Food photography - do they cheat and use photoshop?

O

OM2

Messages
4
Edit My Images
No
I need to do a lot of food photography

From what I know, this is an art and separate discipline in itself - and there are photographers who specialise in this are specifically

I've looked at many cook books and the only conclusion I have is that they all cheat and use Photoshop!

Getting the blurriness and focus of one item in the way they do seems impossible to me!

YES: OK, so there is also the 'design' factor and need to be able to put the food in a well laid out situation with a good background - but even with this considered, I still say the pics I've seen mostly cheat!! :)

Disclaimer: I'm not even an amateur photographer - I can click the button on my Fuji S2500HD + think I have a good eye for detail - but that's about it! So some of the things I've said above are only my unqualified opinion!

Any replies would be great

Thanks


OM
 
Its all to do with DOF - have a read here also have a look at a tilt shift lens , which is ideal for food photograph.
 
I am intrigued as to why you think the use of Photoshop is cheating?

Its like Paul said, its all to do with Depth of Field
 
The use of Photoshop is not Cheating, they have a job to do, ie producing top quality images for a client , who pays for top quality not some out of focus rubbish

How they or we achieve that is not open to critisism- its the end result ( Image ) that counts ;)

Les :thumbs:
 
If you want lots of fuzzy backgrounds, then you will need to invest in a better camera than the fuji. A compact struggles to get the DOF needed because fo the small sensor, so a DSLR will make a massive difference.

You will also need to think of lighting etc.

There has been a small debate in a thread a few below this on food togging.
 
ok: so maybe using the word cheating is wrong :)

i'll look at the link u gave later
thanks

fuji s2500hd: i hate it. it sucks :(
i have a fuji s5000 - only 3MP and takes far superior photos

thanks for all the replies
 
No its not cheating, it's just false advertisement but on the part of the company not the photographer.

BigMac-Big.jpg


big-mac.jpg
 
:lol:

I think that sums up most peoples experience of food photography and associated reality. But then if you think that most landscapes, portraits etc have been manipulated after being taken to make them look better than they may have done in the flesh then food photography is no different.
 
latercomer2 said:
:lol:

I think that sums up most peoples experience of food photography and associated reality. But then if you think that most landscapes, portraits etc have been manipulated after being taken to make them look better than they may have done in the flesh then food photography is no different.
Click to expand...

I quite agree. My objection is a landscape is nice to look at as is a model shot etc but if I am eating it and paying money for food that is meant to look like the advertised but tastes/looks so different its hard to feel satisfied.

Flip side, the photographer has an obligation to make it look as good as possible and their has to be some latitude over the human element in the real-life food cooking but when difference are as above it is a stretch too far.

It is an issue with all forms of advertisement though, not exclusive to food.
 
I remember a side shot of Brussel sprouts 'cooking' in a pan.

It involved glycerine, a large Pyrex jug, compressed air and dry ice, oh and the sprouts were wired into place (at the back) so they formed a nice arrangement. :suspect:
Nice photo, but nothing to do with cooking.
 
john-oh said:
I remember a side shot of Brussel sprouts 'cooking' in a pan.

It involved glycerine, a large Pyrex jug, compressed air and dry ice, oh and the sprouts were wired into place (at the back) so they formed a nice arrangement. :suspect:
Nice photo, but nothing to do with cooking.
Click to expand...

Naa! my wife cooks 'em like that all the time :naughty:
 
you can do a lot of basic food photography with very little. Window light for key light, and large sheet of tin foil as reflector for fill. Compose as you wish, and click. You just have to know your light. Of course, SLR is better suited, and if you are serious about doing photography, I'd invest in one. It'll open up your door into all sorts of photography.

A word of caution - photography is a dangerously addictive and expensive thing to take up. You'll end up spending an awful lot of time and money on it once you venture into it. It's great though :)
 
In my experience they mainly use large format cameras that allow the plane of focus to be swung around all kinds of crazy ways. You can do things with them that would be impossible with a 'regular' camera. As mentioned, all kinds of crazy tricks involving preperation, presentation and lighting are also employed. From what I've seen photoshop is used (as with all digital imaging really) but often quite minimally.
 
The Matt said:
In my experience they mainly use large format cameras that allow the plane of focus to be swung around all kinds of crazy ways. You can do things with them that would be impossible with a 'regular' camera. As mentioned, all kinds of crazy tricks involving preperation, presentation and lighting are also employed. From what I've seen photoshop is used (as with all digital imaging really) but often quite minimally.
Click to expand...
That's my understanding too. One of my colleagues is a serious food photographer and his method involves:
  • perfectly prepared food (e.g. bake 24 cakes and pick the nicest one!)
  • attention to detail with regard to presentation
  • careful choice of lighting
  • camera with big sensor (he uses a Canon 5D) for shallow depth of field
  • tilt-shift lens to put plane of focus exactly where he wants it
Simple really.
 
I saw something a while ago on assembing and photographing the perfect burger, had a quick look but cannot find it. It involved something like lots and lots of buns to find the perfect one, blow torching the edge of the burger to keep it thick, using cocktail stick to get the perfect piece of lettuce into position, removing the inner parts of the tomatoes to stop them wetting the bread and using a small applicator with shaped nozzle to insert the mayonaise
 
Apparently that liquid chocolate that is poured into a chocolate bowl in a certain TV advert made by a certain confectionery maker isn't real chocolate, but brown gloss paint!

I believe that at least 50% of the food used in advertising isn't geniune anyway!
 
I saw an article about food photography once and it said that to give the impression that the food was hot a tampon dipped in boiling water was laid under the back edge of the plate that was being photographed.
 
What a silly thread. Photoshop, cheat? What utter nonsense. Food photography is a very difficult art and a specific genre that takes years of knowledge to perfect. The OP states that they need to do 'lots' of it but doesn't have the kit. The results will therefore be pretty poor as lighting equipment, reflectors, lenses and bodies are essential. Even more essential is expertise. Good luck OP, I hope the assignment isn't too important.
 
Depending on the intention / use of the photographs, there are a lot of laws governing food photography (obviously varying from country to country as well) and just how many 'tricks' you may use.

There are endless tricks of the trade; boot polish to paint grill lines on beef, mashed potato instead of ice cream, 'unfolding' a burger from the back to make it look bigger, etc but if you're doing this for your business you should make yourself aware of the relevant guidelines about what you can and can't do before you start shooting. :thumbs:
 
There's a guy lives here who used to be one of the top photographers in the country including food photography. I have seen some of his portfolios of the work he did for chocolate companies confectioners etc. and listened for hours while he's told me how he got the shots. Large format cameras, (this was back in the days of film) huge amounts of food and days and days of thought and preparation. Made my blood run cold just listening to him.
 
^^^^
yeah just watched it, the Burgers looked like S%^T even when shot with a Canon in the back of a car :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top