Shooting Food Photos in less than optimal light
May 21, 2017 07:19:43 #
wolkodoff1 wrote:
It seems no matter how hard I try, I can't duplicate the hero photos that restaurants have of their food. I use a Canon SX60HS, a pretty good bridge camera. I suspect that in these staged photos the light sources are arranged just so to make it optimal and just walking into a restaurant, especially at night limits the ability to shoot these types of photos well. Any advice or ideas are appreciated.
Food photos generally show "food" that would not be edible.
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2016/jan/04/food-stylist-photography-tricks-advertising
http://guff.com/these-food-photography-tricks-prove-your-life-is-a-lie
http://guff.com/these-food-photography-tricks-prove-your-life-is-a-lie/dish-soap-coffee-culture
https://digital-photography-school.com/food-photography-an-introduction/
May 21, 2017 08:18:05 #
Use the flash light from your cell phone, filtered by a white napkin help. Of course everyone in the dining area will look at you like you're crazy. Better yet, get a small camera with a faster lens.
May 21, 2017 08:52:51 #
If you shoot your food then you can do it in a studio setting and all the preparation done to the food including those that make the food inedible. If you shoot the restaurant's food and in their restaurant I wouldn't use any light. I would shoot them with the available light in their restaurant to capture the food under the lighting of their restaurant.
May 21, 2017 09:52:35 #
GoofyNewfie wrote:
One speedlight in a 30" softbox behind and a foam core reflector in front.
Window light could be used, but you still need a reflector to fill in.
Nikon D810 and the 24-120.
I got to eat it after we were done.... the sandwich, not the camera.
Window light could be used, but you still need a reflector to fill in.
Nikon D810 and the 24-120.
I got to eat it after we were done.... the sandwich, not the camera.
Agreed. Common wisdom is that most small product photos are done with the main light source coming from behind the product. When you see food photos done by quality restaurants, on TV commercials, etc., there is most often a food stylist involved. They have all kinds of tricks. Try Googling "food styling." You can learn a lot about how to optimise the look of the food before even starting to shoot by looking at those high-quality photos and commercials. Google images must have a ton of samples.
Foam Core is easiest to work with as a reflector, but you can use almost anything white with a smooth surface, like a sheet, pillow case, etc.You just have to have a way to keep it in place. A light stand or spouse works well.
May 21, 2017 10:40:56 #
Read up on the subject and keep practicing. Nothing is easy. It is not the camera, but the lens and lighting and how the food is presented.
May 21, 2017 11:22:33 #
The placement of lighting is important as well as post processing..
Good shooting
Good shooting
May 21, 2017 11:32:43 #
Took a class which included a detailed presentation from the food photographer of our local paper. She uses a Canon FF (5D3) typically with a Canon EF 50mm f2.5 macro lens, typically shot in daylight through an open window, sometimes with a flat piece of styrofoam sheet as a reflector (when not shooting on-site at restaurants). I realize this is a gigantic jump in price from what you're using and not suggesting it as a solution, but thought it might be useful to know what the pros do. The lens can be had for $225-$250 and can certainly be used on a much less expensive crop body (and the light is free 😀). The lens is also an excellent portrait lens on a crop camera, is flat-field, tack sharp, and with the addition of the Canon life size converter (not expensive), will do 1:1 macro - a bargain in my opinion, and a worthwhile substitute for the usual "nifty fifty". I know this isn't an answer for your original low-light shooting question, but thought that if you like to shoot food, you might find it useful.
May 21, 2017 11:45:30 #
wolkodoff1 wrote:
It seems no matter how hard I try, I can't duplicate the hero photos that restaurants have of their food. I use a Canon SX60HS, a pretty good bridge camera. I suspect that in these staged photos the light sources are arranged just so to make it optimal and just walking into a restaurant, especially at night limits the ability to shoot these types of photos well. Any advice or ideas are appreciated.
These images are all in my kitchen - south facing indirect lighting, no soft boxes, no flash at all - usually the White Balance needs played with - the ISO may go up to 1600 at times but who cares....these images are viewed online - not printed.
