Who's Hungry??? - DPChallenge Forums

Sigma 15mm f/2.8 EX Diagonal Fisheye for Nikon

04/08/2007 11:09:13 AM · #1

Message edited by author 2007-04-08 20:13:21.

muckpond

Nikon D200

04/08/2007 11:13:15 AM · #2

hey, those are really good. where were you? was this an assignment?

hsolakidis

Nikon D50

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED

04/08/2007 11:18:59 AM · #3

Today is easter, and I have a whole lamb cooking over charcoal slowly. Sorry, I'm not jealous :-)

hajeka

Canon EOS R5

Canon RF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS USM

04/08/2007 11:34:10 AM · #4

I like the fish!

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

04/08/2007 06:21:51 PM · #5

Originally posted by muckpond:

hey, those are really good. where were you? was this an assignment?

They were specifically shot for Marie Claire Brazil, some Wine magazine (not sure of the title) and are part of a PR package.

Message edited by author 2007-04-08 18:22:18.

Elmakias

Canon EOS-5D

04/08/2007 06:37:07 PM · #6

yea i agree, those are bomb

04/08/2007 06:40:59 PM · #7

Maybe it is just me, but why did you have such a shallow dof for a dish of food?

04/08/2007 06:45:47 PM · #8

...

Message edited by author 2007-04-08 19:45:45.

04/08/2007 06:59:05 PM · #9

I'll look next time I'm at the grocery. A half inch dof hardly makes the food appetising to me.

Sigma 15mm f/2.8 EX Diagonal Fisheye for Nikon

04/08/2007 09:35:02 PM · #10

Nope, I'm right. Checked mom's old recipe books and almost all photos were with a lot of depth, clearly 85% of the food was in focus. Also, most of the shots were taken from 10 to 30 degrees or so directly above the dish, not 20 or 30 degreesfrom the table surface. Anyway, just my opinion. I'm only trying to help.

edit...as per your pm, I will check some newer cookbooks as mom's are probably 60 or so years old.

Message edited by author 2007-04-08 21:44:25.

muckpond

Nikon D200

04/08/2007 09:46:47 PM · #11

most foodie magazines that i've seen lately are very into the shallow DOF thing. vegetarian times does that all the time.

perhaps it's a difference between something for a magazine (which is supposed to be eye catching) and something in a cookbook (which has more of a "documentary" purpose)?

Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM

04/08/2007 10:04:09 PM · #12

I suppose I'm wrong.
........

Yes waiter, I'll have the lips please.

judojoe

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

04/09/2007 03:26:25 AM · #13

They are really nice, I like the Flavour !
Maybe you could of used a greater apeture or maybe not.
Its all about opinions, but the photos are rally nice

Message edited by author 2007-04-09 03:27:05.

BeeCee

Nikon D40

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 ED

04/09/2007 03:38:00 AM · #14

For me, the DOF works really well on the squab shot. It stands out, yet the rest is still identifiable.
The last shot is quite artistic, with isolating one piece, letting us notice the fine details.

Everyone's entitled to their opinion, and mine is that I like :D

Sigma 15mm f/2.8 EX Diagonal Fisheye for Nikon

04/09/2007 10:08:29 AM · #15

Originally posted by David Ey:

"Checked mom's old recipe books and almost all photos were with a lot of depth, clearly 85% of the food was in focus."

If you were shooting for Betty Crocker back in the 60's, 70's up until the late 80's...Yeah, but I'm glad you realized that your moms books are "60 or so years old"

Ingredient shots need to be full in focus so people can clearly identify each item but the rest has become more artistic where you job is to capture the essence of the dish within a relatively small focal point. Emphasize the tastes and textures. Almost like leading a persons fork or spoon to their first bite.

"Dig in HERE...that's the spot that will give you the fullest sensation of the whole dish". "Cut (scoop) right there...savor...and your eye's will roll back in your head...mmmmmmmm"

muckpond

Nikon D200

04/09/2007 10:11:23 AM · #16

so how did you land this gig, pawdrix?

