Two young girls eating corn on the cob at an outdoor event with a stage in the background and many people sitting on folding chairs. Southbound Food Festival in Birmingham, Alabama.
SOUTHBOUND FOOD FESTIVAL logo

Caleb’s deep connection to Birmingham’s food and design communities made his involvement with the newly rebranded Southbound Food Festival a natural fit.

After years of photographing the South’s chefs, restaurants, and creative spaces, he was honored to capture the festival’s first year under its new identity. The rebrand, led by Matey, reflects the festival’s growth and evolving vision. Caleb’s photography documents this next chapter, capturing the people, flavors, and energy that make Southbound a true reflection of Birmingham — a city that continues to build, create, and celebrate togethe

Chef David Bancroft is cooking outdoors on a Kudu grill with flames and smoke, wearing sunglasses and a cap. Red fish on the half shell. Southbound Food Festival in Birmingham, Alabama.
A bird's eye view of an industrial factory with red metal tanks, pipes, and machinery, with a modern city skyline in the background under a partly cloudy sky. Southbound Food Festival in Birmingham, Alabama.
Close-up of burning red and orange hot embers inside a fireplace or fire pit. Southbound Food Festival in Birmingham, Alabama.
Crowd of people gathering outdoors at a festival or event, some standing in line or walking, with a large sign visible in the foreground and trees overhead. Southbound Food Festival in Birmingham, Alabama.
Outdoor fair scene with tents, crowd, and a small pond with fountains under a blue sky with scattered clouds. Southbound Food Festival in Birmingham, Alabama.
People sitting on blankets under a large tree at an outdoor event or festival, with tents, a stage, and other attendees in the background. Southbound Food Festival in Birmingham, Alabama.
People gathered at an outdoor music festival or event with tents and a stage in the background, surrounded by trees. Southbound Food Festival in Birmingham, Alabama.
Large crowd gathered in a venue with a high, open steel roof, attending an outdoor event or festival. Southbound Food Festival in Birmingham, Alabama.
Woman pouring a red beverage from a bottle into a glass during a festival. Southbound Food Festival in Birmingham, Alabama.
A man in a tan apron and baseball cap is handing a small paper bowl of boiled peanuts to a woman at an outdoor event under a tent. Southbound Food Festival in Birmingham, Alabama.
Multiple colorful plaid patterned lawn chairs arranged on straw-covered ground at an outdoor event. Southbound Food Festival in Birmingham, Alabama.
Four people at an outdoor booth under a white canopy, smiling and engaging with each other. Two women, one with glasses and a polka-dot top, and a man with gray hair and sunglasses, are talking with two men, one wearing a cap, and the other with curl
A man with glasses and a black cap displays a pyramid of Hellmann's mayonnaise jars at an outdoor event, with produce visible at the bottom left and a red banner in the background. Southbound Food Festival in Birmingham, Alabama.
A man stands on stage speaking into a microphone at the Southbound Food Festival, with two women behind counters labeled Hellmann's on either side, under a large canopy. The stage is decorated with flowers, pumpkins, and hanging plants, and an audien
Whole smoked or grilled fish with some of its meat exposed, on a metal grill surface, with a gloved hand pulling at the meat. Southbound Food Festival in Birmingham, Alabama.
Mini cheeseburger slider with melted cheese, a beef patty, and a fried egg on a white plate, garnished with a green cactus-shaped toothpick, on a yellow polka dot tablecloth. Southbound Food Festival in Birmingham, Alabama.
Close-up of a person using tongs to cook grilled chicken drumsticks on an outdoor grill. Southbound Food Festival in Birmingham, Alabama.
Close-up of sliced sausage on a bed of chopped onions and greens in white biodegradable trays. Southbound Food Festival in Birmingham, Alabama.
Man in white shirt, black apron, and baseball cap grilling meat on an outdoor barbecue near water with tents and people in the background. Southbound Food Festival in Birmingham, Alabama.
Person wearing black gloves placing a piece of cooked food on a skewer over a tray of seasoned rice or grains. The scene appears to be food preparation in an outdoor or commercial setting. Southbound Food Festival in Birmingham, Alabama.
Man holding a large, charred piece of meat at a food stand, smiling at the camera, with another person in the background wearing sunglasses and an apron. Southbound Food Festival in Birmingham, Alabama.
