There are many pursuits in life that we trust only to experts. Electrical. Plumbing. Surgery. The cutting of our bangs.
Trust me on that last one.
So why do so many people attempt to photograph the food on the plate in front of them?
True, cameraphones today have the technology to produce great images, but that doesn’t automatically mean we can…especially when hot and cold foods are involved.
Food stylists employ all kinds of amazing techniques and non-food items to create the beautiful images we enjoy online and in magazines.
Like Hollywood superstars, these foods are airbrushed and artificial.
That’s why your picture of grandma’s green bean casserole or turkey chili or that special cocktail from the bar that you text from your phone or post on Facebook or Twitter often receives such unexpectedly negative comments from your family and friends.
It looks kinda gross. Sorry.
I respectfully disagree.
While there are a number of disreputable tactics used by professionals (brushing the food with varnish, liberally applying dyes etc), amateurs can still take a good picture if they choose the right foods.
You only have to take a stroll through the fruit and veg section of any store to see that nature has already given us a beautiful array of colours.
I’ve posted a few pictures of food on my recipe blog and, modesty aside, I think they look pretty damn appetising. Not “gross” in the least! And I’m not a professional, I don’t have any equipment other than my trusty, old, digital camera.
I’m sure there are some lovely food shots out by amateurs. I just haven’t been treated to many of them.
I totally disagree. In my opinion, the imperfect attempts to photograph food (including mine – I am one of those Blackberry wielding food bloggers) show appreciation of natural beauty. Which may never translate into artificial, airbrushed beauty, and that is ok. I photograph the food I eat and cook because it helps me preserve my sensory memory and share a bit of my excitement with others.
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