Capturing Culinary Authenticity for Pixar’s Ratatouille
Subject: Chef Thomas Keller & The French Laundry
Location: Yountville, California
When Pixar Animation Studios set out to create Ratatouille, a feature film centered around French cuisine, authenticity was paramount. To ensure the culinary elements were portrayed with accuracy and depth, Pixar enlisted the expertise of Chef Thomas Keller, renowned for his restaurant The French Laundry in Yountville, California.
As a consultant on the film, Chef Thomas Keller provided insight into the techniques, culture, and precision of fine dining. To support Pixar’s commitment to realism, I photographed Chef Thomas Keller in action and captured the distinct atmosphere of The French Laundry. These photographs helped the filmmakers replicate the environment of a world-class kitchen, as well as were featured in press stories about the making of the film.
The resulting animation reflects the same level of craftsmanship and attention to detail found in Chef Thomas Keller’s kitchen—elevating the film’s credibility and emotional resonance with both food lovers and general audiences.
Dr. Ed Catmull’s Impact on the Evolution of Computer Graphics
Subject: Dr. Ed Catmull
Location: Emeryville, California
Dr. Ed Catmull has been a central figure in the development of computer graphics, founding three key research hubs: the Computer Graphics Lab at NYIT, the Computer Division at Lucasfilm, and Pixar Animation Studios. Throughout his career, he worked closely with artists, engineers, and researchers to bridge the gap between technology and storytelling.
At Pixar, which he co-founded in 1986, Dr. Catmull fostered a culture of collaboration where technical innovation and creative vision were deeply intertwined. For over twenty years, I had a front-row seat capturing Dr. Catmull as President at Pixar Animation Studios. His leadership brought together diverse talents—filmmakers, scientists, and software developers—resulting in some of the most influential advances in both animation and visual effects. Photographs I captured of Dr. Catmull working at Pixar have been published in the press, films and books, including Dr. Catmull’s Creativity Inc.
Dr. Catmull’s legacy lies not only in technological breakthroughs, but in his ability to unite disciplines and people to achieve them.
The Cultural Impact of Cars and the Creation of Cars Land
Subject: Cars (2006) and Cars Land at Disney California Adventure
When Pixar released Cars in 2006, the film quickly became more than just a box office success—it sparked a cultural phenomenon. Centered around themes of community and the fading charm of small-town America, Cars resonated with audiences of all ages. Its vivid characters, led by Lightning McQueen and Mater, combined humor and heart with a nostalgic tribute to Route 66 and the American road trip.
The film’s impact extended far beyond theaters. Cars also became a merchandising juggernaut, spawning a billion-dollar franchise that included two sequels, books, video games, and an array of consumer products.
The cultural footprint of Cars was cemented with the 2012 opening of Cars Land at Disney California Adventure in Anaheim, California. Designed as a full-scale recreation of Radiator Springs, Cars Land brought the film’s world to life with meticulous detail.
As Pixar’s in-house photographer, for over eight years I captured this cultural phenomenon — from the making of the film in Emeryville, California to the world film premiere in North Carolina, and then the development of Cars Land and its opening day in Anaheim, California. This image collection has been used in press stories, films, books, consumer products and more.
Cars and Cars Land together demonstrate the power of animation not just to entertain, but to shape culture.
Representation and the Global Success of Coco
Subject: Coco (2017)
Released in 2017, Pixar’s Coco was a landmark achievement in both storytelling and cultural representation. I photographed the making of the film at Pixar Animation Studios through its successful awards campaign to support the film publicity and marketing campaign.
The film earned over $800 million globally and won two Academy Awards—Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song (“Remember Me”). Beyond its commercial and critical success, Coco made a lasting social impact. It brought greater visibility to Mexican culture, sparked renewed interest in Día de los Muertos traditions, and became a touchstone for conversations around representation in mainstream media.