D60 food photography update

[Fat Guy]

So, thanks to all the good advice I've received here my wife and I have been slowly improving our D60 food photography. We're not where we want to be yet -- not even close -- but I thought I'd put the latest stuff out there for comment from the experienced D60 crowd.

These are all shots of Indian food taken with flood lighting in our home "studio":

http://egullet.com/imgs/suvir012003low1.jpg
http://egullet.com/imgs/suvir012003low2.jpg
http://egullet.com/imgs/suvir012003low3.jpg
http://egullet.com/imgs/suvir012003low4.jpg

And this is an on-location shot taken with two 550EX flashes:

http://egullet.com/imgs/dale4low.jpg

[robertwgross]

I see some obvious problems, either with plain focus, or with depth of field. Maybe I'm missing something here, but wouldn't you intend to shoot a plate of food and have everything in focus from the front of the plate to the back of the plate? Everything in front of the plate and behind the plate can be "out", but not parts of the plate of food.

Don't get me wrong. I've shot things that turned out exactly that way, but I would never let anybody else see them.

---Bob Gross---

[Fat Guy]

The DOF is how the food stylist wanted it. This seems to be the trend in food photography: Narrow DOF, even so narrow as to blur out much of what is on the plate.

[DVWarrior]

http://egullet.com/imgs/suvir012003low1.jpg

This pic is not the prettiest it also looks like it's shot on a baby's table...sorry but I feel you will learn from others giving you RAW hard hitting comments.

I don't know what this food is but I doubt if it would ever look sexy...can I suggest you take a very close shot with some sexy backlighting try hanging it in front of a white background...or...sitting it on a plate with some colour vegatables..(yellow-red peppers) remember to spray the veg with a fine mist of water this always looks good...use a white plate on a non descript surface open the lens to f2.8 to capture a hint of the food on the plate and a blurry background.

Psionarra

[robertwgross]

Fat Guy wrote:
The DOF is how the food stylist wanted it. This seems to be the trend in food photography: Narrow DOF, even so narrow as to blur out much of what is on the plate.

Oh, that explains it.

Has that food stylist ever worked in this country?

If you get the food at the back of the plate fuzzy enough, it will appear that there is something growing in it.

---Bob Gross---

[JamieAU]

I'm sorry to say that I don't find any of that to look very appetising. I haven't been involved in shooting any food but I have been involved in preparing a great deal of it (I've worked as a chef on and off for over 12 years now) and the key to it is presentation.

You need to make your food appealing, if you are going for a more "country cooking" feel you can still add more colour with your vegetables, sauces and garnish.

I don't recognise anything in the pictures too well but if you want to fill me in on what is there I can suggest something to accompany them.

Jamie

[Hunter27]

I feel your food sylist is letting you down! The food looks dry and unappetising. Maybe try some oil coating (olive oil or spray) and more back lighting with front fill.

If the photo does not trigger an appertite response... then the shot is not right.

As far as DOF goes well that is a matter of design and personal opinion. Most cook books of the 70's 80's, shot with view cameras had every thing they could find in focus... but what are we talking about here... tables, chairs, forks, glasses, napkins, or food? If you want short DOF then get as close as you can and make the most relitive part of the food the focus. It is true that this style is very relevent in Australia at the moment and it's the way I like to shot. (Australia has a very progressive and new quisine at present)

If you are interested I can post some examples of what I mean.

Anyway I hope this helps and me personally find the D60 a great camera for food shooting.

Cheers for now!

Nick

www.osborneimages.com

[Fat Guy]

I'd love to see some examples, Nick. Thanks.

[redbutt]

Personally I like the on location shot the best. The lighting is dynamic and very moody. The other shots just seem flat.

[RichardtheSane]

It has been mentioned that the lighting needs to be altered to improve the texture of the food etc, and that is right.

But you also need more light. Food shots to me are made by the lighting, bump the FEC up a bit to the point where you are exposing as far right as possible.

I also say that the food doesn't look too appetising. Is the food prepared specially for your photography? If not it should be then you can add oils and arange it exactly how you like.