Atherton & District Amateur Photographic Society

Hi All.
I'm slowly getting around the various settings etc. on my new camera so I thought I'd give you a sample to comment on.
If you don't like it, please say so, but explain what it is that's wrong so hopefully I can do better next time.

Regards,

Phil.

The bowl of fruit is a good still life subject and takes some thinking about to make it look good. Here you've chosen to have it lit from the back, which is fine, but a bit of light on the front of the subject would be good. Or you could have gone round to the other, lit, side of the bowl and had it fully illuminated by the window.

The curve of the banana intersects the curve of the table, which might be best avoided. The bright window behind isn't really part of the subject, and it's bright and grabs our attention. So, again I think shoot from the other side.

The image is otherwise sharp and it really just needs attention to detail in the lighting and choice of background.

Hope that helps!

Phil, I agree with John ... but as an alternative view - pull the bowl forward away from the edge, keep it backlit but crop to use the table as the background, then bounce some of that daylight back to the bananas (start collecting different shapes/sizes of mount board off cuts (even black)/ polystyrene/ mirrors/ silver/ gold card (craft shop/supermarket) to use as reflectors. Usual advice read, see, and practice ...
W.

Hi Phil

Good effort. I like the natural light and the blurry out-of-focus background. I also like that you have kept the shot simple and uncluttered.

I agree that you could have got more light onto the bananas. A lot of food photography that I see tends to be quite bright and inviting.

They aren't the best looking bananas of the bunch. If it was an advertising shot they probably wouldn't want any black bits or skin markings showing. Again, an awful lot of care is taken to select the food being photographed and to present it in the best way so it looks appetising.

Why don't you do some studying on food photography and then try a similar shot again in a few day's time? It could be a challenge for you to see how improved your next attempt will be.

Google 'food photography' for tips:

http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/ ... graph-food

http://digital-photography-school.com/f ... roduction/

And browse the portfolios of professional food photographers:

http://www.flavourfirst.org/top-ten-food-photographers/

http://www.davidwhitestudio.co.uk/blog/ ... ographers/

Hi All.
Many thanks for all your comments. It seems to me that I've not quite grasped " thinking " like a photographer yet, but I'll keep practising & hopefully get there!

Regards,

Phil.

Phil Jones wrote: It seems to me that I've not quite grasped " thinking " like a photographer yet...

Try and be like this guy...