Day 1/30 - http://www.learnfoodphotography.com/lesson-1-study-outstanding-food-photos/
We looked at the portfolios of several well known food photographers and picked out photos and explained why we liked them, how they made us feel.
In general, I like natural lighting, out-of-focus backgrounds, simple set-ups. I am not fond of the messy look like someone has been eating. I do like dark backgrounds sometimes.
Day 2/30 - http://www.learnfoodphotography.com/lesson-2-identify-your-subjects/
We were to choose 5 food subjects. A subject that we might use the whole 30 days. Well not having a kitchen is going to be a bit of a disadvantage to this adventure, I chose baked goods (because I can eat them afterwards - lol), fast food (because that is what I have to eat on occasion - lol - and if I can make THAT look good, I will be one Ace of a photographer!), dinners if I cook anything at G's. I only picked three because those are pretty wide selections. Then we were supposed to share our top two. I picked baked goods and fruits & veggies, remembering when I took pics of apples and tomatoes at my cousins.
Here are 7 tips to Practice Food Photography- http://www.learnfoodphotography.com/7-food-photography-tips-to-practice-without-cooking/ There is also more suggested reading at the bottom of the page.
I also needed to ask these questions, and we might refer back to them:
What do I want a photo to look like? Appetizing, professional
What feeling should the photo communicate? I want it to create the desire to eat the food.
How do you want to feel about the photo? That it is the best pic I have ever taken.
Day 3/30 - Try different angles as you photograph food. http://www.learnfoodphotography.com/lesson-3-finding-the-camera-angle/
I thought the angle I would prefer would be 90*, but 65* ended up being my favorite...
Here's how I was shooting it in the van....
Day 4/30 - Depth of Field. http://www.learnfoodphotography.com/lesson-4-tell-your-story-with-depth-of-field-dof/ Now I learned all about this in college years ago, on how to use f-stops to create depth of field. It is a little more difficult using your phone's camera... But I thought I did fairly well...
Here's how I shot this one at the shelter... I really like the deep black background this set-up provides.
Day 5/30 - Frame it with your eyes. http://www.learnfoodphotography.com/lesson-5-frame-it-with-your-eyes/ I actually think this subject should have been first. I feel I actually frame every picture I take. So I posted this pics I took a little while ago, explaining that I didn't like the first one because a part of a wooden box in the background, as well as a black basket were showing on the left side of the frame. So I moved to the right and took the 2nd shot, almost centering the odd shaped squash, but felt it was offset to the top with the black squash, and offset to the right by the smooth mini pumpkin. I didn't get any comments on the shot, but 1 Like on the first pic.
Day 6/30 - Tell your story. http://www.learnfoodphotography.com/lesson-6-write-your-food-photo-story/ Seems like a lot of people were shooting their breakfasts so I wrote: While you Europeans are having French-pressed coffee and fruited porridge for breakfast, this American grabbed a to-go coffee and some donuts!
Day 7/30 - was a catch-up day in case you missed an assignment. We also had to answer some questions. We were supposed to post our favorite pic from the week, but I didn't do that.
I do, however, try to post as many comments on other people's pics as possible. I always compliment, and sometimes I give suggestions or make comments on what I felt didn't go totally right with the shot. Everyone seems open to feedback.
I also love that I am communication with people from all over the world! Students from India, a lady who lives on a boat in the Mediterranean, a chocolates-maker from Belgium... it's wonderful! A lady from Calgary, Alberta, one woman who has her own FB blog page on English Country Cooking with an accompanying website, http://englishcountrycooking.co.uk/recipes/crepes-suzette/
From the other students, I have learned this week about lighting and keeping the same style/era in your photos...
I am up against some stiff competition...
Eirin Helland from the Netherlands...
also from Eirin...
Like seriously? What is SHE doing in this class?
Аня Иванова from Russia...
from Katerina Belaya, also from Belarus... She said this photo reminded her of Space. I think a huge one in the right kitchen would be fabulous!
Daniela Contini in Jesrusalem... LOVE the lighting here...
Paulina Piech in Portugal... Looks so yummy!
