Looking at Ivan Ebejer’s work, it is evident that a lot of thought is put into each playful (and hunger-inducing) shot. Within every picture, food is his muse, and each element is observed closely, identifying the most striking parts of what is laid out on the table. Add his background in storytelling, and it becomes more than just your ordinary food shot.

“It mostly starts with observation,” he tells me. “Food itself is my inspiration. It can simply be the light bouncing off a tomato setting off a nice red hue, or a curled lettuce leaf, or even the intricate veins of a herb.”

Delving into photography happened unexpectedly for Ivan, when he got hold of a DSLR camera to shoot a short story he had written on a tight budget, learning the fundamentals of photography to be used within his film project.

“My interest in photography was galvanised by my other two lifelong passions - cooking and storytelling. In photography, I found a fantastic means of capturing my food creations and prolonging their existence long after being consumed,” he says. “My love for storytelling, on the other hand, helps me with the rather challenging task of providing the soul to, and breathing life, into my pictures.

The process begins by mentally observing the food in front of him, then kicking off from there. “After a few minutes framing the image mentally, I set off styling the set up. It’s time to have fun and get creative! That means taking a long and hard look at my props collection, choosing a matching surface, building the different elements of the scene and gradually bringing to life the image on camera. That way I make sure everything is set up in good time so my subject appears at it’s best, especially if I’m shooting cooked food. My objective when shooting food is to draw the viewer in by creating an image that provokes the senses and makes the viewer feel as though s/he is sitting at the table.”

Thinking about the array of food which Ivan must have photographed, I wonder which food items are more difficult to shoot and which ones are naturally photogenic. Ivan explains that he does not have a favourite type of food to shoot, and whilst the challenge is always to make the food appealing and appetising, not all foods photograph equally well.

“To me, the most challenging food to capture is meat, especially cooked/stewed meat,” he says. “But it is in these challenging moments that my creativity goes into overdrive to turn an unappealing dish into something that pleases the eyes and tempts the senses.”

Asked about his current projects, Ivan enthusiastically explains his recent work with a British publication in which he published a photo shoot and an accompanying article about traditional recipes, as part of a collection of international cuisine.

In fact, he is always looking for creatives to collaborate with. “These are the experiences in which I feel I re-energise, and which help me give my most, thanks to the cross-fertilisation of ideas,” he says. “I had a variety of such experiences in the past and I am close to embarking on an equally exciting collaboration soon. But I will leave those details for the next interview.” Meanwhile, we will be waiting curiously, and hungrily.

Check out Ivan’s work on www.ivanebejerphotography.com or on Instagram @ivanebejer.