By Grazyna Bodkins
Many food enthusiasts are also interested in taking pictures of the stuff they love to eat and whether you want to take it as a hobby or as a career, getting into food photography is something that's truly worth your while. Having that artistic touch and style combined with the technical know-how in photography can help you to become a better food photographer.
As with the different areas of photography, having a good light source is important in coming up with great pictures and food photography is no exception. Whenever you are taking photos of food, the general rule is to stay away from shadows and highlights. Harsh lights can ruin your photos and this can be avoided by using diffusers, umbrellas, or softboxes.
Making use of a shallow depth of field is also important in food photography because it helps your audience to easily identify what your photo is all about. In your camera setting, this means using a wider aperture in order to have everything except the main subject blurred. Another important tip is to always use a tripod and a remote shutter release to ensure tack sharp photos all the time.
In food photography, taking photos of food in different angles can help you achieve a different kind of perspective, detail, or emphasis. This is something you can experiment on to see which one will give you the most dramatic or stunning effect. Try to avoid shooting down on your subject and start shooting from table level in order to give life to your photos.
Considering proper white balance is also important in food photography since different lighting situations may have an effect on the color of your subject. Using the wrong white balance can easily make a nice juicy steak look blue or yellowish. For this purpose, it may be wise to start shooting in RAW format so that white balance will be irrelevant.
If you're going to get serious about food photography, then investing in better lenses can certainly spell a big difference in your photos. This doesn't mean though that there is a single-best lens for taking photos of food - everything will still be dictated by the effect you want to create. Remember that there is still no substitute for your technical skills and creativity in creating great photographs.
As with the different areas of photography, having a good light source is important in coming up with great pictures and food photography is no exception. Whenever you are taking photos of food, the general rule is to stay away from shadows and highlights. Harsh lights can ruin your photos and this can be avoided by using diffusers, umbrellas, or softboxes.
Making use of a shallow depth of field is also important in food photography because it helps your audience to easily identify what your photo is all about. In your camera setting, this means using a wider aperture in order to have everything except the main subject blurred. Another important tip is to always use a tripod and a remote shutter release to ensure tack sharp photos all the time.
In food photography, taking photos of food in different angles can help you achieve a different kind of perspective, detail, or emphasis. This is something you can experiment on to see which one will give you the most dramatic or stunning effect. Try to avoid shooting down on your subject and start shooting from table level in order to give life to your photos.
Considering proper white balance is also important in food photography since different lighting situations may have an effect on the color of your subject. Using the wrong white balance can easily make a nice juicy steak look blue or yellowish. For this purpose, it may be wise to start shooting in RAW format so that white balance will be irrelevant.
If you're going to get serious about food photography, then investing in better lenses can certainly spell a big difference in your photos. This doesn't mean though that there is a single-best lens for taking photos of food - everything will still be dictated by the effect you want to create. Remember that there is still no substitute for your technical skills and creativity in creating great photographs.
About the Author:
A creative food photographer can make even the most simple food stuff become appetizing. This can be achieved by learning the many techniques pros use in Singapore food photography. Want to learn more? Take a look at Wai Kay Photography.