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

04/09/2007 10:46:34 AM · #17

Originally posted by muckpond:

so how did you land this gig, pawdrix?

and how has the customer reacted to there only being about 5% or less of the photo in focus?

chunky

Canon EOS-20D

04/09/2007 11:06:34 AM · #18

Very nice shots. I think the DOF works well for this type of photography, and have seen it used quite often in recent magazines and cookbooks.

pawdrix, can you enlighten is with any more details of the shoot? How did you light the dishes, etc?

Tamron AF 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical IF for Canon

04/09/2007 11:38:08 AM · #19

Originally posted by David Ey:

Originally posted by muckpond:
so how did you land this gig, pawdrix?

and how has the customer reacted to there only being about 5% or less of the photo in focus?

Muck-As you might know I'm a Chef. I trained at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris and since I've worked with food over the last....well, the better part of my life, food photography seems like a natural progression. It's actually a lot of fun and each dish presents a different Challenge. You also need to work fast, before the food loses it's luster which is exciting.

I've worked elbow to elbow with, many of NYC's top chefs since we were kids and have remained close friends with them over the years. A few have seen my Street work and other stuff over the past two years and many suggested that I do food. Since I have access to them...their food..it's a no brainer.

Eric "Blue Ribbon" Bromberg (Chef/Owner Blue Ribbon Restaurants) called me to ask me some question about my website. He was curious about the design, the photography etc. As we got to talking, I showed him a few practice food shots that I took with natural light and some other pix I took for a fine foods market on the Upper West Side and he hired me to do all Blue Ribbon shooting for whatever purpose. My web guy also hires me on occasion to do small quick jobs that I have time for.

So, I've been passively shooting (whenever I get a chance)Blue Ribbon food...the workers...customers etc. Since then after a bunch of people saw my work, I've gotten three calls from food art directors, I've shot a few images for two restaurant(PR stuff) but best of all, when I feel more comfortable and can dedicate more time, I have a meeting with the Art Director/Buyer for Grey Advertising. Movin on up...

It pays well and I'm in my comfort zone.

David-I'll answer your question with a question...
Have you seen a cookbook or a foodie mag within the last 15 years?
If not, please............................

Message edited by author 2007-04-09 15:26:00.

sher

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

04/09/2007 11:40:03 AM · #20

well, i think it's excellent work, Steve! very classy and very interesting. i have those same old Betty Crocker/Better Homes & Gardens cookbooks that have been talked about and i can tell you one thing that the pics in those books are that your pics are not...THEY'RE BORING! i feel very certain that your clients are extremely happy with your work. your photos make me want to linger a while...study the nuances, check the recipes. the photos in those other books make me say, "eh", and turn the page.

you keep up the good work, Steve. the work you're doing in this series is first rate!

Message edited by author 2007-04-09 11:41:46.

whiteroom

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

04/09/2007 11:44:12 AM · #21

thats a lot of work, i'd like to see them acidized or somink ;p

BAMartin

Apple iPhone 5

04/09/2007 11:46:58 AM · #22

David, this one is for you. Enjoy

KaDi

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

04/09/2007 11:47:18 AM · #23

....and even good 'ol Betty has shallow DOF images now!
//www.bettycrocker.com/

Edit: almost forgot the reason for the thread...YES! I'm hungry and it's all your fault, Steve! ;-)

Message edited by author 2007-04-09 11:48:09.

04/09/2007 12:04:07 PM · #24

Originally posted by chunky:

Chunky-I shot these near the front part of a restaurant where some light was coming in through the window. If that weren't the case, I would have bounced some light off of the back wall or backdrop.

This one (above) was shot in a completely darkened room, using white foamcore as a backdrop set three feet behind the plate. I blasted light with an umbrella onto that backdrop giving me nice blown highlights (yes, done on purpose). If the back of my plate is facing 12 O'Clock, I placed a softbox at 10:30-11:00 and a bounce card at 5:00, reflecting light down onto the right-front of the plate.

Here again, the back of the dish pointing towards 12:00, softbox at 10:30 and bounce card at 5:00 with some low sunlight from the back.

Message edited by author 2007-04-09 15:29:48.