Better food shots using your smartphone

CEBU, Philippines - It’s no secret that food photography is all the rage these days, what with almost everyone carrying impressive cameras in the form of smartphones or tablets.

From posts on Facebook to “freshly” captured images uploaded on Instagram, a cursory look at the active threads of social networks would point to how “normal” the practice of sharing images of scrumptious meals and deserts has become.

For those who are keen on taking better food shots using their mobiles, below are three easy-to-remember smartphone-food photography pointers worth knowing about, pointers that will surly lead you in your pilgrimage for better food shots.

The Value of Natural Light

Natural light remains to be best when talking about illumination and food photography, even if your smartphone has a built-in flash.

Issues pertaining to saturated colors or “unappealing food photos” can be easily resolved by disabling a camera-phone’s flash, letting natural light play an integral role in capturing appetizing images of your food.

In utilizing natural light, aim for natural contrast and shadow values which are not hard on your focused subject, letting your natural light source reveal the finder details of your dish.

In situations where you really have to use a flash, consider diffusing its illumination factors with a piece of paper or a napkin, “manipulating” its intensity by experimenting with paper/napkin thickness and your camera-phone’s distance from your subject.

Don’t just snap photos… tell a story

You can come up with interesting food shots by “accessorizing”, making use of whatever is handy in helping you come up with a food photo that tells a story.

Take breakfast, for example. You can make your breakfast food photo interesting by “accessorizing” it with a glass of orange juice, a cup of coffee, or today’s issue of The Freeman positioned next to your dish.

From cutlery to napkins, the range of “accessories” you can use in coming up with interesting food photos that tell a story are as diverse as there are recipes for pie.

On Angles and Vantage Points

You can capture interesting food shots by experimenting with “angles”, in snapping different photos of your dish taken from different vantage points.

Generally, taking food shots from three angles – from the side, from the top, and the “3/4 view” – would be a good way to go.

If you wish to give emphasis on a particular dish’s depth, taking a photo from the side would make for an interesting food photo.

From the top shots tend to be ideal for “flat” shaped dishes, just as taking images from the top is ideal for uniquely-shaped desserts. Off-centered from the top shots also have their own points that make for interesting food shots.

Taking “3/4 view” food shots tends to yield a more “natural view”, given the fact that the “3/4 view” (not completely above the food, nor totally from the side) is how we would normally view our food.

Take three shots of your dish, then simply pick out which of the three is the best.