I had this thought when I was in the shower. Or maybe it was when I was watering my lone curry leaf plant. Anyway, that’s not important. What’s important is, how can we all take better food pictures, right?
Here’s one of the very first food pictures I took.
Looking at this now, I am thinking.. I really like that picture. Its true that the lighting could be better and I can find a better place now to click it without that part of the stove showing up on the right side and maybe, I should choose a fresher looking green chilly but really, I am too lazy now to actually do a set-up for any of my pictures.
But I like that I made the effort to cut up a lemon wedge, find a curly long green chilly, add a blob of butter (just behind the blog of kothamalli chutney). The colours are nice, they balance well and I would want to bite into that sandwich if I was hungry. Right?
I am getting tired of the white background already! While the picture quality has definitely improved, its like I have lost my creativity in the process.
Each of us has a ‘style’. A technique that makes us stand out from the gazillion other food bloggers out there. Looking back, I feel like I have only worked on the quality of the pictures and never really nurtured the creative side. Its true, I may never do elaborate set ups or buy those studio lights
any time soon but I can still take my pictures to the next level by going back, taking a look at what I was capable of and then building on it from there.
So dig into your archives, its similar to going back to looking at your college pics, getting amazed at how thin you were and then going on a crash diet. Only, for this exercise with your food pictures, you can still eat whatever you want 🙂
This is the post I had started typing on Monday and posted accidentally. Forgive the glitch!
My old photos in my blog are ridiculous! 😀
Great post as always. Have fun with blogging. Great to be back too although allergy is killing me!
As you said, each one has a style, that would be difficult to emulate. As long as the quality of pics are good, that should do the trick. The only way to break the monotony is probably to invest in props. in my opinion, food photography isn't the most difficult thing to do, provided you have the right cutlery N settings to match the food … Don't ya think so
Nags, frankly I like your pictures a lot – and I like them the way they are. You have a knack of drawing attention to the food and making the food look very scrumptious!
Love it Nags. Food photography is a great creative outlet and I think props tend to perk up pictures a lot. I still love the white background though, classic and simple, with a prop or two added! Great post…
So true Nags. I am tired of the white background too and when taken during evening/night time they give out a greyish background.
Love all the bloggers and the pictures you have mentioned in the first para. Btw, I love your pictures too and the last 2 have come out very well.
Absolutely Deesha 🙂 I feel food photography is a lot of art and technique. Its like putting together a canvas of edible things that need to invoke more than one emotion in the viewer.
Lol..guess what, in response to many requests/suggestions put up by some generous blogger friends and sweet visitors of the blog, I was thinking about a making a post of the cutlery I use(but there is hardly any), the "food photography tips" (Well I still have no clue of that)to share with readers.But I seriously have nothing to say…I use same white background, same white cutlery, and no props or no X-factors are used by me(I lack patience..damn me).Though I seriously admire the amazingly organized pics with different angles, different cutlery and amazing props, I find it too cumbersome to arrange that.And in few attempts that I made, I ended up wasting lots of time and food stuff I used for highlight effect..and besides I do believe that people should be able to feel the texture of the food in pictures.So as far as that target is achieved I don't mind going back to same old angles and same backgrounds and same cutlery…gosh such a loooong comment..now stop giving me that look now …I am leaving…lol
I was wondering about the abrupt ending of your previous post. I was looking for a link to read beyond and assumed I was missing something…
I am always trying to improve my skills and try to read all the tips on food photography and read you tips too. I know I have come a long way but that is not enough. We are all on the learning curve and would love reading your post on photography and admire your photos along the way.
I have always admired the pictures on your blog for the no frills attached thing. The focus is always on the food intended. Anyways opinions differ I guess!
Nowadays my backgrounds are my exercise mat or my clothesline stand which is near the window with the most natural light. Most of my good pix are flukes and I don't try v hard with props and stuff. Sometimes I think I should change the camera! I'd love for my pix to look like yours, esp the second one.