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jmcquown[_2_]

On 10/5/2014 9:51 PM, Sqwertz wrote:
> On Sun, 5 Oct 2014 12:56:57 -0700 (PDT),
> 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!)
>
>
> And this is all going to help tert in seattle.... how? ;-)
>
> -sw
>
Will it help Sheldon keep his cats off the kitchen counters?

Jill