A person holding a paper plate with sliced bread topped with pickles, sausage, and spicy pink condiment, at an outdoor gathering with other people in the background. Southbound Food Festival in Birmingham, Alabama.
A person slices cooked sausages on a cutting board with tongs, with grilled vegetables in the foreground. Southbound Food Festival in Birmingham, Alabama.
A man with curly black hair, wearing sunglasses and a black shirt, is dressed in a black apron and is squeezing sauce onto grilled chicken drumsticks at an outdoor event, with condiments in the background. Southbound Food Festival in Birmingham, Alab
A young girl with long brown hair and freckles, wearing a pink and white tie-dye shirt, a maroon cap, and a black scrunchie on her wrist, is eating a slice of pizza outdoors. Southbound Food Festival in Birmingham, Alabama.
A taco filled with beef, fresh herbs, tomatoes, and onions on a paper plate, sitting on a black and white checkered tablecloth with two other tacos in the background. Southbound Food Festival in Birmingham, Alabama.
A man wearing a black shirt, purple apron, gray cap, and gloves is grilling meats and flatbreads over an open fire pit outdoors. There are wooden logs on the ground nearby and a food truck in the background with trees around. Southbound Food Festival
Two young girls with corn cobs eating at an outdoor event with a stage, crowd, and tents in the background. Southbound Food Festival in Birmingham, Alabama.
Man grilling meat over an open flame with smoke and fire visible, wearing sunglasses and a cap. Southbound Food Festival in Birmingham, Alabama.
Fish fillets grilling on a barbecue over open flames, with tongs visible in the top left corner. Southbound Food Festival in Birmingham, Alabama.
A large outdoor stage with a sign that reads "Southern Living Tailgate Stage" during the Southbound Food Festival, with a crowd of people seated on lawn chairs and standing, some wearing hats, under a partly cloudy sky surrounded by green trees.
A smiling man wearing sunglasses and a grey blazer holding a red tropical cocktail with a mini umbrella and straws at an outdoor event. Southbound Food Festival in Birmingham, Alabama.
Person pouring whiskey into a jigger. Southbound Food Festival in Birmingham, Alabama.
Multiple red matchboxes labeled 'WE RUN A CLASSY JOINT' with gold text, placed in a black bowl. Southbound Food Festival in Birmingham, Alabama.
Person serving a bowl of hearty soup from a large pot with a ladle. Southbound Food Festival in Birmingham, Alabama.
Creamy potato salad topped with shredded cheese, herbs, and a small red chili on a beige paper bowl, placed on a wooden board with more similar salads in the background. Southbound Food Festival in Birmingham, Alabama.
A piece of fried chicken and a piece of cooked pork belly on a plate, garnished with powdered sugar and a small flag labeled 'Hattie B's Hot Chicken' with a red and white checkered tablecloth underneath. Southbound Food Festival in Birmingham, Alabam
Group of five people smiling and posing at a barbecue stand with fried chicken, under a white canopy. They are wearing aprons and casual clothing, with some wearing gloves and sunglasses. Southbound Food Festival in Birmingham, Alabama.
A close-up of a stacked fried chicken sandwich with pickles on a bun, topped with a biscuit, and drizzled with sauce. Southbound Food Festival in Birmingham, Alabama.
A man and an older woman hug on an outdoor stage decorated with pumpkins and flowers. The man is holding a microphone and wearing sunglasses, while the woman has blond hair and is dressed in a red and white striped shirt. Southbound Food Festival in
Music band performing outdoors, with members dressed in light-colored suits, wearing sunglasses, under large white umbrellas, with a reddish-brown building in the background. Southbound Food Festival in Birmingham, Alabama.
An older man with gray beard wearing sunglasses, a black shirt, and a gray suit, holding a microphone outdoors during a sunny day, with a person smiling in the background. Southbound Food Festival in Birmingham, Alabama.
Outdoor event taking place in an industrial site with a tall water tower, surrounded by large rust-colored tanks and pipes. People are sitting at tables with floral arrangements and eating under umbrellas, while a band performs on a stage ahead. The
A blues band performing outdoors with three male singers in matching light green suits, one singing into a microphone with his hand raised, and a guitarist playing beside them. Outdoors with large white umbrellas and overcast sky.
