Fresh from the Grill with

For the past five weeks I have been participating in a photography class sponsored by Cbias and Sears Grilling. Participants were given a grill and taught the basics of photography. I’m happy to say I have improved and am ready to tackle food photography.

Have you ever wondered why some photos in magazines or newspapers are so beautifully prepared? Yep, me too. I knew there had to be a trick to this, something I was missing to elevate my photos to the next level. My first lesson was to consider everything in the photograph, place settings, props, anything that could distract from the food. I needed “very clean” (read this as plain) backgrounds. Notice the focus is on the apple with nothing to distract from it.

Using simple cookware or dishes is another way to focus on the food without distraction. I used my white dishes to create a simple background in the following photos.

Another tip I learned was to slightly undercook the food and photograph it when it had been allowed to cool.

While my steak looks tasty, I wished I had wiped some of the juice off of the plate.  I didn’t realize how much it would detract from my photo. Another principle, less is more,  reminded me I don’t need plates full of competing objects.  I’ve also begun to play around with the color balance, brightness and contrast, hue and saturation, and color vibrance levels on my Pixlr editting software to create different tones and moods.

I began experimenting with the different food placement techniques.  This from the top shot focuses on the ingredients of my sandwich.

I really liked the “head on technique” which focuses on the front of an object.

A final quick tip for the week:  to make food look hot it can be brushed with Karo syrup or Pam cooking spray.  To make foods shine, they can be spritzed with water to create moisture. Shiny foods are more appealing than dull foods.

I’ll continue my experimentation with backgrounds, props, balance and composition. Hopefully, I’ll continue to improve as the weeks go by.

9 Comments

  1. Such great photos! Love seeing everyone’s progress.

  2. The juice has gotten me on the plate before too! Boo on the juice!

  3. These photos are awesome! You sound like you’re learning a ton!! I’m glad I’m getting these tips from you! I’ll definitely have to sign up for some classes…and maybe get a better camera!

  4. Wow! What a great job…I so need to work on mine. Glad you’re getting visible results! Keep sharing 🙂

  5. Wonderful tips… I really love the one about focus on the simple stuff… I always forget to wipe down a plate etc, too.. and it does take away from your picture… thanks for sharing

  6. Good job! Love the texture of the bread in your last shot! Perfect focus!

  7. I really enjoy reading all your tips and seeing the results… though you are making me hungry today!

  8. I really love to see how your photos are coming along. Your doing great.

  9. The sandwich pics look great….And now I’m hungry *sigh* 😉