Let me tell you a little something about myself. I'm a graduate of Bachelor of Science in Information Technology and it's safe to assume that there were no Photography 101 or related subjects included in the curriculum back then. I have no formal or informal training about the basics of food photography, or generally photography itself. Growing up, I developed the habit of taking lots of pictures like most people do. Pictures with family, friends, special events, and the mandatory self portraits. I was snapping pictures one after the other but I did not bother checking the aesthetics.
Truth be told I was a horrible food photographer back then, I knew nothing that there was such a thing as bad lighting, finding a good angle, and other tricks that results to those salivating photos we often see in top food blogs, recipe books, or magazines. To me, every photo was great already, that was until I bought my Canon Ixus 90 IS.
I couldn't help but compare my old Motorola L6 shots with the photos I took using my point and shoot digital camera. The lighting was better, the food looked more appealing and everything seemed a 100% better. Of course I know good photography doesn't just happen just because you have a trusty digital camera or SLR. My food photos were still sometimes unappetizing, and off, but as time passed by I exerted more effort in taking photos, and if I may boost myself up a little, I think I've improved. to prove that I'll post some samples here for you to compare. Don't just take my word for it, I want you guys to be the critic.
Noodles from Super Bowl of China, I took this around 2008 using my Motorola L6, see how bad it is? I didn't bother to watermark this because I don't care if this gets stolen :)
My breakfast from McDo taken with my Canon Ixus 90 IS around 2009. Of course I didn't bother to eliminate the background clutter, and the office chair clearly seen in the background, plus I didn't even open up the styro to show the hotcakes.
Crepes and Cream's Oh Oreo! Sundae. This would have been a better photo sans the background distractions and if I switched to Macro mode and got a focused shot. No watermark again, it isn't worth it :)
Sushi platter from Tok-Yu Sushi Bar and Japanese Restaurant still taken with my Canon camera. Can I safely assume I'm improving?
I still have some down moments when I can't seem to get a good shot, and when that happens I really feel the photos aren't really worth posting. I want my blog to not just be a blog where all photos, whether good or bad gets published. I try to include some level of quality in my work, can't help it I'm a Software QA Specialist. :)
So for food photography neophytes like me who are also struggling to improve their food photography skills, here are some tips I got from Digital Photography School, article was written by Darren Rowse.
1. Lighting
Treat the food you’re photographing as you would any other still life subject and ensure that it is well lit. Many of the poor examples of food photography that I’ve come across in the research for this article could have been drastically improved with adequate lighting. One of the best places to photograph food is by a window where there is plenty of natural light – perhaps supported with flash bounced off a ceiling or wall to give more balanced lighting that cuts out the shadows. This daylight helps to keep the food looking much more natural.
2. Props
Pay attention not only to the arrangement of the food itself but to the context that you put it in including the plate or bowel and any table settings around it. Don’t clutter the photo with a full table setting but consider one or two extra elements such as a glass, fork, flower or napkin. These elements can often be placed in secondary positions in the foreground or background of your shot.
3. Be Quick
Food doesn’t keep it’s appetizing looks for long so as a photographer you’ll need to be well prepared and able to shoot quickly after it’s been cooked before it melts, collapses, wilts and/or changes color. This means being prepared and knowing what you want to achieve before the food arrives. One strategy that some use is to have the shot completely set up with props before the food is ready and then to substitute a stand-in plate to get your exposure right. Then when the food is ready you just switch the stand-in plate with the real thing and you’re ready to start shooting.
4. Style it
The way food is set out on the plate is as important as the way you photograph it. Pay attention to the balance of food in a shot (color, shapes etc) and leave a way into the shot (using leading lines and the rule of thirds to help guide your viewer’s eye into the dish). One of the best ways to learn is to get some cook books to see how the pros do it.
5. Enhance it
One tip that a photographer gave me last week when I said I was writing this was to have some vegetable oil on hand and to brush it over food to make it glisten in your shots.
6. Get Down Low
A mistake that many beginner food photographers make is taking shots that look down on a plate from directly above. While this can work in some circumstances – in most cases you’ll get a more better shot by shooting from down close to plate level (or slightly above it).
7. Macro
Really focusing in upon just one part of the dish can be an effective way of highlighting the different elements of it.
8. Steam
Having steam rising off your food can give it a ‘just cooked’ feel which some food photographers like. Of course this can be difficult to achieve naturally. I spoke with one food stylist a few years back who told me that they added steam with a number of artificial strategies including microwaving water soaked cotton balls and placing them behind food. This is probably a little advance for most of us – however it was an interesting trick so I thought I’d include it.
Do you have other food photography tips in mind or have been practicing and proven effective? Hit the comments section and spill the beans, I'd love to know what you're thinking! :)
For more food photography tips, head over to Food Photography School
Question mark image is from Gomonews
Your pig out buddy,
