Posted on Tue Jul 1, 07:00 AM in Picture This
Enduring strange glances, laughs, and cold food to get that delicious shot. And not always succeeding, either.
With the purchase of the DSLR this spring, I made a commitment to photograph food more often. The SO and I, when we are able, like to eat out well, and when it’s a really good meal, it looks as fantastic as it tastes. When describing a meal to friends after the fact, I’m often at a loss to describe the appearance of a plate, especially after I’ve eaten it and been taken with the flavor. My idea, then, to take the camera out to restaurants and document the meal.
It’s not always comfortable. People do look at me funny (if they’re not already initiated to my madness), and with a camera of my size or larger, it’s not exactly inconspicuous, either. Add to that the logistics of multiple friends seated around tables packed with appetizer plates, soup bowls, and drink glasses, and it’s no wonder why I don’t see people trying this more often. I reluctantly resort to putting the darn thing in my lap between courses, under the napkin, like I’m ashamed of it.
But I’m not, really. I’m no professional, just someone who loves food, knows a good food shot when I see one, and aims to ape the technique. It can be fun to see what I can squeeze out under weird lighting conditions, or with friends who are willing to become part of the shot (food action shots, perhaps?). And really, what better way to describe food that to capture it (beautifully, one would hope) in all its glory? Kitchens spend as much time making the food as they do plating it, and while a chef plates food in a way quite different from that of a food stylist, I still think it well within reason to capture the art involved.
Recently, I decided that food in its raw format, as well as food from my own kitchen, was going under the lens as well. I don’t have a really photogenic kitchen, but I do what I can. I should say I probably don’t have really photogenic food, but I’ve managed to get creative… sometimes at the expense of the very food I’m capturing. Food photos=great. Cold food, not so much.
So here’s what I’ve got so far. If you have any yourself, let me know where to find them!
Food photography is tough. I don’t have a DSLR but I a big camera and the tendency (ask Dan) to document every meal I eat on a trip.
The hardest part seems to be getting the exposure right. Restaurants are dark and often skew so far towards the yellow that no amount of AWB can bring it back. And you’re close-in so flash tends to wash everything out. My best results have come from stepping back a ways, macro’ing in and using a long exposure and manual white balancing. Or shooting it the best I can and fixing it in photoshop later. But then I also kind of suck as a food photographer so take that as you will.
The website fxcuisine.com has some pretty interesting food photography – and good recipes as well.