So my point is - with even my old P7000 Nikon P&S, I have made fairly decent food pics at restaurants and home (home is easier, obviously!). Maybe not "Saveur" magazine quality, but with a bit of practice with camera stability and maybe moving your dish for better light in a restaurant (most restaurants love the fact that you are taking pics of their food - a great compliment!) you can achieve delicious looking food images without all the boring studio equipment! Also - don't be afraid to use a lens at f 2.0 to F 5.6 ... shallow DOF is fun for food!!!
Ciao!
May 21, 2017 12:36:26 #
Those are great shots, actually much better than what many of the restaurants have on file! Thanks for the tips, I had tried exploring those a little on my last trip, but with your post have a firmer direction. Thanks again.
May 21, 2017 12:51:51 #
wolkodoff1 wrote:
Those are great shots, actually much better than what many of the restaurants have on file! Thanks for the tips, I had tried exploring those a little on my last trip, but with your post have a firmer direction. Thanks again.
May 21, 2017 13:02:33 #
wolkodoff1 wrote:
It seems no matter how hard I try, I can't duplicate the hero photos that restaurants have of their food. I use a Canon SX60HS, a pretty good bridge camera. I suspect that in these staged photos the light sources are arranged just so to make it optimal and just walking into a restaurant, especially at night limits the ability to shoot these types of photos well. Any advice or ideas are appreciated.
Some "food" photos that you see in magazines or restuarants or other places aren't really food. They are props made to look like the food that they represent. I many restaurant food dis[plays in cases are plastic models. Nex time you see a glass of beer in a case notice that the head never changes, and the food in those cases never goes bad.
May 21, 2017 13:08:58 #
wolkodoff1 wrote:
It seems no matter how hard I try, I can't duplicate the hero photos that restaurants have of their food. I use a Canon SX60HS, a pretty good bridge camera. I suspect that in these staged photos the light sources are arranged just so to make it optimal and just walking into a restaurant, especially at night limits the ability to shoot these types of photos well. Any advice or ideas are appreciated.
Hi, wolkodoff1. Every now and then there are articles written about food photography. I did mention in the past, why not make photos of your dinners you make. If the food looks good on my dish, I click away!
I use the defused window light. Although I have fine Dynelite studio lights. I am showing only 3 of my past dinners. I LOVE cooking and have many fine kitchen tools as well. Many photographers should add these food images to their portfolio. It may be a challenge in the making, but, it's fun as can be!
No lights or reflectors added to any of these food photos. Just the use of my magic eye, you have to see the image! CIAO, AP
Herbed Salmon - LUMIX GX7 w/42.5 f1.7 at f2.5 1/100 sec. ISO 2000 (hand-held)
Olympus M1w/12-40mm f2.8 at f2.8 1/500 sec. ISO 6400 (hand-held)
Olympus M 10 MK ll w/LEICA 45mm f2.8 Macro Asph lens at f2.8 1/60 sec. ISO 1250 (hand-held)
May 21, 2017 13:18:00 #
AP wrote:
Hi, wolkodoff1. Every now and then there are artic... (show quote)
These are VERY NICLY DONE, in my opinion!! Yes!
May 21, 2017 13:31:27 #
yorkiebyte wrote:
These are VERY NICLY DONE, in my opinion!! Yes!
Thank You, yorkiebyte for your observation and response, you made me smile. If what you see through your camera look good, snap that shutter or your photo is gone forever! AP
May 21, 2017 13:48:45 #
Kissel vonKeister
Loc: Georgia
wolkodoff1 wrote:
It seems no matter how hard I try, I can't duplicate the hero photos that restaurants have of their food. I use a Canon SX60HS, a pretty good bridge camera. I suspect that in these staged photos the light sources are arranged just so to make it optimal and just walking into a restaurant, especially at night limits the ability to shoot these types of photos well. Any advice or ideas are appreciated.
I know I'm off track here because you didn't ask about camera choice. The foody shooters used to use 8x10 view cameras all the time, Forget that, Now the food and product photographers use a lot of Olympus E-M1ii and E-M5ii set to the Hi Res Shot mode. Outstanding resolution, with huge files.
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