Simple food shot


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stonefish

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Apr 23, 2007
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Hi,

Don't see many shots of food. Thought I would contribute one with my first post, with the dinner of Ikea Swedish meatballs I made last weekend. Think I spent more time shooting than cooking... :p


1. in what area is critique to be sought?
Composition, and pls see no 4

2. what one hopes to achieve with the piece of work?
For purposes of comments, you can take this as a "product shoot"?

3. under what circumstance is the picture taken? (physical conditions/emotions)
At home, at night under fluorescent lamps. With tripod.

4. what the critique seeker personally thinks of the picture
I think the food looks a bit dry, how can I make it look more appetising? Should also have added some greens (vege) into the picture, but I sorta ran out...

Thanks in advance for the comments on how to improve this "simple" shot =)

kottbollar.jpg
 

Hi,

Don't see many shots of food. Thought I would contribute one with my first post, with the dinner of Ikea Swedish meatballs I made last weekend. Think I spent more time shooting than cooking... :p


1. in what area is critique to be sought?
Composition, and pls see no 4

2. what one hopes to achieve with the piece of work?
For purposes of comments, you can take this as a "product shoot"?

3. under what circumstance is the picture taken? (physical conditions/emotions)
At home, at night under fluorescent lamps. With tripod.

4. what the critique seeker personally thinks of the picture
I think the food looks a bit dry, how can I make it look more appetising? Should also have added some greens (vege) into the picture, but I sorta ran out...

Thanks in advance for the comments on how to improve this "simple" shot =)

kottbollar.jpg

for this pic, i won't even call it a simple shot, i call it a snapshot...

Since you know composition is a problem... let me just tell you why...

your picture look really flat, lighting, everything, just like a 2D image drawn and pasted on a piece of paper. there is no gloss, no light reflection, nothing, even the white background underneath shows grey dull tone. its no where near a 'product' shoot... the color just isn't contrasting enuff... simple question... does this picture evoke an urge for you to eat or buy?

layout is extremely out of place, lets see, 1 bunch of meatballs, 1 pool of sauce, then the sauce invaded the meatballs, then some of it got the symbiote on them.... opps... too much spiderman for me... ok, well... if you are trying to draw a contrast, sorry, doesn't work here... there is tons of ways to draw contrast, like making a distance of the meatballs to the sauce, like either the sauce above flowing down, or the meatballs above dropping down... just nope, this pic just look to static...

also, the plate is just... well... not suitable for product shoot, normally we use extremely plain white or single tone plates... no design, unless they complement the food which they rarely do... else just change the plate.

You said tripod right... well, i think you need a bubble gauge as well... have u notice the picture is slanted? might be the meatballs to heavy...

some suggestion... try to use some stronger lighting to create contrast... a tripod in a product shoot is not to expose the image, its for maintaining the same position for continuous exposure of multiple subjects and to have a constant while adjusting effects. unless you are talking about light painting... and i do hope to see more improvement on your next shoot. try to create more contrast... and try to take a whole plate for a test, don't be creative when you are not, slowly learn the basics, try to take the entire plate, then slowly learn the angles of the plate, and move on...
 

Hi,

Don't see many shots of food. Thought I would contribute one with my first post, with the dinner of Ikea Swedish meatballs I made last weekend. Think I spent more time shooting than cooking... :p


1. in what area is critique to be sought?
Composition, and pls see no 4

2. what one hopes to achieve with the piece of work?
For purposes of comments, you can take this as a "product shoot"?

3. under what circumstance is the picture taken? (physical conditions/emotions)
At home, at night under fluorescent lamps. With tripod.

4. what the critique seeker personally thinks of the picture
I think the food looks a bit dry, how can I make it look more appetising? Should also have added some greens (vege) into the picture, but I sorta ran out...

Thanks in advance for the comments on how to improve this "simple" shot =)

kottbollar.jpg

Hi,

the photo doesn't look very appetizing to me.

1) Color looks dull - As you said, adding more greens may help.
2) The way you decorate the food...maybe should modify abit? The plate maybe change to an all white plate?
3) Perhaps you can try a close up shot?

Ultimately, I feel that the photo is too dark and dull, plus the color of the meatball and the sauce, it tend to worsen it.

Maybe you can look at http://ieatishootipost.blogspot.com/ for some example.
Pictures there look not bad. :)
 

Hi,

the photo doesn't look very appetizing to me.

1) Color looks dull - As you said, adding more greens may help.
2) The way you decorate the food...maybe should modify abit? The plate maybe change to an all white plate?
3) Perhaps you can try a close up shot?

Ultimately, I feel that the photo is too dark and dull, plus the color of the meatball and the sauce, it tend to worsen it.

