Fererro --food

[macobee]

testing background and lighting, as i dont like the shadows, i think of adding a light at 10 o clock on top of the one at 4 oclock.

perhaps the background should be changed to a gradient grey?

this is just a test as someone asked me to take some shots soon of chocolates
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3151/3006868483_1546562e75_b.jpg

[TekHouse]

Can i make a suggestion..

The chocolate itself needs to be in pristine condition in my opinion. The two deep cuts in this one detract from the shot.

Maybe use a small brush too before setting it on the surface, to get rid of extra bits and pieces.

[Metalstrm]

Are the numerous arrows pointing towards the viewer (I can see 3) intended in the composition? If so, what do they mean?

[acchildress]

The empty wrapper should be in a more attractive condition, not just wadded up. This one looks like something that I'd find in the floorboard of my car.

You might try brushing the chocolate lightly with olive oil. It really needs to look appealing.

Your're gonna find this kind of subject can be verrrrry hard to get right.

Much good luck to ya!

[Walczak Photo]

In addition to the comments about the mangled wrapper and the big "smiley" in the piece of chocolate, to me the shadows look rather harsh here. I think the color of the background looks good, but the shadows just really stand out to me as being really distracting. Not sure if this will help you or not, but the way I do shots like this is I will use natural outdoor lighting on the North side of a building (usually my house) in the shade. Personally I find it produces a very pleasing effect without the frustration of having to mess with a bunch of lights (just watch your white balance, this kind of shade lighting tends to produce some pretty heavy blue casts). If that's simply not possible, then I would suggestion using at least 2 or 3 lights and I would diffuse them big time.

One other thing I would suggest is to take a look thru some actual chocolate catalogs for some inspiration on composition. As acchildress stated, this one can be a little frustrating to get right.

Just my $.02 worth,
Jim

[ashjamesgav]

In addition to the comments about the mangled wrapper and the big "smiley" in the piece of chocolate, to me the shadows look rather harsh here. I think the color of the background looks good, but the shadows just really stand out to me as being really distracting. Not sure if this will help you or not, but the way I do shots like this is I will use natural outdoor lighting on the North side of a building (usually my house) in the shade. Personally I find it produces a very pleasing effect without the frustration of having to mess with a bunch of lights (just watch your white balance, this kind of shade lighting tends to produce some pretty heavy blue casts). If that's simply not possible, then I would suggestion using at least 2 or 3 lights and I would diffuse them big time.

One other thing I would suggest is to take a look thru some actual chocolate catalogs for some inspiration on composition. As acchildress stated, this one can be a little frustrating to get right.

Just my $.02 worth,
Jim

I'm interested in knowing how you do this. Do you just open a window and take a picture near it? Do you use lighting on the other side? What do you do in this type of situation? I ask because I just recently got my camera and I don't have off-camera flash yet or any type of studio lighting, so I'm working with all natural.

[macobee]

Tekhouse oint taken, but this was just testing with the only available subject.

metalstrm? arrows? i dont understand

achilderess thanks for your comments, points taken and will keep in mind.

walzak, thanks for your comments, i am bound to shoot indoors as its on a 34th floor office building, the roads below wont like it if im standing there, also temperatures outdoors are still well in the 20's in midday, not helpfull with chocolates. i think i will try a 3 point setup, but pls have a look below i did another try with 2 strobes and a few reflectors.

ashjames, outdoor light is really much easier to use for food, i love it but im stuck with no available place to shoot outdoors!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3184/3007456161_1c48b563fe_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3219/3008288128_c635e6267c_b.jpg

[TeeJay]

Are the numerous arrows pointing towards the viewer (I can see 3) intended in the composition? If so, what do they mean?

???


TJ

[Flo]

http://www.godiva.com/catalog/collections.aspx?id=76

http://www.lindtusa.com/info-exec/display/recipes_desserts

Just a couple of shots that folks have taken.composition wise?

The wrapper seems moot to me, they aren;t telling me anything I need to know, I see the naked chocolate:D

[macobee]

thanks Flo for those links i apprcciate that!

[Flo]

thanks Flo for those links i apprcciate that!

I am waiting to buy a print from you for my wall CHef;)

[macobee]

Flo, get used to waiting long time.....haha thanks for the heads up but im just hobby material, no way close to hang up material! but when i get there youll be the 1st to know!

[Flo]

Flo, get used to waiting long time.....haha thanks for the heads up but im just hobby material, no way close to hang up material! but when i get there youll be the 1st to know!

Work on chili peppers and cheese then:p

[Walczak Photo]

I'm interested in knowing how you do this. Do you just open a window and take a picture near it? Do you use lighting on the other side? What do you do in this type of situation? I ask because I just recently got my camera and I don't have off-camera flash yet or any type of studio lighting, so I'm working with all natural.


Well...actually I just set up a card table in my yard right behind my house. I usually use a white board (usually construction paper) as the background and tripod of course. Just to be clear, it's not like I'm "shooting thru a window" or anything or even using light from a window even. I'm actually outside in the back of my house (my house faces South, so my back yard is in North shade as it were).

Not to steal the OP's thread here, but here's a couple of shots I did this way for my portfolio...

http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/8521/mg3759dv5.jpg


http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/9991/mg3787zy5.jpg



Please note that I was never paid by Nokia or by the makers of Tarn-X for these images! LOL!!! These were some "products" I had around the house that I thought would make good examples for my portfolio and neither shot will ever be used for ANY commercial purpose other than my own self-promotion.

Very simply, this is about the most cost effective "light tent" you can get! LOL!!! The piece of white construction paper actually cost me a mind numbing $.50 at a local dollar store. I would also add that these were both shot with my Rebel XT and my two "cheap" Tamron lenses (the Nokia was shot with my 28-80mm and the Tarn-X was shot with my 70-300mm which I got for $65 on Ebay). In my ever so humble opinion, the only down side of shooting stuff like this in this way is that you have to use a bit longer shutter speed so a tripod is really essential. Of course, you'll also probably want to avoid shooting on windy days! LOL!!! Beyond that as you can see this provides a very soft, even lighting for this type of work. Yea, the lighting is a bit flat, but if the images are supposed to be for some type of "advertising" that's usually desirable. If you look in your average "Walmart" ad flyer (or something similar) you will most often see that the images are not exactly lit for any kind of "dramatic effect".

The one big thing that I would reiterate is to watch your white balance and/or shoot in RAW so you can correct for the blue cast later...both of the shots above had a very heavy blue cast to them before processing (ignorantly, I shot them with Auto white balance...live and learn).

Anyways, again I use a basic collapsable card table (in the case of the images above, they were actually shot on top of a stove that was sitting by my back porch waiting for trash day! LOL!), get some cheap white construction paper from a local craft store, put whatever it is you want to shoot towards the front of the paper and maybe "curve" the back side of the paper up a bit so that the whole background is white (I used a brick to support the paper). Again these were done in my backyard in the shadow of my house...for what it is, it's very effective :D.

Peace,
Jim

[Metalstrm]

I meant these chevrons:

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/3076/30068684831546562e75bmc6.jpg

Ok, I'm sure I was overanalyzing the picture. Hehe, I've been reading too much theory.

[Flo]

LOL.you forgot the chevrons on the wrappers:p

[Metalstrm]

OMG! Yes. They're.... everywhere!.... <static>

Seriously, I thought he was giving us a clever hint by pointing towards the viewer as if he was saying "yes.... this chocolate is for you!".

[TekHouse]

The second pic you posted is much better. It looks..well more delicious.

[hecster]

i can't look at this thread anymore, i'm getting hungry. Metalstrm, kudos on your uncanny perception. :razz: