Tuesday, 13 October 2009

Getting Started With Food Photos

By John Billy

We are surrounded by food photography everyday but we stop seeing it after a while. But maybe that's why we love food - because we see it subconsciously everywhere!

When you see some of the professional pictures of food you may think that you may never be able to take such good photos but you could surprise yourself. Much of food photography is about technique and tips and tricks.

Light is the King when it comes to photography. When you get it right you get the results and when you mess it up we have all seen the results. Like any other form of still photography taking the time to get the lighting right will pay huge dividends in the results.

One of the best places to photograph food is by a window where there is a lot of natural light - perhaps supported with flash bounced off a ceiling or wall to give more harmonious lighting that cuts out the shadows. This daylight helps to keep the food looking much more natural.

If you are going to be doing a lot of food picture taking then consider creating a food light box to make your job easier and quicker. This consists of a framed area covered in diffusion screens with lights behind on stands or attached to flexible tubes so you can move them easily into position. The food sits on a plain smooth single coloured background cover that is usually white so there is no background to remove with Photoshop later. Make sure the cover is easy to wipe in case of food splashes.

Slow shutter speed is what you need when you are working with food photography. Mount your camera on a sturdy tripod and remember to use a shutter release cable so you do not move the camera. The slightest movement will create horrible blurring.

The props that you use with food photography are what can bring it to life. Choose your props carefully. The props are usually what sets an amateur food photo aside from a professional food photography.

Do not skimp on your equipment if you want to do good food photography. Having a top quality SLR camera with a good lens will make all the difference. You must have full control over all the settings - shutter speed - aperture setting - zoom - to be able to create top shots. Using good quality lighting will also pay massive dividends.

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