Foods challenge and the Denny's restaurant test

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

01/17/2006 04:10:32 PM · #1

After visiting a Denny's restaurant I decided to vote on the Recipe (foods) II challenge.

Given that Denny's is a large restaurant chain with thousands of stores and their menu has some of the best food pictures I've seen and also given that they likely paid huge sums of money to get those pictures I made this voting decision...

Voting criteria:
If an entry is as good as the average Denny's menu image then it can't be voted less than an 8!

Though before my Denny's visit I would have not thought this, my discovery is that by that standard about 40 percent of the images should(and did) get 8 or 8+ scores.

This just supports a growing feeling that, on average, DPCers tend to be low scoring voters.

And I bet it does not take long for one of those low scoring DPCers to suggest that the pictures on the Denny's menu suck. :)

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

01/17/2006 04:17:03 PM · #2

Originally posted by stdavidson:

And I bet it does not take long for one of those low scoring DPCers to suggest that the pictures on the Denny's menu suck. :)

I just wish they more accurately reflected what actually arrives on the plate ...

Note that their high-gloss lamination and relatively bright and unbalanced room lighting make it pretty hard to really see and evaluate the photos for anything other than composition.

Message edited by author 2006-01-17 16:18:46.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

01/17/2006 04:18:13 PM · #3

Denny's food photography sucks :-) BUT, it works for them... It's clientele-based; anything less obvious and substantial gets negative reactions. One of my assistants went into business for himself and landed the Denny's account back in the 80's. It was a constant source of frustration for him.

R.

Nokia N900

Tamron AF 18-270mm F/3,5-6,3 Di II VC LD Aspherical [IF] macro for Canon

01/17/2006 04:23:01 PM · #4

Originally posted by GeneralE:

Originally posted by stdavidson:
And I bet it does not take long for one of those low scoring DPCers to suggest that the pictures on the Denny's menu suck. :)

I just wish they more accurately reflected what actually arrives on the plate ...

They do--just not everywhere. Have you ever been to a Japanese Denny's?

Spork99

OM System OM-1

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

01/17/2006 04:24:14 PM · #5

Denny's food photography is really not very good. But it's a lot better than the food, which is a lot better than the service. (At least at my local Denny's) Of course, after a few visits and getting really, exceptionally poor service, I have stopped going there or to any other Denny's.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

01/17/2006 04:29:01 PM · #6

Haven't been to a Dennys since I left California what, 6 years ago? We have "Friendly's" here, but that's just an occasional road-breakfast stop for me. My Dennys days were when the kids were young, and I suffered through them...

R.

hanneke

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

01/17/2006 04:30:10 PM · #7

We have Mac and KFC over here... never heard of Dennys, but that seems to be ok :P

pawdrix

Nikon D700

Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.4D IF

01/17/2006 04:31:31 PM · #8

Keep in mind Denny's (Red Lobster, Beefsteak Charlies etc.)use a wide dof to insure that people know exactly what they are getting. Where magazine make things looks more dreamy and occasionally use Very shallow, sometimes odd, dof's to be more artsy (I guess?). Cookbooks? ...somewhere in the middle.

Message edited by author 2006-01-17 17:12:05.

mfairbanks

Sony DSC-F828

01/17/2006 04:41:07 PM · #9

Those of you bitchin about your Denny's please feel free to box it up and ship it up here, there is NO 24hr restraunt within 75 miles of here, we'd gladly take it! Sucks when your late night dining choices are limited to stale convenience store coffee, 7-11's "gourmet" nachos, or dunkin donuts day old donuts!

Message edited by author 2006-01-17 16:46:01.

pawdrix

Nikon D700

Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.4D IF

01/17/2006 05:20:24 PM · #10

I saw this cover yesterday on Gourmet Magazine. Look at how the entire right side of the cheesecake is blurred and the back is also out of focus, as well. In fact, it looks like the nuts on top and a bit of the cake botton left are the only things in focus.

Strange looking photography but totaly en vogue.

Message edited by author 2006-01-17 17:22:15.

_eug

Nikon D50

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

01/17/2006 05:28:35 PM · #11

Originally posted by mfairbanks:

No late night food?!?!? How do you heathens survive?

I grew up in Indianapolis and after highschool work for a fastfood place that was open 24/7 and occasionally would work some 11-7's. The best part was the drunks pulling into the drive through at 4 AM when all the bars closed. Shear entertainment!

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

01/17/2006 05:35:35 PM · #12

Originally posted by biteme:

We have Mac and KFC over here... never heard of Dennys, but that seems to be ok :P

Dennys is a national chain of Coffee Shops, open 24 hours (usually). They serve everything from standard breakfasts to dinner combos like chicken-fired steak meals, roast beef, whatever. The quality is low (from a foodie's perspective) but consistent. Seating is in booths and at tables, there is waitress service, theyhave counter service also, you get the picture.

They bridge the gap between fast food like Mickey D and KFC and "real" restaurants like Red Lobster (to name a national chain of "real" restaurant, not to say red Lobster is especially good).

R.

Panasonic DMW-LTZ10 1.5x Teleconverter

01/17/2006 05:42:40 PM · #13

Originally posted by pawdrix:

Typically I'd sparingly make use of foreground soft focused DOF with an image but here it is right on the front cover of a big time magazine. If this is an example of good food photography then it speaks highly of the quality of the DPC entries. Plenty DPC entries are as good or better than their cover.

kari1

Panasonic DMC-FZ20

01/17/2006 05:45:21 PM · #14

We actually have Dennys here in New Zealand, and their actual food doesn't look as good as the pictures ... but it is close ... we were however very with the good photography there... so if you score me an eight I will be more impressed.

Kari

Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.4D IF

01/17/2006 05:51:25 PM · #15

Originally posted by kari1:

If you entered the foods challenge then I scored you and left a comment as well.

pawdrix

Nikon D700

01/17/2006 06:42:45 PM · #16

Originally posted by stdavidson:

Originally posted by pawdrix:
I saw this cover yesterday on Gourmet Magazine. Look at how the entire right side of the cheesecake is blurred and the back is also out of focus, as well. In fact, it looks like the nuts on top and a bit of the cake botton left are the only things in focus.

Strange looking photography but totaly en vogue.

Typically I'd sparingly make use of foreground soft focused DOF with an image but here it is right on the front cover of a big time magazine. If this is an example of good food photography then it speaks highly of the quality of the DPC entries. Plenty DPC entries are as good or better than their cover.

They use incredibly soft focus all over the place...usually starting, sharp, up front and immediately fading back. Not a new trend but it's getting crazy...I like it in a way but I know that it would drive DPCers absolutely insane.

In that particular image they added additional blurring on the sides, the back...all over.

Message edited by author 2006-01-17 20:12:00.