As we started last week with object and composition this article is in continuation with that. I am glad that some of you have done the exercise with backgrounds and now we know how backgrounds affect the photographs. The best part about food photography is we can control almost everything :) This week we will discuss some more aspects about object and composition.
1. Props - Props are certain items of your choice which are placed in a picture to enhance the overall look of a photograph. A prop can be anything from a rustic looking bowl to an antique spoon, from a milk bottle to a napkin, a twine, a glass of wine, cookie jars, bottles, chopping boards, a twig of herb or spices. The main idea in selecting a prop is that you like its look and it should fit in the theme of the photograph.
In the following picture I have used a milk bottle and straw as props (I know it’s not that good :P)
In the next one I used kitchen towel and roasted almonds as props :) .
A prop can be placed anywhere in the picture as per your choice but again we should be careful that focus of the picture should remain on the main object and colours of the props should not overpower the main object of your photograph.
Fresh herbs like coriander, basil, mint etc. are also very good props and are widely used by food photographers.
2. Prepare the table the way you serve your dish - At times food photographs look more appealing when the main object’s is served with side dishes:). The dish can be garnished and served along with condiments complete with spoons/forks and napkins. Like an idly photograph looks more appealing when Idly is served with Sambhar and chutney; here Sambar and chutney will act as prop to the main object idly.
3. Plan your photograph - Capturing the beauty of your dish needs a proper plan. Planning starts right from the selection of your dish and its ingredients. Following example makes it clear.
Say you are baking Vanilla Cookies. Following are the steps of planning a shot:
a) Object - Vanilla cookies which will be of light brown colour and mostly round in shape.
b) Serving plate - Plate or bowl or you can also keep the cookies directly on any other background. But if using a plate or bowl etc, take note of its colour, it can be of white or black colour or a colour picked from colour wheel just like selecting your background. Now, the colour of your plate will also be considered while selecting the colour of background as the plate will itself be a part of object now.
c) Background - Background can be of dark colour to enhance the beauty of our light coloured object. It can be a simple table top, a chart paper or a wooden plank. Be very careful in choosing the background because it will suppress or enhance the appearance your main object.
d)Placing - If you use a rectangular plate, cookies can be kept in a cascading formation in length, if the plate is round, cookies can be stacked or placed in a round formation. You can choose the placing as per your choice.
e) Props - I would prefer to use subtle colour props for this object as per my colour wheel. My choice of props are – a plain milk bottle filled with milk, a vanilla pod (as vanilla extract is used), you can also choose a cup of tea or coffee served in white mug or a brown mug depending upon the colour theme, a brown twine or burlap cloth.
f) Angle of capture - We can capture the photograph from different angles to choose the best one after shooting. Different angles can be eye level, over-the-head or 45 degree angle.
g) Lighting - Arrange proper lighting depending on whether you are shooting in day or night, natural or artificial light and use ISO, shutter speed, diffusers or reflectors etc accordingly.
h) Final touch - Now select your best shot and you may need to post process the photograph which will be discussed in our last session :)
I guess you guys are now geared up to click today's bake along recipe :) so here comes the exercise :).
Just imagine a scenario where you and your friends are sitting for a perfect gossip session at tea time in the evening :P :P, ok ok I know its bad. Back to scenario, I'm sitting with my friends for tea time and this beautiful cake is served with the evening tea (Subhashini after seeing your pictures I'm imagining this shoot outdoors). Now i will make my list from here.
a) Object- Beautiful Hazelnut White Chocolate Cake.
b) Background - I'll prefer white background or slight off white or light grey. Preferably white wooden table and other white furniture (sigh! wish i have those).
c) Serving plate - White round plate (big) for main object.
d) Placement - In the mid of plate. I'll cut a piece out of the cake.
e) Props - Besides big white round plate for main object, I'll keep few white quarter plates for serving, preferably 3 plates in stack and in 1 plate I'll serve a piece. Forks and spoons. Tea set in white(again I wish I've one :( ) or a big white coffee mug . Some nuts or chips in a Bowl and napkins. Cake serving spoon will also act as a prop.
f) Angle of capture - It completely depends on you. But few shots are compulsorily for me. I will capture it as complete setup from eye level, one over head, few at 45 degrees angle taking cake in focus and making other things blur. One more from 45 degree, on high shutter speed with wide angle ( everything in focus) to show this is how we serve tea.
g) Lighting and settings - Please set according to your need :).
