First published in D-Photo magazine.
Next time you tuck into a beef vindaloo, spare a thought for the camera. A taste sensation it may be but to the keen eye of the food photographer, your dinner is “brown and toneless” and nearly – but not quite – as challenging as shooting ice cream.
Yes, the food photographer sees food differently. They consider aspects such as how fast it deteriorates, the “transient nature” of soufflé and what colours will perfectly offset the delectability of a dish. They even call the main food item a ‘hero’.
Yet according to the professionals, monotone curries and disintegrating deserts are not your main concern. Taking wonderful photos of food depends much more on those time-worn photographic skills: lighting, composition, concept and speed.
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