Taking pictures of food?

Glaucus · 21-09-2009, 13:09

If I want to take professional pictures of food.

What type of equipment and lighting would I need?
Is it easy to take such pictures and how would I learn about such settings?

Dee · 21-09-2009, 13:12

Off the top of my head, clean uncluttered background, and use natural light whenever possible, preferably smack bang in front of a window, with some sort of netting to create a soft, diffused light?

Glaucus · 21-09-2009, 13:14

what sort of camera would I need? I'm assuming I would need an slr and lenses?

Dee · 21-09-2009, 13:37

Not necessarily, but with a decent lens, you’ll be able to get the shallow Depth of Field which so many food pics have nowadays. Well, the ones I've seen anyway

Glaucus · 21-09-2009, 13:38

Thing is I would love to make a cook book. And pictures and presentation is my biggest problem. Time and patience with presentation I think I can get that sorted. It's just the camera work.

Dee · 21-09-2009, 13:59

Could you try shooting upwards? As in resting the camera on the worktop, rather than shooting from above?

I am sure a P+S can manage, just have a few practice sessions and see what works best?

Glaucus · 21-09-2009, 14:04

You'll have to talk in laymen speech I have no idea about photography at all.

As for shooting from a table, Most food shots are done from a 45ish angle by the looks of it. Maybe a small worktop tripod.

The camera I have a he moment is rubbish the colour goes orange unless you focus it on a bright light source before taking a picture and hey are usually blurry. I was going to get a fuji a few months ago. But hey didn't have any in stock. So thinking maybe I should get somethign more suitable just for this.

Dee · 21-09-2009, 17:06

If you're serious about it, you can pick up a second hand Canon 300D/400D with basic lens for a couple of hundred? Should be more than adequate?

Glaucus · 21-09-2009, 17:22

And what sort of lens would I need?

Mondo · 21-09-2009, 19:11

Good neutral colour light (normal kitchen light is out)
Uncluttered surfaces
Food is neat (presentation)
Good use of Depth of field

It depends on what you are trying to photograph so the lens used could be varied. From a 50mm for a big Turkey to a 100 macro (for some coffee beans).

21-09-2009, 13:09	#1
Glaucus Absinthe Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 1,855	Taking pictures of food? If I want to take professional pictures of food. What type of equipment and lighting would I need? Is it easy to take such pictures and how would I learn about such settings? __________________

21-09-2009, 13:14	#3
Glaucus Absinthe Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 1,855	what sort of camera would I need? I'm assuming I would need an slr and lenses? __________________

21-09-2009, 13:38	#5
Glaucus Absinthe Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 1,855	Thing is I would love to make a cook book. And pictures and presentation is my biggest problem. Time and patience with presentation I think I can get that sorted. It's just the camera work. __________________

21-09-2009, 14:04	#7
Glaucus Absinthe Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 1,855	You'll have to talk in laymen speech I have no idea about photography at all. As for shooting from a table, Most food shots are done from a 45ish angle by the looks of it. Maybe a small worktop tripod. The camera I have a he moment is rubbish the colour goes orange unless you focus it on a bright light source before taking a picture and hey are usually blurry. I was going to get a fuji a few months ago. But hey didn't have any in stock. So thinking maybe I should get somethign more suitable just for this. __________________

21-09-2009, 17:22	#9
Glaucus Absinthe Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 1,855	And what sort of lens would I need? __________________

21-09-2009, 13:12	#2
Dee Combat Spanker Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 5,292	Off the top of my head, clean uncluttered background, and use natural light whenever possible, preferably smack bang in front of a window, with some sort of netting to create a soft, diffused light?

21-09-2009, 13:37	#4
Dee Combat Spanker Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 5,292	Not necessarily, but with a decent lens, you’ll be able to get the shallow Depth of Field which so many food pics have nowadays. Well, the ones I've seen anyway

21-09-2009, 13:59	#6
Dee Combat Spanker Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 5,292	Could you try shooting upwards? As in resting the camera on the worktop, rather than shooting from above? I am sure a P+S can manage, just have a few practice sessions and see what works best?

21-09-2009, 17:06	#8
Dee Combat Spanker Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 5,292	If you're serious about it, you can pick up a second hand Canon 300D/400D with basic lens for a couple of hundred? Should be more than adequate?

21-09-2009, 19:11	#10
Mondo Absinthe Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 2,174	Good neutral colour light (normal kitchen light is out) Uncluttered surfaces Food is neat (presentation) Good use of Depth of field It depends on what you are trying to photograph so the lens used could be varied. From a 50mm for a big Turkey to a 100 macro (for some coffee beans). __________________ My Website / MSN / Email / Flickr / Blog

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