Food shot

Working on a promotional video for a local flying club charter meeting with the goal to entice persons from around the world to come to Cleveland, Ohio, and trying to get some local "flavor" into the video. First of a shoot tonight catching local cuisine etc. for critique: (New shot added at end)

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To many back ground items cut-off for mt tastes. I would also try to shoot from a higher angle.

professional food photography is a whole sport in itself. I read a blog post awhile back that says photographers used a bunch of non food items to make the food glisten and glow.

I'll post some links at the bottom, but for your particular picture:
1. the salad looks OOF
2. I can't view your EXIF, but I would suggest shallower DOF
3. like Chet said, keep it simple, what is your subject and perspective (is the the place setting from the perspective of the diner, is it the salad by itself, is it the glass of wine, the flatware, etc..)
4. Motor oil (you'll see why later in 3rd link)
5. just remember, it only has to look appetizing and appealing, it has nothing to do with how it tastes, so get down and dirty with your creativity

http://digital-photography-school.com …otography-an-introduction
http://www.foodportfol​io.com …aphy/food_photg​raphy.html
http://www.pixiq.com/a​rticle/food-photo-tricks

EXIF

Canon 30D
ISO 1250
1/250/s
Canon 28-135MM
38MM
F8.0

What were you doing in f8?

This was very impromptu, in the middle of dinner service, and we were working with active platings

So this one's a bin shot?

Just a snapshot of dinner, nothing more.

kchau wrote in post #14846866
What were you doing in f8?

Trying to keep everything in focus, hind sight maybe not such a good idea

texkam wrote in post #14846910
Just a snapshot of dinner, nothing more.

Well I'm trying to entice you to come to dinner here, did it work?

Honestly no. The salad looks dry and unappetizing. Maybe it's the lighting. I really don't know much about food photography; but I'd be tempted to spray some water over the salad (or maybe a liberal dose of oil & vinegar) to give it some highlights. The bread on the left looks half-eaten. A whole slice of bread on the plate beside the salad might help too.

The background and the cropped wine glass is distracting. Find a better composition with not so many things on the table.

erikfig wrote in post #14847993
The background and the cropped wine glass is distracting. Find a better composition with not so many things on the table.

Don't have time to re-shoot

As a foodie...I would say...use a smaller salad plate...remove the olive oil plate...place a piece of bread ON the salad plate and remove the bread plate...remove the table card and all the service behind the salad. Shoot a portrait shot with the full wine glass. As it sits now, the "empty" plate with the salad centered almost directly with the glass stem moves the eye towards the cropped red wine.

Also, the angle of the fork move the eye off the shot. It's too prominent.

OK, how about a different crop, some moistness to the salad and some serious table clearing?

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