| The rise of minimalist cooking is changing the art of | | | | time to settle down before the shutter release makes |
| food photography. The following is a look at some of | | | | for a much sharper photograph. This leads us to the |
| the techniques adopted by photographers to capture | | | | main reason for using a tripod: the photograph can be |
| the simplicity and the spirit of this modern | | | | taken in natural light, i.e. flash isn't essential. As a rule of |
| cuisine. Whether it is because of the recession or a | | | | thumb good natural light is always preferable to artificial |
| genuine desire to downsize and simplify, minimalist | | | | if the choice is between one or the other but often the |
| cooking has become extremely popular. Everything | | | | best photographs use a combination of the two. |
| from expensive and hard to acquire ingredients to | | | | Lighting |
| rarely used, specialized utensils and equipment have | | | | While the above applies to food photography in |
| been pared back to the bare minimum. Less is | | | | general there are specific lighting approaches that |
| definitely more. Many photographers have noticed this | | | | give a more minimalist feel. The use of a very strong |
| change, either consciously or intuitively and are evolving | | | | back light is one such approach. The best source is |
| and adapting their techniques to suit. The old | | | | a window that occupies the entire background. This will |
| sumptuous saturated glistening overfilled image just | | | | give a very bright background with any colors reduced |
| doesn't seem to be a good match for this new | | | | to pastels and objects such as trees, cars or other |
| approach to cooking and food in general. | | | | buildings reduced to abstract shapes. Now if this were |
| The photographers who get this and have a feel for | | | | the only light source used the food itself would be |
| the subject have started to utilize a few specific | | | | silhouetted and appear far too dark so a little fill light is |
| techniques which serve to emphasize the subject | | | | needed. This is a blast of light from the camera's flash |
| matter but in a much more understated way and this | | | | that is not as powerful as it would be if there was no |
| article will lay out a few of these basic techniques. It is | | | | ambient light but is powerful enough to illuminate the |
| not intended to be a comprehensive photography | | | | main subject. Point and shoot cameras generally have |
| primer and most of the techniques will not require | | | | a setting that automates this process while a little |
| expensive equipment. It needs to be stated though, | | | | more experimentation may be required with dSLRs |
| that even a basic dSLR camera will be capable of | | | | and flashes. |
| much more flexibility than even the best point and | | | | A couple of quick points about lighting that applies to all |
| shoot due to the amount of control available to the | | | | photography. Direct light is harsh and produces heavy |
| operator. This does not mean however that perfectly | | | | sharp shadows. I think that it is safe to say that in all |
| acceptable results cannot be achieved with the point | | | | minimalist food photography this is a bad thing so we |
| and shoots, just that the range of possibilities is smaller. | | | | need to soften the light. This applies to both natural and |
| Simplicity is the Key | | | | artificial light. With expensive off camera flashes a |
| When composing the shot keep things very simple, | | | | small diffuser that fits over the bulb is usually enough. In |
| plain white plates and brushed steel or plain counter | | | | the case of smaller cameras with built in flashes a little |
| tops work very well. If the image needs a bit of | | | | ingenuity goes a long way. If the flash can be covered |
| additional color, a sprig of a fresh herb such as sage is | | | | with a piece of semi transparent clear plastic or even |
| more than enough. Shoot on a level with or just a | | | | a piece of greaseproof paper results can be improved |
| few degrees above the food. We are used to looking | | | | dramatically. The worse light source for photography is |
| down on food and, in photography, offering a fresh | | | | the small built in flash units on cheaper cameras. As for |
| perspective is always a good idea as it wakes the | | | | natural light, direct sunlight is to be avoided which is |
| viewer's brain up. It also adds interesting possibilities for | | | | why a North or south facing window is best. If direct |
| lighting but more about that later. | | | | sunlight is the only option then a semi transparent |
| A blurred background is generally a good thing as this | | | | plastic shower curtain attached to a frame of plastic |
| emphasizes the subject. This can be achieved by | | | | piping makes for a great diffuser. |
| either using a long lens e.g. a 300ml with a wide | | | | The Computer |
| aperture from a few feet away with a dSLR or by | | | | Of course the process does not end with pressing the |
| utilizing the macro setting on a point and shoot and | | | | shutter. Once the session is finished, or even during the |
| getting in really close, normally within a foot of the | | | | session, the images are uploaded to a computer and |
| subject. Both of these approaches have the added | | | | edited. Usually the editing consists of little more than a |
| benefit of giving a very narrow depth of field. This | | | | bit of sharpening, a slight color correction or a minor |
| means that only a small proportion of even the main | | | | crop. It is possible to use the computer for just these |
| subject is likely to be in focus. This concentrates the | | | | technical chores but, with a little imagination, the |
| viewer's attention even more. | | | | computer, can become a creative tool in it's own right. |
| The Tripod | | | | A minimalist approach to photography requires an |
| The only piece of equipment that is essential for taking | | | | awareness of what is essential to the image and what |
| high quality food photographs, other than a camera of | | | | is incidental. It is often possible to lose information by |
| course, is a tripod. It may not be required for every | | | | increasing the exposure at this stage, often an |
| single shot but not having one would rule out a lot of | | | | increase of two thirds to a full stop can really make an |
| potentially good shots. The choices would be between | | | | image pop. Part of the reason that this is so effective |
| a small tabletop model, probably best with the smaller | | | | is because it makes dull and off whites bright. This |
| point and shoot camera. This would enable the tripod | | | | effect is often used in fashion photography but works |
| to be set on the same surface as the item being | | | | equally well with food. |
| photographed, very useful when the camera has to be | | | | Technique and Eye |
| close to the food. There is a small tripod available that | | | | There is no great mystery regarding what makes for |
| has flexible legs enabling it to be wrapped around | | | | great minimalist food photography. The best advice, as |
| objects such as tree branches and signpost poles. | | | | with all types of photography, is to find images that |
| This type of support would come into its own for say, | | | | you like which were taken by others, see which |
| picnics or barbecues. The bigger dSLR cameras tend | | | | techniques were applied, then practice. Hopefully a |
| to be too heavy for the smaller tripods and | | | | combination of good technique and a practiced eye will |
| generally require a normal sized model. The advice | | | | produce something unique. The following techniques |
| usually given to photographers is to buy the most | | | | work well for me: diffuse natural light from behind the |
| expensive tripod that they can afford. I would say buy | | | | subject and fill flash to fully illuminate the subject; a low |
| the tripod that will do the job without breaking the bank. | | | | point of view, get close to the same level as the food; |
| Whatever tripod is used always either release the | | | | blur the background and aim for a small depth of field; |
| camera's shutter remotely or use the timed delay | | | | on the computer, sharpen the image a little, crop and |
| function built into just about every camera now on the | | | | color correct if required. Above all, experiment and |
| market. Pressing the shutter causes the camera to | | | | have fun. One day I may be practicing and writing |
| vibrate so doing this off camera or giving the camera | | | | about a technique that you have discovered. |