2nd Attempt at Food Photography*

[delhi]

Hello,
I have a hard time on which to keep for my gallery. There is no Taco Bel where we moved to. So we have to make our own. :(


#1?
http://alai.zenfolio.com/img/p138464749-4.jpg

#2?
http://alai.zenfolio.com/img/p370437272.jpg

Thanks for looking, here's a...
Bonus! Nachos!
http://alai.zenfolio.com/img/p382344518-4.jpg

[delhi]

anyone?

[cassarilda]

Nice attempt!! :)

Ive seen a lot worse. :)

1st one I would suggest moving the front plate away from the back one so the subject matter doesnt touch.. there needs to be some space between it to reduce it looking messy. Also, there is too much of the unfilled tacos in teh shot.. I would have moved the plate in front a little to the left (as we view it) to maintain the focus on the filled ones. The specular highlights in the background are distracting as well because everything else in teh shot is colour, and they are big patches of white. I would like to see this shot in vertical format.

#2 - I cant see

#3 - Nachos
Youve got something bad-funky happening with the colours on the curls of the back tacos.. you need to look at your photoshopping technique.. maybe too much saturation in the yellows? Again, take care of your highlights.. the eye is naturally attracted to lighter shades, and in this case its the background again.

Both shots seem a little too messy to me.. a bit too crowded.. less is more, especially when starting out in food photography. It is very hard to perfectly stylise a food shot without a food stylist, so if you ever get the chance, do some mutual folio shots with one! :)

[dbernard]

Compositionally not bad but they're both flat and dark. Both pictures need to be a bit brighter. In #1, move that bowl in the background out of the way. The attention should be on the tacos. Same thing with #2. The shells in the background give people's eyes something else to focus on instead of the nachos. Punch up the contrast/colors a bit and you've got yourself some really nice photos.

[98photo]

The lighting needs some work, they are flat and dark as dbernard said. I agree with cassarilda that I have seen worse.
For #1 I would move everything out of the b/g and focus on just the tacos, rotate the plate to the left to get more of the filled tacos.
#2 can't see as the others.
#3 I would do the same thing as #1 but bring the camera down a little and get the bottom of the bowl, or raise the camera and just get nachos and not the front of the bowl.
Keep practicing!! It'll only get easier!

[delhi]

awesome thanks for the suggestions. I thought the contrasts was upped as comfortably as I felt.

[xepherys]

I agree with the crowding. I assume the taco shells in the nacho shot have that odd discoloration that cassarilda mentioned due to JPG quality? Also, lighting... you need some. Available lighting almost never works for food. The sour cream should look almost shiny. Things should look moist and delicious ;-)

It's certainly a good 2nd attempt though!

[Terrywoodenpic]

Not bad at all.
When you think of all the lighting a professional uses to get that natural look.
But you do need some sparkle
Off camera flash from the back and a reflectot in front , should do it.
And Lots of trial and error.

[SuzyView]

Delicious. I'm going to go Mexican tonight. :) Natural light is great, but maybe add a reflector on the first one.