Culinary studio work - Round 1 of 5 tonight - Critique requested

[SteveNC]

Inspired by Pierre Gagnaire: Reflections on Culinary Artistry. (http://www.amazon.com/Pierre-Gagnaire-Reflections-Culinary-Artistry/dp/1584793163/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1220885894&sr=1-1)

Doing this for a friend (non-paid for portfolio). First time doing anything culinary.

Any tips to improve? He's preparing 3 more dishes for me to shoot tonight, waiting for the next round.
http://www.andrawesphoto.com/sean/0057.jpg

http://www.andrawesphoto.com/sean/0067.jpg

[evorgsumaf]

They are a good start. But I think I would like to see each presentation of food individually. (does that make sense?) The second one seems kind of busy. But you are off to a very good start, keep it up and I would love to see more.

[PhotosGuy]

#1: The main point of interest should be sharp. And the lighting on it doesn't look appetizing. Maybe a bit of hot light skimming it from the side to add better highlights.

Food Photography Blog (http://www.foodportfolio.com/blog/#blog)

Food: Shooting food with limited equipment (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=300080)
Includes links to these:

Tasteful Food Photography (http://digitalmedia.oreilly.com/2004/09/15/food_photos.html)
How_to_take_mouth_watering_photos_of_food (http://www.livingroom.org.au/photolog/tips/food_photography_how_to_take_mouth_watering_photos _of_food.php)

Shooting (and Lighting) for Food (http://www.scottkelby.com/blog/2008/archives/1070)

Food Photography links (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showpost.php?p=5136374&postcount=15)

[sspellman]

Steve-

1) Shallow DOF photography only works when the focal point is carefully selected. I really dont see anything in focus on the first shot. An edge of the shrimp would be a good choice.
2) The composition of 2 is interesting, but its not so clear what the food on the plate is. The sauce looks more like soap to me. The food itself looks a little underexposed.


Keep on it-
Scott

[lulugus]

Why would a chef put foam around his food? I guess that makes me sound "out of touch" with the culiniary world, but...yuck!

The first thing I thought of was what a tennis ball looks like when its been dropped on the cement out of a dog's mouth.

Sorry, that's not an insult to your photos... but I'd ask him to "hold the foam" ;)