Food Plates...need advice - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

02/24/2005 07:23:58 AM · #1

I've been playing with food lighting and plating this week because there's fun and some $$$ in it pretty much everywhere I work. I've already made some improvement with lighting angles,lens choice etc. One thing(may be a problem is that I'm using one of the cheap clip-on lights with a Reveal(True Color) 60 watt bulb. Good or Bad idea??? An I need to buy white foamcore as of yesterday as my counter is old and not that white

This I think is the better of the two minus some very poor healing brush technique. Which brings me to another question. What are the best tools to get out that shadow?

This one's ok but I blew out the inner plate using a post production small file, to quickly lighten things up for you to see(trying to save time)That's ok because it led to another question...What PS CS tools would best lighten things up, bring out that sleek glare (Hue/saturation, Brightness/Contrast or Levels or Curves or what) and still maintain the purity of the file?

Are the colors too sharp? Is the flame a cool design? Should I keep my day job?

Message edited by author 2005-02-24 07:32:22.

LindaLee

Canon EOS-40D

02/24/2005 08:01:12 AM · #2

Are you using any kind of a lightbox setup, or just general lighting out in the open?

I think the food designs, themselves, are great. I like the look of that much better than what I usually see, which in just swirls or zigzags across the plate.

*edited to add to post.

Message edited by author 2005-02-24 08:03:48.

Lensbaby 1.0 (The Original)

02/24/2005 08:15:03 AM · #3

No lightbox. The first time I ever saw one of thise was here on this site a few days back on some thread. I actually handheld the light directly above Key Lime the plate which gave what I believe to be nice glare. I circled it around to cut down on the shadows as I turned the plate for different angles. My kitchen counter is narrow as well and off white.

How big would a lightbox need to be? My plates might be huge and the angles might vary widely due to the height of my designs. I assume I'll need a decent sized box? Can I build one cheaply and easily for a trial?

alanbataar

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

02/24/2005 09:11:17 AM · #4

Pawdrix -- you're on your way. Food photography is very dificult as virtually everything is shiny and requires absolutely outstanding lighting technique. It's a lot like shooting metallic objects, and I know that someone here on DPC makes a living doing exactly that. Perhaps an SOS to the person would result in a dialogue.

I have a few suggestions -- with the caveat that I'm not a sudio light expert.... but I rock the house in Photoshop.

first, more light sources -- several VERY indirect, difuse, probably bounced lights will give you soft edged shadows, and a single small-output direct light will give you the catchlight/highlights that it needs to look apealing.

Second, shoot an empty, clean plate until you can get your lighting under control -- it'll save a LOT of cooking! In know it's not sexy, but it's good practice without all the overhead.

Third, once you get your lighting rig working, DON'T move the plate or the lights, or mark everything in such a way that you can get it back in position to within a hair of it's original position because:

Fourth: you can use the image of the empty plate as a reference, as well as use it (plus dupe layers of the with-food image) to manage your highlights and shadows by using layers. For example, if you think the shadow on the table below the plate is too dark, simply erase everything that's NOT a shadow and use the blending modes -- screen and color dodge come to mind as likely suspects -- and since you're using an identical copy of the image, you literally don't have to worry about "edges" showing. It's limited only by your facility with making masks.

One last thing I'll share is that I've tried with some limited success to build a soft box -- I used a clothes basket, a bunch of white illustration board, a bunch of zip ties, and here's the part I like best -- I used a white plastic trash bag as the "screen" of the box. Do a web search on "Home Made Soft Box" -- this is where I got the idea, only mine's bigger. :)

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

02/24/2005 10:53:20 AM · #5

Wow, that was great information. I did shoot the unfinished plate before the final saucing etc. which helped quite a bit.

I used to work for Grey Advertising as a Chef and I know some art buyers there maybe I can get some help there as well.

BTW your dishwasher photo reminded me of this one that I took of The Blue Ribbon Restaurant in NYC. Have you ever eaten there( I assume you come the the city every now and again since you live so close? Great food....give it a try.

Cheers

LindaLee

Canon EOS-40D

02/24/2005 12:04:47 PM · #6

Don't know if these would help you, but here are a couple of links: (the second one looks like just a "fluff" article at first, but you'll find some good stuff on the third page or so):

Food photography

Lou Manna - food photography

alanbataar

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

Lensbaby 1.0 (The Original)

02/24/2005 12:51:38 PM · #7

My wife's family live in Brighton Beach, so we get up to NYC a couple times a year, but I've never seen that restaurant. Glad you found those suggestions helpful!!