বাংলায় পড়ুন
From watching cooking reality shows like MasterChef India and Sanjeev Kapoor’s Khaana Khazaana to instagramming and snapping every meal, Indian’s obsession with food isn’t going away anywhere soon. Food makes a great subject for photography and you can achieve incredibly creative results. But great food photography means more than just snapping your food. There’s a lot to keep a check on- lighting and presentation to clicking and editing, food photography is always a production.
In recent times, a bunch of business-entrepreneurs have jumped on this food bandwagon, who are creating food-centred businesses like restaurants, cafes, bakeries that thrive on the strength of food snaps being uploaded on Instagram, Snapchat and Zomato. A picture that perfectly captures the essence of a dish can make or break the deal! If you, too, love food photography and post them with hashtags #foodstagram or #foodporn, then here are some tips for you to do it right!
- CHOOSE THE PERFECT ANGLE
This is one of the most important decisions that you have to make consciously because where you place the camera will affect the type of picture you will want others to see. Think of the dish beforehand and click from such an angle that best highlights the quality of the food. Some dishes look better if the picture is taken from above (like, pizza or pasta), or from the side (like, burger) or at 45-degree angle (like, drinks or desserts)
- THE APPROPRIATE LIGHTING
Light is the key to good food photography. It is what gives the photograph all the aesthetic feels. Poor use of light will ruin your picture and immediately turn off the viewers. Always shoot in natural daylight rather than artificial light. Fake lighting will cast an orange or yellow shadow in your picture. But having natural light is not always possible, so adjust the camera angle to avoid harsh shadows.
- PLATING
It’s not just the food, but where it is placed that makes for an artistic presentation. Basic light colored background always makes the photo more aesthetic. For example, if you are having a salad or risotto, ask for a solid color plate. A printed plate will make the dish unappetizing.
- USE COLOUR WELL
The great thing about food photography is that you can play around with colors. Rearrange your food and props to make the hues go with the overall frame. Try to select colors that makes the food pop against the entire background. Colors have a great impact on the overall feel of the photograph.
- DECORATE THE SCENE
Props often amplifies the visual aspect of the image. Surround the dish with ingredients, salt shaker, sauces or utensils. A great option is a spoonful of colorful spice to place somewhere in the frame. You can use props that are not related to culinary art as well like a notebook and a pen or a pair of sunglasses or a polaroid camera.
- EDIT THE PHOTOGRAPH
Food comes in many vibrant colors but sometimes your phone or camera doesn’t give you the picture the way you wanted it to be. You can easily adjust the light and color balance, contrast and saturation level, using an editing software, that will give your photograph a more polished look.
Here are some basic guidelines to help you get better pictures. Don’t stop experimenting with filters, props and composition to get a creative edgy picture. There are tons of ways you can play with your food. The best place you can start your food photography journey is a café that has aesthetic lighting and magnificent décor, and for that make sure to stop by Cafe #377 which is an apt place for every picture.