This is just an idea to capture. You can weave your very own story and click beautifully.
1. Props - Props are certain items of your choice which are placed in a picture to enhance the overall look of a photograph. A prop can be anything from a rustic looking bowl to an antique spoon, from a milk bottle to a napkin, a twine, a glass of wine, cookie jars, bottles, chopping boards, a twig of herb or spices. The main idea in selecting a prop is that you like its look and it should fit in the theme of the photograph.
In the following picture I have used a milk bottle and straw as props (I know it’s not that good :P)
In the next one I used kitchen towel and roasted almonds as props :) .
A prop can be placed anywhere in the picture as per your choice but again we should be careful that focus of the picture should remain on the main object and colours of the props should not overpower the main object of your photograph.
Fresh herbs like coriander, basil, mint etc. are also very good props and are widely used by food photographers.
Like I used mint sprig in the second photo just for decoration and the photo is better than first one. At times the spices or simply the ingredients of your dish also serve as great props.
3. Plan your photograph - Capturing the beauty of your dish needs a proper plan. Planning starts right from the selection of your dish and its ingredients. Following example makes it clear.
Say you are baking Vanilla Cookies. Following are the steps of planning a shot:
a) Object - Vanilla cookies which will be of light brown colour and mostly round in shape.
b) Serving plate - Plate or bowl or you can also keep the cookies directly on any other background. But if using a plate or bowl etc, take note of its colour, it can be of white or black colour or a colour picked from colour wheel just like selecting your background. Now, the colour of your plate will also be considered while selecting the colour of background as the plate will itself be a part of object now.
c) Background - Background can be of dark colour to enhance the beauty of our light coloured object. It can be a simple table top, a chart paper or a wooden plank. Be very careful in choosing the background because it will suppress or enhance the appearance your main object.
d)Placing - If you use a rectangular plate, cookies can be kept in a cascading formation in length, if the plate is round, cookies can be stacked or placed in a round formation. You can choose the placing as per your choice.
e) Props - I would prefer to use subtle colour props for this object as per my colour wheel. My choice of props are – a plain milk bottle filled with milk, a vanilla pod (as vanilla extract is used), you can also choose a cup of tea or coffee served in white mug or a brown mug depending upon the colour theme, a brown twine or burlap cloth.
f) Angle of capture - We can capture the photograph from different angles to choose the best one after shooting. Different angles can be eye level, over-the-head or 45 degree angle.
g) Lighting - Arrange proper lighting depending on whether you are shooting in day or night, natural or artificial light and use ISO, shutter speed, diffusers or reflectors etc accordingly.
h) Final touch - Now select your best shot and you may need to post process the photograph which will be discussed in our last session :)
I guess you guys are now geared up to click today's bake along recipe :) so here comes the exercise :).
Exercise no#2
Plan your shot
As this week's bake along recipe is "Hazelnut White Chocolate Cake" and I'm sure most of you people are going to bake this yumm cake. So lets plan a bit for that perfect picture of this beautiful cake. This is my story and you can portray your beautiful story with the picturesJust imagine a scenario where you and your friends are sitting for a perfect gossip session at tea time in the evening :P :P, ok ok I know its bad. Back to scenario, I'm sitting with my friends for tea time and this beautiful cake is served with the evening tea (Subhashini after seeing your pictures I'm imagining this shoot outdoors). Now i will make my list from here.
a) Object- Beautiful Hazelnut White Chocolate Cake.
b) Background - I'll prefer white background or slight off white or light grey. Preferably white wooden table and other white furniture (sigh! wish i have those).
c) Serving plate - White round plate (big) for main object.
d) Placement - In the mid of plate. I'll cut a piece out of the cake.
e) Props - Besides big white round plate for main object, I'll keep few white quarter plates for serving, preferably 3 plates in stack and in 1 plate I'll serve a piece. Forks and spoons. Tea set in white(again I wish I've one :( ) or a big white coffee mug . Some nuts or chips in a Bowl and napkins. Cake serving spoon will also act as a prop.
f) Angle of capture - It completely depends on you. But few shots are compulsorily for me. I will capture it as complete setup from eye level, one over head, few at 45 degrees angle taking cake in focus and making other things blur. One more from 45 degree, on high shutter speed with wide angle ( everything in focus) to show this is how we serve tea.
g) Lighting and settings - Please set according to your need :).
This is just an idea to capture. You can weave your very own story and click beautifully.
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