So, am I a tad bit intimidated? YES! But I also know I don't have the best facilities to work with and as long as I do the best that I can, and learn from this, it will be well worth my time!
White Blance - This has been discussed a bit through the many of the critiques but we haven't yet talked about it in the course. I asked and someone provided this link... http://digital-photography-school.com/introduction-to-white-balance/ Following that was an article about The Dress. There was quite the viral sensation on social media as to the color of The Dress. Some saw white/gold and some saw blue/black. Here is the science behind it... http://www.wired.com/2015/02/science-one-agrees-color-dress/ which has to do with white balance.
Day 8/30 - Describe the elements of your food story. http://www.learnfoodphotography.com/lesson-8-describe-the-elements-of-your-food-story/
OK, I know exactly what story I wanted to tell, but I was so tired today, that I did not get to my friend's house to ask if I could use her kitchen and goodies to make the shot. I am hoping she will be available on Thursday afternoon, but she was unsure if she would be. I am really at a place, especially with the lessons on lighting, that I really need a kitchen type place to shoot.
She was available and we spent some time together putting two shots together :) "A late morning Bible study with a friend" is the story. We tried to make it casual and real. I think now that the orange cup takes the focus away from the cookies. After all, the food is supposed to be the "hero". If I had to do it over again, I would choose a less bright cup... maybe a muted green. Good thing to keep in mind when choosing props.
Day 9/30 - Lighting your food photo. http://www.learnfoodphotography.com/day-9-light-your-food-photo/
I cheated on this one by using a photo I took during Winter Break. My breakfast on Christmas morning... egg salad on sourdough toast. This was natural lighting through the boys' kitchen window.
Day 10/30 - Modify your lighting for better food photos. http://www.learnfoodphotography.com/lesson-10-modify-light-for-better-food-photos/
This was the other shot I did at my friend's house. This is direct sunlight, diffused with waxed paper over the window. Now I like the texture of the placemat, but others said the color was too much. This would have been a good subject to try different backgrounds with. Someone else suggested a cake server in the picture would be a nice accent. I had thought of this, and did have one, but liked the simple approach of "just the cake." Love the plate... need to get one similar at Goodwill.
Day 11/30 - White Balance. http://www.learnfoodphotography.com/lesson-11-correct-the-white-balance/
Had no idea that a SmartPhone had White Balance settings for it's camera. A revelation, Is White Balance something that came about with the advent of digital photography? Wiki has this to say... "The color balance operations in popular imagine editing applications usually operate directly on the red, green, and blue channel pixelvalues,[1][2] without respect to any color sensing or reproduction model. In shooting film, color balance is typically achieved by using color correction filters over the lights or on the camera lens.[3]"
I shot this one at work on a desk in the Fishbowl, but forgot to take a shot of the setup. I also used Paint in order to put the pics together and label them. Can you tell which light I shot under?
Arno Voogd from France shot this one... He said the food was the original hero of the shot, but then the bottle became the hero. Definitely the bottle. But I LOVE the background... I might not have tried this as a background thinking it would be too busy, but I think it totally makes the shot complete. I have so much to learn...
So in all reality, one cannot compare apples to oranges, or even pictures of apples to pictures of oranges. There are many types of art and forms of those arts, and truly "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" and it is all subjective.
I am actually thinking that I may be able to make some money at this at some point. Working with smaller restaurants that don't have a large budget but need good food photos. Will keep this in thought and prayer.
Day 13/30 - Organize Your Props. http://www.learnfoodphotography.com/lesson-13-organize-your-props/
Well we all know I have a 12x12 storage space crammed full of wonderful treasures that I have hoarded over decades for just such an occasion as this! BUT - can I get to them now? No. And do I want to collect a bunch more of items to clutter my van with? No. However do I need some things in order to get through this class? Yes, a couple. So I have purchased a couple things, and they all have to fit in one bag. Along with that, it's been nice to use my friend's kitchen and my son's kitchen.
Day 14/30 -
Marcory van Dijk
Pille Qrabat
:)
MORE TO BE WRITTEN....
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