Looking Forward To Challenge #6 - Food Photography

Our sixth challenge is going to begin on Sunday, but here is a little more food (no pun intended) for thought as you continue taking those BEAUTIFUL silhouette's.

I think this challenge is going to test our skills in lighting and styling. The food you work with doesn't have to be home made, or home grown, BUT if you purchase something I think it's only right that we give credit where credit is due, so don't forget to acknowledge your sources.

Food photography is a still life specialization of commercial photography, aimed at producing attractive photographs of food for use in advertisements, packaging, menus or cookbooks. Professional food photography is a collaborative effort, usually involving an art director, a photographer, a food stylist, a prop stylist and their assistants.^[1]

Styling techniques:

In addition to choosing, preparing and composing plated food, food stylists use numerous techniques to make appear the food as attractive as possible. These may include:

• creating steam with cool air nebulizers or a combination of chemicals that give off smoke that gives the appearance of steam;
• spraying food with water or mixtures of water, corn syrup, or other liquids to keep food looking fresh;
• making a mixture of solid shortening, corn syrup, and powdered sugar (essentially a very stiff frosting) that can be scooped to simulate real ice cream;
• using a variety of browning agents (usually mixtures used to brown gravies or sometimes heat activated liquids used in commercial bakeries) to enhance the color/brownness of cooked meats and poultry;
• using heavy cream instead of milk in bowls of cereal to prevent flakes from becoming soggy too quickly. The use of white glue is generally discouraged, and is not usually encountered. (as most cereal companies prohibit this practice).
• blanching green vegetables to just bring up their bright color, rather than cooking them completely. Other vegetables and foods may be cooked just to color, so they do not brown or become wrinkled if they must stand under the camera for a while.
• adding water to beverages so light will filter through better and add sparkle to the drink.

And another youtube video as an example.

♥ Snap Happy ♥