyes.
After the photos are developed, processed, and selected, the most important aspect of the assignment, Michael reflects, is the ineffable exchange of culture, experiences, and ideas.
In the end, although there are beautiful and powerful photos, what I appreciate the most is the opportunity to learn something from or about someone while taking the pictures. On this occasion, I learned something new about Japanese culture and enjoyed deliciously and beautifully prepared food.
Social Documentary and Portraiture Photographers create bonds with people and share them through their images. Michael’s assignment for Caribou captures a historic and unheard of tradition for posterity and the world at large.
See more of Michael’s work on his website.
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