Fresh Approach Cooking: Bad Food Photography

Friday, March 18, 2005

Bad Food Photography

Bad food photography. It's out there kids, and it aint pretty. (Nor is it appetizing!) Tell the truth...how many times have you whipped out your camera at some chic and fab restaurant to capture the moment, then only to realize the shot was terrible, therefore compelling you to take three or four more while your dining companions patiently hold their water glasses off the table and their comments to themselves? Or maybe you have just struggled to hold the bowl and whisk while pouring the batter and taking a picture all at the same time only to have it come out looking less than delectable. I myself am guilty of taking (and posting) some pretty dreadful shots of food that while in reality was sensationally beautiful and/or just plain yummy, or I somehow THOUGHT was interesting, but upon later review it turns out my art direction, or flash or beer goggles (hey, it happens!) or judgement in general were just plain off. And yet, I still have those shots, cluttering up my computer and mocking me every time I open Picasa.

So tell me dear reader, are you guilty too? Have you too taken shot after shot of grey cabbage and overexposed pork chops or am I alone in this? Share with me, and purge yourself! If we all work together, we can overcome bad food photography and the world will be a better place.

Below, for your pleasure, is my personal hall of shame. Terrible shots of glorious food. (Or in the case of the can of Tab, just an odd choice of things to snap.) Please enjoy and have a great day!

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There are about 7,500 varieties of apples cultivated around the world
A serving of dried apricots has almost five times more calories than a fresh one
Florida avocados have half the fat of California avocados

# posted by Rachael Narins @ Friday, March 18, 2005

Comments:

Thats so funny.I must have 30 pictures of a cake i baked last week still on my camera, i cnnot bring myself to delete or downlaod them. hilarious post, thanks!

# posted by

Anonymous : 3/18/2005 12:13:00 PM

I love this blog, thanks so much! That is so funny and true about the food pictures. I do it all the time. Keep up the good work.

# posted by

Anonymous : 3/19/2005 09:19:00 AM

Now that is something I can relate to..Since I started my blog,I have taken quite a few pictures of the kind
you mentioned.I have started reading those websites which talks about taking the perfect pics.

# posted by

Gini : 3/20/2005 10:44:00 AM

The L.A. Times did a short article a month or so ago on good cameras to use when taking shots of food and the Stylus 500 from Olympus was what they liked (it has a "Cuisine" setting. How funny is THAT?) If you want the article, I can email it to you! - Rachael

# posted by

Rachael Narins : 3/20/2005 11:14:00 AM

I don't have enough bandwidth to post even a portion of my bad pictures. And I use photoshop for a living and can fix most anything.

There are times I know right away that a dish I'm shooting won't even look like food when it gets to pixels. But I shoot it anyway.

paul
kiplog.com/food

# posted by

Anonymous : 3/20/2005 06:31:00 PM

Hi Rachael
I would appreciate it if you could forward me the article on food photography you mentioned.
Thanks a lot

# posted by

Gini : 3/26/2005 08:07:00 AM

Gini-
I would be happy to, I just need an email address. You can email me at rachael@freshapproachcooking.com

Paul-
It so funny that even when we know it wont look good the pictures keep getting taken. I guess its partly because digital pics are free, but also, even if the pic is bad, its a good memory...

# posted by

Rachael Narins : 3/28/2005 12:03:00 PM

Fresh Approach Cooking

Friday, March 18, 2005

Bad Food Photography

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