STILL LIFE AND FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY
By Diane Bohlen
In Still Life Photography you are creating an image rather than capturing a moment. It is a great way to learn about Lighting and Composition, the key elements in photography. Still Life conjures up an image of a vase of flowers and a few carefully arranged items. However, it is more than that, essentially if it stays still its Still Life.
You can arrange a group of items together that are pleasing to you or you can find arrangements that already exist.
When you are creating your own image, you have more control over composition and light. However, Still Life is not like Landscapes where you are provided with the subject matter. In Still Life you have control over your subject but you need imagination to create an interesting photo.
Take your time is the catch cry of Still Life photographers. Unlike Landscapes with changing light conditions, you have ample time to experiment and shoot under a constant light and background layouts. This enables you to achieve clean and sharp images.
You can take two seconds to position a shiny red apple and shoot it and have a perfectly acceptable image.But what else might you end up with if you took 20 minutes, positioning the apple at different angles, on different surfaces? Maybe you cut it open or take a big bite out of it? Pose it with a glass of cider? Maybe you have a handful that looks great arranged in a decorative bowl?
Still Life has its own aims, its own subjects and topics. It does not only depict objects but also the surroundings, which creates mood and a story.
So we need to concentrate on Lighting, Composition and Subject.
Subject
There is a wide range of subjects that lend themselves to an interesting image. There are the traditional ones of flowers, pottery, glass, household objects and food. But anything that is still is fun to try.
Lighting
You don’t need fancy lighting. Natural light from a window is fine. However, lamps, torches, and a lightbox are fun to experiment with. A subtle light like a candle can create a moody image but you will need a long exposure, which means you will need a tripod. Experiment with light sources including light painting, where you light up the subject with a torch or other light beams.
Light from a window or desk lamp will create contrast and deep shadows, which emphasizes texture.
A lightbox, is where diffused light can come from the sides, the back, the top, and underneath the subject. It will not create any shadows but will emphasise the contours of the subject. Food photographers often use this type of lighting and advertisers of all kinds of products like you see in catalogues. There is no background or shadows to distract. However, it will not create depth, texture, mood or tell a story.
You can control the lighting by pulling down blinds and direct light where you want it with lamps or torches. A combination of natural and artificial light is possible. Use a diffuser or baking paper to soften the light source.
Composition
Think outside the square in arranging the subject. It is absolutely crucial to engage the viewer. When building your composition observe closely and carefully. Think about the rule of thirds, balance, negative space, shapes, patterns, texture and lines.
Use different angles. Shoot from different sides, shoot from above but shooting down low is best for bringing out texture. Be careful not to get your shadow on the subject. Shoot close up and maybe only part of the subject. Use a zoom to bring out details. Create depth with a narrow DOF. Use landscape and portrait views.
Place the items at angles, which will lead the viewer’s eye into the photo. Think about whether to use a single object in isolation or a group of objects. Think about framing to keep the viewer engaged.
Background
It is most important to keep the background simple. Try not to get any distractions like light patches or bright colours in the background. Use plain plates and tablecloths, neutral coloured backgrounds. You can use fabric, (black velvet is good) card or tiles for background. Try to avoid reflective surfaces.
Use props to help create mood and tell a story. Potato bag sacking can be used under a loaf for a rustic feel. Outdoor tables for an al fresco feel. Next to a glass of juice place some fruit. Don’t over do it. Keep it simple.
A dark background creates warmth, and a bright background looks lively.Make the background blurry by using a wide aperture and a zoom.
Action
You can use some action shots like pouring, blending, stirring, frying, and rising in the oven. Use a long exposure and remember a tripod.
Go Abstract
Keep the viewer engaged by making it difficult for them to work out what the subject is. Shoot from weird angles; only capture part of the object.
Focus, Camera Settings, Lenses
You can use any type of camera or any type of lens. Some photographers recommend a macro setting or macro lens. A prime lens as well as a zoom lens can be used.
A tripod is recommended so that you can use longer shutter speeds and a wider aperture. This will give a better focus. It will also enable you to get a narrow depth of field. Tripods can be as simple as a mini beanbag or a glass on the table.
To avoid hot spots drop down the exposure compensation a little.
If you are using artificial light set your White Balance to Tungsten.
Editing
Try different filters. Add texture to make it look like a painting. Try HDR.
Experiment and enjoy
Use different locations, props, lighting, backgrounds, angles and editing tools.
D.Bohlen 2018
FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY
By Bill Bohlen
Lighting, Composition and Focus
These three things are easy to apply and they don’t take long to learn. To photograph food in the most flattering way possible it requires some serious creativity. It also demands that the food photographer pays close attention to the things that most photographs do not address. The food must be kept looking as beautiful as possible. It is sometimes necessary to glaze or moisturise the product we’re photographing to give it appealing look it not normally has. To that end, the product has to be lit accordingly.
Place the light at a lower angle to brighten the food. This helps to create a great deal of texture across the surface of the food. Low light also helps to show moisturised food. You can also use fill in flashes or reflectors to provide lighting of the food. However avoid lights to be too close to the food, as this can create unwanted shadows onto the food.
Professional food photographers often use light boxes to help them achieve the desired results. Light boxes create light from all directions, thus eliminating shadows.
Composition
The way food is set out on the plate is as important as the way you photograph it.
Pay attention to the balance of food in the shot with colour and shapes and use leading lines and the rule of thirds to help guide the viewer’s eye into the dish.
The distance of the lens to the food depends on the size of the food you’re capturing. If it’s a large plate, then you want more widths in the scene to make sure you have the sides of the bowl or plate in the frame. Close ups or sections of the bowl are also perfectly acceptable. For close ups you would choose a longer focal length so you have a short Depth of Field in order to blur the background.
A mistake that many beginner food photographers make is taking shots that look down on the plate. While this can work in some circumstances, in most cases you get a better shot by shooting from down close to plate level.
Coordinate the background that ads to the overall look of the food. Baked goods are often photographed with complementary colours in the background, rather than just a plain background. But there must be no competition between the food and the background.
You can include cutlery, salt and peppershakers or a glass in the frame to complete your composition. Don’t clutter the photo with a full table setting.
Focus
Make sure the highlight in your shot is in focus, not a secondary item such as garnish or other items placed to enhance the composition.
The secret is to position and create your light in such a way where there are important aspects of the food that are well lit. Once your lighting is taken care off, then focus on the area where you would bite first, where you would bite into that sausage roll, or that apple. This focus provides the emotional entrance to your photo.
These are some successful ways you can use to photograph your food.
If you use an editing program to finish your photos, increase the colour vibrancy a little or if you have a camera that can alter settings, use the ‘Vibrant’ setting.
No comments:
Post a Comment