FoodBanter.com - View Single Post

jmcquown[_2_]

On 10/5/2014 3:56 PM, wrote:
> I've never been real happy with photos I've taken of food I've made,
> so today I decided to try some simple experiments.
>
> <http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa407/Silvar_Beitel/RFC/Photograping%20Food/IMG_0577_1_zps200772b4.jpg>
>
> shows the blueberry-nectarine tart I made last night (or rather what's
> left of it) sitting on my kitchen counter, illuminated by a combination
> of a 60-watt incandescent in a work light clamped to a cabinet shelf,
> the light from a 40-watt halogen bulb in the cook-top hood, the light
> from the under-cabinet LEDs, and some back-light from the central over-
> head fluorescent fixture.
>
> <http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa407/Silvar_Beitel/RFC/Photograping%20Food/IMG_0578_1_zps19b79da2.jpg>
>
> is a photo of the tart taken with the default camera settings (a Canon
> PowerShot A620). It has a disappointing dull orange-y look.
>
> <http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa407/Silvar_Beitel/RFC/Photograping%20Food/IMG_0579_1_zps39fabc0e.jpg>
>
> is what I got when I changed the white balance setting from "automatic"
> to "incandescent." Quite an improvement, eh?
>
> Finally,
>
> <http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa407/Silvar_Beitel/RFC/Photograping%20Food/IMG_0580_1_zps455a8a08.jpg>
>
> is what I got when I used a piece of ordinary white copy paper on the
> counter to set the "custom" white balance.
>
> That last one looks closest to the real deal to me.
>
> So, the conclusion: You may be able to get better color without
> fancy lighting by simply playing with the color balance options on
> your camera.
>
> Or, with somewhat more effort, you can make a "whiter" light source,
> like this nice MacGyver-ish example:
>
> <http://thetiptoefairy.com/blog/2014/01/diy-soft-lights-photography-blogging.html>
>
> Or, you might be able to take your food outdoors into natural light.
> At dinnertime around here in autumn/winter (~7 p.m., New England USA)
> that isn't really a viable option :-)
>
> And of course, this addresses (barely) just color and lighting.
> Composition, prep, table accessories, etc. are whole other topics.
> Google "food photography tips" for more (than you'll ever want to
> know if you're not a professional!)
>
> Good luck.
>
Thanks for going to all that trouble. I can't be bothered. If people
don't like the food pics I (rarely) take, tough luck. I don't cook to
show off, I cook because I enjoy it. Oh, and there's that other pesky
little thing: if you don't eat, you'll die. I'm sure not jumping
through hoops to "prove" I cooked something.

Jill