Maybe you can look at http://ieatishootipost.blogspot.com/ for some example.
Pictures there look not bad. :)

I ain't a pro but i agree with point 2 of weiconghon's comments. I think it'll look better with a all white plate, shifting all the focus to the food rather than being distracted by the prints on the plate. :)
 

Hi,

Thanks for the critique. I was not able to put my finger on it, but now that you've said it, I agree it is very 2-dimensional, and I feel that the lighting here is an area which needs much improvment.

Looking forward to some tips on how to do that, especially in this situation. Thanks again in advance :)

for this pic, i won't even call it a simple shot, i call it a snapshot...

Since you know composition is a problem... let me just tell you why...

your picture look really flat, lighting, everything, just like a 2D image drawn and pasted on a piece of paper. there is no gloss, no light reflection, nothing, even the white background underneath shows grey dull tone. its no where near a 'product' shoot... the color just isn't contrasting enuff... simple question... does this picture evoke an urge for you to eat or buy?

layout is extremely out of place, lets see, 1 bunch of meatballs, 1 pool of sauce, then the sauce invaded the meatballs, then some of it got the symbiote on them.... opps... too much spiderman for me... ok, well... if you are trying to draw a contrast, sorry, doesn't work here... there is tons of ways to draw contrast, like making a distance of the meatballs to the sauce, like either the sauce above flowing down, or the meatballs above dropping down... just nope, this pic just look to static...

also, the plate is just... well... not suitable for product shoot, normally we use extremely plain white or single tone plates... no design, unless they complement the food which they rarely do... else just change the plate.

You said tripod right... well, i think you need a bubble gauge as well... have u notice the picture is slanted? might be the meatballs to heavy...

some suggestion... try to use some stronger lighting to create contrast... a tripod in a product shoot is not to expose the image, its for maintaining the same position for continuous exposure of multiple subjects and to have a constant while adjusting effects. unless you are talking about light painting... and i do hope to see more improvement on your next shoot. try to create more contrast... and try to take a whole plate for a test, don't be creative when you are not, slowly learn the basics, try to take the entire plate, then slowly learn the angles of the plate, and move on...
 

Yup, seeking tips on how to improve the lighting, to give a 3D feel and make the brown more appealing.

Haha yup I visit that blog too. Good stuff ;p


Hi,

the photo doesn't look very appetizing to me.

1) Color looks dull - As you said, adding more greens may help.
2) The way you decorate the food...maybe should modify abit? The plate maybe change to an all white plate?
3) Perhaps you can try a close up shot?

Ultimately, I feel that the photo is too dark and dull, plus the color of the meatball and the sauce, it tend to worsen it.

Maybe you can look at http://ieatishootipost.blogspot.com/ for some example.
Pictures there look not bad. :)
 

some comments...

1. watch the tilt. irritating to look at a tilted product.

2. watch what u have on the plate, it's boring. the meat looks very dry, try dabbing some oil on it to make it look edible. sauces are also very hard to photograph, try not to put so much, or add oil to it for effect. ur sauce dun look very appetizing as well. u can add stuff on it, but dun overcrowd it. u must maintain a central theme/focus to the plate (e.g. the meatballs)

3. the plate cut off is very strange in the picture. either u show the entire plate or dun show any space on the plate at all, esp dun show the background if u are doing so.

4. tripod is good. the angle seems ok too. i think move ur tripod some distance away.

5. decide on ur dof. ur using quite a shallow dof. well depends on what you are trying to achieve for effect, to capture a wholesome dish u need to capture everything.

6. background looks too plain. use a nicer plate with no prints or choose a nicer backdrop for ur plate.

7. ok lastly the lighting. dun ever use fluorescent for product shots. it plains sucks and is boring. dun use it unless u got no choice. in ur case, i would go with yellow lights (cheap alternative), can get some from ikea for a steal. try various way of positioning. meatball comes out from oven, depicting it with warm yellow light seems ideal. ok perspective will differ i know.

with food product shots, white balance and lighting is very impt (imo). and also watch the shadows created by each individual item. but shadows is also the easiest way to depict a 3d look. so... balance is impt. shadows are ok, so long as not too heavy.
 

Hi,

Don't see many shots of food. Thought I would contribute one with my first post, with the dinner of Ikea Swedish meatballs I made last weekend. Think I spent more time shooting than cooking... :p


1. in what area is critique to be sought?
Composition, and pls see no 4

2. what one hopes to achieve with the piece of work?
For purposes of comments, you can take this as a "product shoot"?

3. under what circumstance is the picture taken? (physical conditions/emotions)
At home, at night under fluorescent lamps. With tripod.

4. what the critique seeker personally thinks of the picture
I think the food looks a bit dry, how can I make it look more appetising? Should also have added some greens (vege) into the picture, but I sorta ran out...

Thanks in advance for the comments on how to improve this "simple" shot =)

kottbollar.jpg



Hiyo, I am not too good at appreciating pictures of food since I spend most of my time stuffing myself rather than appreciating the finer features of food....:p Here are my 'lima sen' worth of thoughts...

