A couple of weeks ago i had the opportunity to spent a few days shooting the Grandaisy Bakery in TriBeCa, NYC. Mostly i was there to shoot the product for their website sales, but it was agreed that some documentation of the actual baking process was in order and i must admit that was my favorite part of the shoot.
This was the first time i had ever experienced baking on this scale. They work pretty much around the clock, with day and night shifts that churn out wonderful, crusty European style breads and pastries that supply numerous fine restaurants around the city. Observing the process was fascinating, like watching a well rehearsed doughy ballet. They work so quickly in repetitive, choreographed movements that it was a challenge to actually capture what i was witnessing and the crew seemed to communicate with unspoken signals and gestures that allowed for this smooth and continuous act of large-scale production to flow relatively unimpeded. This non-verbal communication becomes all the more important once you realize that the bakers don't all speak the same language and that they also employ some deaf workers as well.
Of course, the smell of baking bread was just fantastic and for this unabashed carb freak, sampling the product was an added perk. It was a joy working with this friendly and talented staff who seem to put much more into their bread than just the usual required ingredients. As advertised on the backs of the bakery's t-shirts, "All We Knead Is Love"... and you can taste it!
(please click on images for an enlarged gallery view)
All Photos ©David Sorcher
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
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