How to photograph food - A complete guide
How to photograph food - A complete guide

Video: How to photograph food - A complete guide

Video: How to photograph food - A complete guide
Video: How To Edit Food Photographs - Complete Guide 2024, March
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Desperately looking for a treat for us image men (translation: aspiring photographers). An ace in the hole to pull out before sitting down in the resolutive restaurant or in case our blog faults a shot of foodporn. My name is Dissapore, I solve problems [cit.]. Here are collected in a single paginated list of advice dispensed by the very cool Andrew Scrivani in the New York Times. To learn more about digital photography, still life, photofood, life, the universe and everything [cit.] (At the next quote, I authorize you to shoot me).

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1 - Natural light. Shoot in natural light whenever possible. Use the windows, go outside. Flash photography is possible but not recommended, you need to be familiar and follow the rules. In fact, when it comes to food, the flash of many compact digital cameras is your number one enemy. You will have flat and monochromatic photographs, turn it off. The ideal light for photographing food comes from behind or from the side.

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2 - At the restaurant.

First turn off the flash, then raise the ISO (sensitivity to light) to the maximum allowed by the camera. Use a slow shutter speed, and decrease the depth of field, that is the distance to the subject (most compact cameras allow you to shoot at 3, 5 or 2, 8 meters). Invest in a tabletop tripod. Do you want a warmer and more romantic light? Try some candles, among other things you will avoid disturbing your diners.

3 - Fill the shot with food. You shouldn't stay that far from the plate if you want to show the world what's inside. Who needs all that empty space?

4The care of the dish. If you have an important appointment, you prepare carefully, right? Here, since the lens magnifies every imperfection, do it even with the plate to be photographed. And choose small which is better, framing pots, bowls and large plates is complicated.

5 - The help of the white sheet. On sunny and very bright days, direct light creates strong and decisive shadows. The solution is to cover it with a sheet of white paper. Place it between the light source and the food to be photographed so that it acts as a screen. You will have excellent results.

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6 - Take pictures while cooking.

Think fire and smoke are a problem, huh? Well, I'd call them opportunities. Taking pictures of food while cooking is essential, a fan for example will help you direct the smoke. If you still have time, a good way to train is to photograph a barbecue.

7 - Indoors in the evening. Amateur or professional makes no difference, manipulating light remains the hardest thing for a photographer. If the lights of a restaurant do not allow you to see what is on your plate with the naked eye, forget it, you need a lamp. Lighting problems in restaurants are not solved with a magic wand, often the solution is to take the dish to the kitchen and photograph it there. That said, the advice of point 2 applies. For those who photograph at home, the advice is to invest in equipment. Nothing excessive, a table lamp like the Lowel Ego, which does not reach 100 euros, manages very well to illuminate the single plate. Also try a rectangle of milky white fluorescent Plexiglas. Take a picture with the flash after placing the food on a table in front of the Plexiglas rectangle. The result will be a soft and clear light, which evokes that of the day. It takes some practice to learn this technique, but once done, it helps to solve the problem of indoor and evening photos.

8 - Useful tools that do not drain the bank account. Ideal food backgrounds don't cost a fortune. Paper, fabric, wood and plastic are ideal. Small diffusers can be used, and if you can afford them, a set of articulated poles (auto poles) to create artificial backgrounds (such as a fake white wall) or illuminate the food from above.

9 - The best digital compacts (and the best lenses). I have had good experiences with both Canon and Panasonic. The best models are the Canon G10 and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZF7. Now the lenses. First of all, fixed lenses are better for food, because they tend to have lower f-stops (these are the aperture adjustment ranges). I prefer the 50 and 100 MM Macro from Canon, L series.

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10 - For those starting now.

To photograph food in a natural way, someone must be willing to eat it. Sure, we don't want to see mouths and teeth, but a hand holding a spoonful of sauce is a beautiful sight. Show food as it is being prepared, people with plates in hand, and hands working (kneading, for example). Photograph the food on the fire, sprinkle it with cheese or herbs. These are often the most beautiful and natural shots in a photographer's portfolio.

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