Digital Photography

Christine OKelly asked:


Food photography is a huge undertaking that is never valued and respected to the level that it truly deserves. Photographing food and products with the highest level of quality requires several knowledgeable people working together. An expert food stylist and chef work together with the food photographer to create a work of art made specifically to market the product.

Food photography is a necessary component in marketing campaigns for any company that deals with food and beverages. In fact, restaurants that utilize photographs in their menus will sell more food than those who use only food titles and written descriptions. This is the main reason marketing and advertising companies use food in their campaigns today. Simply photographing food and products will not work unless viewers find them particularly tempting. To ensure effective food photography that entices a craving from viewers, follow these simple tips and tricks:

Tricks Of The Trade

There is more to photographing food and products than simply dishing up a nice meal, setting it on a tablecloth, and taking a picture. The advertising will not lure in customers if the edible focal point does not look like the tastiest thing they have ever seen. For example, if you require a photograph of a vegetable such as a tomato, the food stylist might only use two out of an entire case. Substances such as glycerin can be added to lettuce or a tomato to make the vegetables appear to be fresh, cold, and moist. When working with a steak in food photography, for instance, the chef is instructed by the food stylist to prepare several at once so that only the best ones are used in the photos. To make perfect grill marks on the steak, a wire is used with a propane torch.

Using Props

The use of props is vital for successful food photography. When photographing food and products, a stylist will often choose several items to compliment the main object. A photo of ice cream in a plain bowl will get the point across, but adding props such as nuts, chocolate sauce, fresh whipped cream, and a plate of cherries will tantalize the viewer. Every detail of the photo shoot is decided on between the photographer and food stylist before anything else can occur.

Lighting

When photographing food and products, the use of lighting to create a certain feel can have a major impact on the pictures. In food photography, substitutes are often used when setting up the lighting to keep the actual food as fresh as possible. In addition, some lighting is specifically designed to enhance the texture of a food to make it look more appetizing.

Have Perfect Timing

Timing is everything when it comes to effective food photography. For most successful food photographers, on-site photo shoots are preferred over studio sessions simply because it allows the pictures to be taken with the freshest food possible. The photographer and stylist will use substitutes to perfect the setting and lighting while the chef is preparing the actual food that will be used in the shoot. This way, rather than being dried out from the heat of the lights, the food will be fresh and juicy. For food photography involving fresh fruit, the food stylist will cut it during the last seconds before a shoot and then apply ice or glycerin to give the freshness an extra boost for the picture.

There is more involved in food photography than simply cooking and taking a photograph; it requires the knowledge of a team consisting of a food stylist and chef along with an expert photographer. When looking for a team to produce high-quality advertising materials, choose one that is skilled in the art of photographing food and products.



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Tags: Food Stylist, Lettuce, Props

Mark Eden asked:


Many different elements go into making up the character of a particular destination or location, whether it be a far flung exotic city or your home town. It is the travel photographer’s job to cover these elements in order to present that character to the viewer. This article looks into what goes into bringing the character of a subject to the audience.

Essential Elements

There are many separate “parts” that make a location what it is, but these generally boil down to landscape, people and culture. Let’s look at these in a little more depth.

Landscape

Every city, mountain range or coastal area has its own unique look and feel. This might be created by architecture exclusive to that part of the world, such as Gaudi’s designs that are so prominent in Barcelona. Or well known landmarks (Eiffel Tower anyone?) or rough seas and steep cliffs like those so characteristic of the northern coasts of Scotland and Ireland. What does it look like in the morning? At night? The location might take on several personalities through the day so it is essential to try to capture as many of these as you can to give a broader picture.

People

Possibly the most influential factor in the character of a location is the people who live there. The way they look and dress, the way they carry themselves, the lifestyle they live and the customs they observe. Is there a particular piece of clothing that defines them? Or maybe a certain characteristic. For example, if they are known to be happy and smiling people, show them as such. If they are known to be hardworking, try to include some shots of workers.

Culture

This can encompass subjects such as food and drink. Local dishes give an immediate insight into the way of life lived by people of that area. Freshly caught seafood may be a specialty of the area, or it may be famous for a particular dessert or drink. Culture can also be shown in the festivals and events held in the particular region. This might be an annual parade where locals dress in the traditional costumes of their ancestors, or a huge street party that captures the energy and vibrancy of a population.

Putting It Together

To put these elements in photographic terms, I like to think of the process as zooming in on a subject. Starting with the landscape element described above, you essentially form an overview, or wide angle view of the subject, capturing surroundings. Distinctive buildings and landmarks give a feel and sometimes instant recognition to the location. Zoom in to form a collective portrait of the people, their way of life and daily activities. It is a good idea to use both posed portraits and candid shots to show personalities as well as customs and way of life. Finally zooming in further to capture details such as local food and dishes and detailed studies of buildings. Text such as in shop signs shows languages spoken. Also any products that are traditional or well known in the area. For example, leather goods from Morocco, or electronics from Japan.

Travel photography is in a sense a very broad specialization. Possibly not a specialization at all. A travel photographer needs to be a landscape photographer, portrait photographer, still life photographer and nature photographer often all in the space of a single shooting session. Learn to cover all these elements within the broader subject and you are well on your way to becoming a more accomplished photographer.



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Tags: Festivals, Local Dishes, Travel Photographer