Food Photography
What do you think when you hear
someone says the word “photography”? Lately, it has been a new trend, new
hobby. In my college, for example, a lot of students do attempts to enter
photography club. Every day, I always meet or just look from distance someone
brings DSLR camera. Actually, I’m also interested in it, but not in the act to
take picture. I’m fond of seeing the picture, especially if it is really
touching or something that I like. Then, food photography seems to be my
favorite since I love looking at food. So, what is food photography? *(I just
know it a moment ago. The following is the explanation…)
Food photography is a way to get an attractive photograph which is used in advertisement. Some people believe that this kind of photography is the most difficult one. Why do they say so? That is because when someone takes food photograph, they need to do it quickly. If they don’t, the picture won’t be good. For example, the ice cream may melt; the steak may look pale and others. Darren Rowse an editor of Digital Photography School stated that being prepared and knowing what you want to achieve before the food come out from kitchen is really important.
Basically, there are three types
of food photography. They are:
1.
Packaging
- Food photography
Among
the three, packaging tends to be the most technical, boring, and tidy. Strict
rules in advertising make everyone involved in the process. Lighting must
be relatively flat to show maximum detail, and definitely there is not any
place for special effects. Your job is to show the food in a realistic,
favorable way. You must get pictures that perfectly matching with layout that
is given by Art Director.
2.
Advertising
food photography
This category of food photography is a broad
“catch all” category that includes actual food ads, menus, product brochures,
and possibly billboards. It tends to be less tedious than packaging, but still
can be quite restrictive because of layout parameters.
3.
Editorial
food photography
This
is the type that most food photographers love the most. The most
important thing is making a beautiful image. Instead of making the
picture matching with layout, you just need to make the viewer say
“Wow!”
For you that interested in
photography, I suggest you to take this type. Why? That is because there is a
lot of people involve in other kind of photography. Besides, with food
photography, you can earn money. This is a testimony by Toni Wahid (notice: He
is not a member of Alm. Abdurrahman Wahid.):
Tidak
banyak orang yang menekuni profesi sebagai food photographer atau
tukang potret makanan. Karena itu sudah beberapa kali saya mendapat job
ini terutama untuk cafe dan juga restoran. Baru-baru ini saya mengerjakan
sebuah sesi pemotretan dengan sebuah restoran masakan Bali yang berlokasi di
Pacific Place di Jakarta. Bernama Le Seminyak yang memadukan
konsep masakan Bali yang tradisional, tapi disajikan secara modern.
(There is not many people have food
photography as their profession. Because of that, I have got projects to capture
food pictures for café or restaurant several times. Lately, I worked for a
restaurant which is specified in Balinese food. It is located in Pacific Palace
Jakarta, called Le Seminyak. They serve traditional Balinese food in modern
style.)
So friends, if you do not sure yet
what you want to capture, just take food for your object. Hope you are lucky!!
Here some examples of the picture (By Toni Wahid and other photographers)
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