1) I seem to see on the surface of the gravy and just under the shadow of the meatball, what seems to be part of a head and ear... Perhaps my flu medication is making me imagine things...

2) Something to accessorise and add some color to the picture

3) Perhaps have a look at the way some of the Ya Kun pictures are done and try it with some eggs and coffee.... It is easy to setup and it gives some variation.

I like your ability to accept comments and criticism. Good try and keep it coming!
 

The food doesn't look appealing enough. Those cookery books in the bookshops are a good place to see how the pros would frame the meatballs.

I find the plate that you used rather distracting as well. I think in most instances, a nice white porcelain plate works well.

:)
 

ACtually the answer ain't that far from how u wanna achieve from this shot, you had the idea of IKEA swedish meatballs in mind, flip the annual catalogue they usually send. Look at how they do it, first to learn it to be able to imitate... Copy their style, see if it turns out gd, then move on with the creative ideas you have in mind. At least it would give u a rough blueprint on how to plan and carry out ur shots.
 

on a lighter note, i like the fact that u teased the audience by using this plate. colours of the swedish flag? hmm..
 

for a food pic to work it must make people hungry.

seeing your food does it do that to you?

people have liken food pic to porn: it must create a yearning and lust, for the food that is.

so your food dont make me hungry at all.

now as to why it is so and how to correct it, there are too many things ...

for starters:

1. go look at food pics - there so many ard

2. meat balls are tempting balls when they are hot, juicy, soft and sweet. Your meat balls look like they are made from paper mache. one reason is the light: they are in the shadows, and I think they are cold too. Go experiment and see how you can capture a thing to look hot, juicy, soft and sweet.

3. the sauce looks like mud - again a large part is the light. What is it in the sauce that makes u salivate when u see it? think about it and that is the thing you must capture and convey in your phot if you want your food pic to be as good as porn
 

Hi,

Don't see many shots of food. Thought I would contribute one with my first post, with the dinner of Ikea Swedish meatballs I made last weekend. Think I spent more time shooting than cooking... :p


1. in what area is critique to be sought?
Composition, and pls see no 4

2. what one hopes to achieve with the piece of work?
For purposes of comments, you can take this as a "product shoot"?

3. under what circumstance is the picture taken? (physical conditions/emotions)
At home, at night under fluorescent lamps. With tripod.

4. what the critique seeker personally thinks of the picture
I think the food looks a bit dry, how can I make it look more appetising? Should also have added some greens (vege) into the picture, but I sorta ran out...

Thanks in advance for the comments on how to improve this "simple" shot =)

kottbollar.jpg

====================

The only 1 mistake in your shoot is: you don't use the right kind of light, so the color, the shape and especially the highlight of the sauce looks like mud. Composition quite ok. ... But at least you have try your best. ... :thumbsup:
 

That's better!
Maybe you can start flipping through food magazines as a start up to learn on the angles? Having knowledge on food styling will be a great deal too!

Keep it up!
 

To all who offered suggestions,

Been a bit busy lately, did not come back to visit this thread often.
Thanks for the continued comments and advice :)
 

No worries at all, the power of photoshop to rescue my lousy picture :bsmilie:

I took the liberty to help you in this. If you don't like it, let me know, I'll remove it. :)


kottbollar.jpg
 

Wow! Now it looks like deep fried meatballs. :bsmilie:
Some colour contrast would help - a sprig of green parsley or some of the red jam as an accent colour.
 

your shot needs better compostion, make it fill the frame, food does not need decorating to make it look good, just shoot it quick before it dries, try to find the brightest source of light, and maybe get some light bouncing off it to make it look as if it glistens.
 

Brown meatballs aren't appetizing in real life anyway, but if you had to shoot to make it look good, consider:

(1) Getting rid of the "white table top + nearly white plate" setup for a dull, dark brown product! Use less table top, if possible, and use a dark, non-reflective plate, sort of like some of the serving plates in some Japanese or Korean restaurants. This forces the eye to the now lighter-looking meatballs;

(2) Use different lighting angles, or multiple reflectors to get more "shape" and "texture" to the overall arrangement of the meatballs (Oh, yes ... DO something with the distribution on the plate, please!), as well as making the meatballs AND gravy glisten by some means or other;

(3) Use some garnishing ... PLEASE!!! A sprig of something green and/or red, against the dull brown and the dark-coloured plate would do wonders, besides breaking up the dull lines of m-e-a-t-b-a-l-l-s!!!

Take heart in the fact that food shots are notoriously difficult to do well, and it is ridiculous to expect to have edible food at the end of every single food shot - what you have to do to trick the eye into "accepting" the dish as delicious often leaves the food completely outside of the Health Ministry's "acceptable limits"!!! Keep going ... have yet to see meatballs shot "beautifully"!!!:dunno:
 

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