Two years ago, I attended the inaugural Eat Retreat, a gathering of 30 or so professionals from across the food industry—chefs, writers, brewers, butchers, photographers, roasters, and so on. Intimated and unsure of what I could contribute to such a talented group, I hid behind my camera all weekend, then published a lengthy photo essay recapping the event. Looking back, I wonder what conversations I missed out on, but I’m also kind of glad I leaned on my camera: it was the kick in the ass I needed to start taking myself seriously as a photographer.
I couldn’t make the second event, so I couldn’t miss the third, held just a few weeks ago in upstate New York, a stone’s throw from Seneca Lake. This time around, I focused more on the people and activities, but I still kept a camera handy; my favorite images are below.
Personal highlights:
– Hands-on tour (and sampling) at Finger Lakes Distilling
– Butchering demonstrations
– Porchetta
– “Malortraits”
– The talent show
– An incredible group of friends, celebrating food and learning from each other
![Eat-Retreat-Finger-Lakes-1 Eat-Retreat-Finger-Lakes-1](https://i0.wp.com/jamescollier.me/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Eat-Retreat-Finger-Lakes-1.jpg?w=1149&h=765&ssl=1)
![Eat-Retreat-Finger-Lakes-2 Eat-Retreat-Finger-Lakes-2](https://i0.wp.com/jamescollier.me/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Eat-Retreat-Finger-Lakes-2.jpg?w=571&h=381&ssl=1)
![Eat-Retreat-Finger-Lakes-3 Eat-Retreat-Finger-Lakes-3](https://i0.wp.com/jamescollier.me/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Eat-Retreat-Finger-Lakes-3.jpg?w=571&h=380&ssl=1)
![Eat-Retreat-Finger-Lakes-4 Eat-Retreat-Finger-Lakes-4](https://i0.wp.com/jamescollier.me/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Eat-Retreat-Finger-Lakes-4.jpg?w=572&h=381&ssl=1)
![Eat-Retreat-Finger-Lakes-5 Eat-Retreat-Finger-Lakes-5](https://i0.wp.com/jamescollier.me/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Eat-Retreat-Finger-Lakes-5.jpg?w=572&h=381&ssl=1)
![Eat-Retreat-Finger-Lakes-6 Eat-Retreat-Finger-Lakes-6](https://i0.wp.com/jamescollier.me/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Eat-Retreat-Finger-Lakes-6.jpg?w=572&h=381&ssl=1)
![Eat-Retreat-Finger-Lakes-7 Eat-Retreat-Finger-Lakes-7](https://i0.wp.com/jamescollier.me/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Eat-Retreat-Finger-Lakes-7.jpg?w=1724&h=790&ssl=1)
![Eat-Retreat-Finger-Lakes-8 Eat-Retreat-Finger-Lakes-8](https://i0.wp.com/jamescollier.me/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Eat-Retreat-Finger-Lakes-8.jpg?w=571&h=381&ssl=1)
![Eat-Retreat-Finger-Lakes-9 Eat-Retreat-Finger-Lakes-9](https://i0.wp.com/jamescollier.me/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Eat-Retreat-Finger-Lakes-9.jpg?w=571&h=380&ssl=1)
![Eat-Retreat-Finger-Lakes-10 Eat-Retreat-Finger-Lakes-10](https://i0.wp.com/jamescollier.me/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Eat-Retreat-Finger-Lakes-10.jpg?w=1149&h=765&ssl=1)
![Eat-Retreat-Finger-Lakes-11 Eat-Retreat-Finger-Lakes-11](https://i0.wp.com/jamescollier.me/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Eat-Retreat-Finger-Lakes-11.jpg?w=860&h=572&ssl=1)
![Eat-Retreat-Finger-Lakes-12 Eat-Retreat-Finger-Lakes-12](https://i0.wp.com/jamescollier.me/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Eat-Retreat-Finger-Lakes-12.jpg?w=860&h=572&ssl=1)
![Eat-Retreat-Finger-Lakes-13 Eat-Retreat-Finger-Lakes-13](https://i0.wp.com/jamescollier.me/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Eat-Retreat-Finger-Lakes-13.jpg?w=814&h=300&ssl=1)
![Eat-Retreat-Finger-Lakes-14 Eat-Retreat-Finger-Lakes-14](https://i0.wp.com/jamescollier.me/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Eat-Retreat-Finger-Lakes-14.jpg?w=451&h=300&ssl=1)
![Eat-Retreat-Finger-Lakes-15 Eat-Retreat-Finger-Lakes-15](https://i0.wp.com/jamescollier.me/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Eat-Retreat-Finger-Lakes-15.jpg?w=451&h=300&ssl=1)
![Eat-Retreat-Finger-Lakes-16 Eat-Retreat-Finger-Lakes-16](https://i0.wp.com/jamescollier.me/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Eat-Retreat-Finger-Lakes-16.jpg?w=426&h=283&ssl=1)
![Eat-Retreat-Finger-Lakes-17 Eat-Retreat-Finger-Lakes-17](https://i0.wp.com/jamescollier.me/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Eat-Retreat-Finger-Lakes-17.jpg?w=1294&h=283&ssl=1)
![Eat-Retreat-Finger-Lakes-18 Eat-Retreat-Finger-Lakes-18](https://i0.wp.com/jamescollier.me/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Eat-Retreat-Finger-Lakes-18.jpg?w=701&h=467&ssl=1)
![Eat-Retreat-Finger-Lakes-19 Eat-Retreat-Finger-Lakes-19](https://i0.wp.com/jamescollier.me/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Eat-Retreat-Finger-Lakes-19.jpg?w=1019&h=467&ssl=1)
![Eat-Retreat-Finger-Lakes-20 Eat-Retreat-Finger-Lakes-20](https://i0.wp.com/jamescollier.me/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Eat-Retreat-Finger-Lakes-20.jpg?w=1724&h=1148&ssl=1)