A person holding a program or menu at a formal event, with a white plate, knife, and fork on a table covered with a cloth. The event appears to be a heritage dinner. Southbound Food Festival in Birmingham, Alabama.
A collection of various decorative and patterned ceramic and porcelain plates and dishes laid out on a wooden surface. Southbound Food Festival in Birmingham, Alabama.
Copper-colored anvil-shaped trophy with engravings, displayed on a table, with an informational poster in the background at an outdoor event. Southbound Food Festival in Birmingham, Alabama.
People preparing food in a restaurant kitchen with trays of plates on a table in the foreground. An instructor or chef observes as others cook. Southbound Food Festival in Birmingham, Alabama.
Tray of halved hard-boiled eggs filled with different types of stuffing or filling, arranged in rows on parchment paper. Southbound Food Festival in Birmingham, Alabama.
Two chefs in a kitchen preparing food, one female and one male, wearing white chef jackets and black gloves, with the female piping icing and the male arranging toppings on desserts. Southbound Food Festival in Birmingham, Alabama.
Person using chopsticks to garnish or serve mini appetizers topped with crab meat and pink flower petals on a tray. Southbound Food Festival in Birmingham, Alabama.
Deviled egg garnished with herb, bacon, and a pickled onion on a wooden dish, with more deviled eggs blurred in the background. Southbound Food Festival in Birmingham, Alabama.
People in a restaurant preparing and serving plates of salads and appetizers for a buffet. Decorated with orange and red bunting flags and large industrial windows. Southbound Food Festival in Birmingham, Alabama.
Several plates of shrimp, lettuce, radishes, cucumber, and other vegetables, with some plates featuring shredded cheese and slices of boiled eggs, arranged on a wooden table. Southbound Food Festival in Birmingham, Alabama.
Two people posing outside at the Southbound Food Festival. The man is wearing a blue checked blazer with a striped shirt, and the woman is wearing a loose, long dress with a dark blue floral pattern. Behind them is a table with a rose gold decorative
Person putting a hospital wristband on their wrist, with another person assisting, in a medical setting. Southbound Food Festival in Birmingham, Alabama.
Close-up of baked oysters topped with cheese and bacon on a white platter. Southbound Food Festival in Birmingham, Alabama.
A glass being filled with pink lemonade from a beverage dispenser outdoors. Southbound Food Festival in Birmingham, Alabama.
A woman in a dark blue dress is sitting at a table, serving herself food from a plate that has shrimp, vegetables, and other salad items. There are several glasses of wine and water on the table, along with a white tablecloth and a fork.
A black platter with ice, holding several pieces of seafood topped with microgreens and sauces. Southbound Food Festival in Birmingham, Alabama.
Outdoor dinner party with long table, people serving and dining, string lights overhead, urban street setting with trees and buildings. Southbound Food Festival in Birmingham, Alabama.
An elderly woman speaking at an outdoor event during the evening, standing behind a music stand and two microphones, with a tent in the background. Southbound Food Festival in Birmingham, Alabama.
Close-up of four baked chicken meatballs garnished with a small sprig of fresh herb, served on a wooden cutting board. In the background, slices of cornbread and other baked items are visible on another board. Southbound Food Festival in Birmingham,
Cooked cabbage sprinkled with crushed nuts on a white plate. Southbound Food Festival in Birmingham, Alabama.
A plate of sliced smoked ham served on a bed of cooked greens and beans, with several dishes of similar food in the background. Southbound Food Festival in Birmingham, Alabama.
A dish of rice topped with shrimp, chopped tomatoes, herbs, and crispy fried crumbles, served on a colorful plate. Southbound Food Festival in Birmingham, Alabama.
Outdoor evening dinner event with many people seated at long tables with white tablecloths, under string lights, outside a brick building, with some standing and socializing Southbound Food Festival in Birmingham, Alabama.
A man and woman share a kiss on stage, with dark background and stage lighting. Southbound Food Festival in Birmingham, Alabama.

Southbound Case Study

Check out this incredible design case study for Southbound Food Festival from our friends at Matey.

View Case Study