Food @ Cafe

[illustrious]

Was asked to take shots of food for a cafe... first time at this and hope to improve... light source is limited, only the spotlight on the cafe booth. Surrounding rather dark as interior of shop is mostly black.

First 4 shots taken with D70s and last 2 with Fuji PnS. C&C to help me improve? Thanks alot!

Pie & Soup Set

Pie and sides

Cake set

Oreo milkshake

 

[illustrious]

These are the 2 taken with PnS...

Sheperd's Pie

Strawberry Iceblend

 

[Del_CtrlnoAlt]

an exception for u... i do critique for this...

 

[Del_CtrlnoAlt]

Pie & Soup Set

Image have too much disturbance on the background, Your DOF is very shallow, only your pie and part of bowl is sharp. Need to take note of the bowl does not blend with the tray like tis instance. Alternative, use a tripod, use color correction if flash is not powerful enuff. Need serious work on composition, note that your layout is not appealing, the pie is not what i would say make me mouth watering, and the mushroom soup looks scary. A contrast from this, i'd prefer u cut the pie in 1/2, split it sideways, then move your camera 20 degree upwards, and take a wider picture. If you have problem taking pics with 0 background, u will have even more problems taking with decorations, try to cut down on distractions. Remember, u are selling the set meal, not the mushroom and the decor behind.

Pie and sides

Same as above, but over here, your object of focus is pie or sides? cos i see a black spot there, but its like, not the main subject... the focus is totally wrong. Try to think about how would a regular customer know what you are showcasing instead of making an artwork thats abstract. Selling is the keypoint.

Cake set

As per above, but to add on, your horizon is tilted, and the 1/2 cut spoon is distracting, either u have it, or u dun... no 1/2... same as the cake, its cut... give some space for breathing..

Oreo milkshake

I'd say, this would be better with a straw, minus the background and add the base in.
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[Del_CtrlnoAlt]

These are the 2 taken with PnS...

Sheperd's Pie

Same as before... need room. background is distracting. Capture the whole image.

Strawberry Iceblend

Not here not there, the straw is cut, background blend with subject but subject base blur... strawberry is crooked, if u wanna put, make it look nice and enticing...

Overall comments, you have to take note of composition, i have no doubt about your focusing skills. But u have to take note that if u wanna sell something, a picture tells a thousand words, if the picture does not show the product, means it fails, think from a customer's point of view, if u see a pic like these, will you wanna buy? will you know what its selling? Keep trying, anything just pm me...
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[illustrious]

wow!! thanks ah sickening! going to find time to retake all the above... now the cafe manager's going to kill me! hahaha...

but ur c&c very detail and i know what i've to do...

one reason why i need the bottles of cookies as bg cos there's no proper setting with white/ plain bg for me to take... didn't wan any bg in the first place, but then bo pian... maybe i'll need to buy a white cloth to put as back drop..

ok... lots more chance for me to practice... more food to take...

thanks for your feedback. helps alot.

 

[di0nysus]

wow!! thanks ah sickening! going to find time to retake all the above... now the cafe manager's going to kill me! hahaha...

shoot liao can eat then go again is bonus right?

 

[Del_CtrlnoAlt]

wow!! thanks ah sickening! going to find time to retake all the above... now the cafe manager's going to kill me! hahaha...

but ur c&c very detail and i know what i've to do...

one reason why i need the bottles of cookies as bg cos there's no proper setting with white/ plain bg for me to take... didn't wan any bg in the first place, but then bo pian... maybe i'll need to buy a white cloth to put as back drop..

ok... lots more chance for me to practice... more food to take...

thanks for your feedback. helps alot.

that time offer to help, u say u found liao... turn out liddat... haiz.. :dunno:

actually, i seriously dun mind helping ppl 1, just if its fun, i dun get the feeling i'm exploited... then its ok... ya know wat i mean rite...

 

[Del_CtrlnoAlt]

wow!! thanks ah sickening! going to find time to retake all the above... now the cafe manager's going to kill me! hahaha...

but ur c&c very detail and i know what i've to do...

one reason why i need the bottles of cookies as bg cos there's no proper setting with white/ plain bg for me to take... didn't wan any bg in the first place, but then bo pian... maybe i'll need to buy a white cloth to put as back drop..

ok... lots more chance for me to practice... more food to take...

thanks for your feedback. helps alot.

talk about bg hor, that day i do 1 simple 1 for my mom to take some stock item, small 12" light tent with 1 fluorescent light enuff liao, F828 somemore... oh ya, my cam back from hospital, but think back focusing... tomorrow try again...

 

[panzerpunk]

Same as portraiture, don't chop off the food! And try to look for simple background, easier to process as well =) The reflections of the glass jars look distracting :cry:

 

[arttl]

Hi!

Long time no see. Going into food photography liaoz? Hehe...

Actually, apart from the constructive comments made by the other guys, you should also take note of your composition. It'll be helpful to browse cook books for ideas. Of cos, the shots in the book were done with food stylist, studio lights etc. But it'll give you an idea of perspective to photograph.

I'm also doin food shots on location. It's pretty demanding esp the food critics and reporters are all waiting for me to finish my shot! I'll usually shoot them under daylight. Better WB control n prefer the use of natural light. Sorry that i can't post any examples here. Sometimes, a macro lens would be useful too, if you wish to eliminate the bg.

Same as portraiture, don't chop off the food! And try to look for simple background, easier to process as well =) The reflections of the glass jars look distracting :cry:

Err.... I can't agree with the above statement PERSONALLY. Why can't i 'chop off the food'?
If the composition and idea works, why not?!

Cheers,
Jon

 

[illustrious]

thanks guys! if anyone of u wld like to give food photog a try... let me know. more food to shoot... haha

hi jon. i'm sure ur shots are all very pro lah... btw... no more dslr... the first 4 shots taken with my friend's d70s. the rest and upcoming ones going to be with jus my tiny fuji z3. so no macro lens nor much setting that i can play with. but sure going to eliminate the bg for future shots... need to buy white cloth liao...

 

[Del_CtrlnoAlt]

Hi!

Long time no see. Going into food photography liaoz? Hehe...

Actually, apart from the constructive comments made by the other guys, you should also take note of your composition. It'll be helpful to browse cook books for ideas. Of cos, the shots in the book were done with food stylist, studio lights etc. But it'll give you an idea of perspective to photograph.

I'm also doin food shots on location. It's pretty demanding esp the food critics and reporters are all waiting for me to finish my shot! I'll usually shoot them under daylight. Better WB control n prefer the use of natural light. Sorry that i can't post any examples here. Sometimes, a macro lens would be useful too, if you wish to eliminate the bg.




Err.... I can't agree with the above statement PERSONALLY. Why can't i 'chop off the food'?
If the composition and idea works, why not?!

Cheers,
Jon

Ya, i think she shot wide open, so for her to do a shot based on that angle, will need at least f16-22 to get full view of the glass or bowl.

changing perspective is another alternative, but i'll recommend understanding the lens, focusing distance and focal length, each of it plays a part in the final picture.

Maybe let her experience the simple shooting 1st, then go on to the abstract kind... but still... basically, u take the shot, better that ppl know what is it than to guess wat is it.