Assignment: "Food Photography-Main Dishes" Feb. 10 - Feb. 24

[Saralonde]

This week we are showcasing "Main Dishes". This can encompass a large variety of entrees: soups, large salads, meats, sandwiches, pastas, etc.

The pictures I took for this week's assignment were unfortunately deleted by a rather dumb move on my part , so I'm stuck with a poor example taken with my camera phone. Hopefully I'll get chance to replace it.



I'll repeat the resources I stated before for anyone new to the food assignments:
This coming week we start with an important part of a meal, Fruits and Vegetables. Some suggestions: Try looking at magazines and in cookbooks for ideas. Notice the lighting. Natural lighting is wonderful for food photography. That's why you always try for a table by the window in a restaurant (and drive your dining companions crazy by shooting all the courses, LOL). The last thing you want is an image with an unappealing blue cast to it.
Consider the depth of field. Do you want something shallow to pinpoint one area or do you want the entire scene to be in focus?
Are you going to go in close or pull away and include some of the area around your subject. What can you include with your food item that makes it more interesting?
What point of view will you use? Straight down, off to the side, through a window, etc., just try different angles.
Think about what you want to say. This is homemade and comfort, this is sumptuous and elegant, this rich and flavorful?
Make me want to eat that food! If this was in a cookbook, would I want to make it? If it was an ad in a magazine, would I want to buy it?
Since Food Photography is such a huge subject, here are some resources for you:

Food Photography – An Introduction- good tips from Darren
Big and Tasty Food Photography Tips Roundup - great roundup of tutorials and videos.

Strobist It you haven't tried off-camera lighting yet, this is a wonderful resource. Really take some time to check your lighting this week.

As always, rules:
Please note the change in closing time as well as the size limit.

Just a note to new posters: DO NOT start a new thread for your post. Please just hit the reply button at the bottom of any current post and put your image there.

1. Your original image you submit should be taken between the 10th of February and the 24th of February. Each week as an assignment closes on the Wednesday, it will be AUTOMATICALLY deemed *CLOSED* after 8am GMT ( 3am EST) and any posts after that time will not be eligible for the assignment competition. Don't wait until the last minute to post!

2. Your post must include "Assignment: Food Photography - Main Dishes" (to show your permission to count it for the contest) and the date the picture was taken (to show that it is a valid entry).

3. EXIF data should be intact. It helps if you can include the main points (including camera, lens, date taken, ISO, shutter speed and aperture) in the text of your message.

4. Only one entry per member (if you can't restrain yourself until the end of the first week you can post two or three separate pictures but your entry should be in a separate post and the only marked with the text above). It must be an original image taken by you.

5. Remember the cross-site image size limit (740px on the longest side).

6. If the image does not exist in post at the end of the contest, it is disqualified. If you modify anything on flickr and re-save the image then the link is broken and the message needs edited to link the picture again before it will be included in the contest.
For everyone, please do not repeat other people's photos by quoting them until the contest is over. If you want to comment on or discuss an entry you can use a link to it (or just delete the picture from the quoted text).

7. If you are looking for the winners of the mini-contest, please check the front page of the DPS blog Saturday late afternoon (EST) and here.

Next week is our last week of Food Photography and we are going to do "Beverages". Hot, cold, cocktails, wine, coffee or just plain water, you have lots of choices. Try interesting lighting, or composing your beverage so it tells something about the environment it's in.

[enthusiast]

Buon Appetito!




Inspired by my Italian Uncle from my summer vacations

Camera: Nikon D80
Exposure: 0.1 sec (1/10)
Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 70 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: No Flash

[kathryn.x]

cheese on bread




Camera: Canon PowerShot G11
Exposure: 0.004 sec (1/250)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 6.1 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Off, Did not fire



my flickr : http://www.flickr.com/photos/kathe_y/

[sdhondatuner]

Here is my Surf-N-Turf Valentines Day dinner I prepared for my wife and I. Mmm...



Taken: 02-14-2010
Camera: Nikon D90
Lens: Nikkor 18-55 mm
Exposure: 0.017 sec (1/60)
Aperture: f/4.8
Focal Length: 32 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Exposure Bias: +1/3 EV
Flash: On, Return not detected

PP: Corrected color in RAW, cropped, and sized for flickr using PSE6

[WildRain]

Location: IM Sulzbacher Center, Jacksonville, FL

Camera: Canon PowerShot A1000 IS
Exposure: 0.017 sec (1/60)
Aperture: f/2.7
Focal Length: 6.2 mm
ISO Speed: 400
Date: February 10, 2010

[gomommygo]

Dreamin' of Summer: Kabobs



Can't wait til warm weather when grilling daily is practical!

Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XSi
2/16/2010 17:35:35
1/20Sec.
F10
ISO Speed 400
Lens kit 18-55mm
Focal Length 37.0 mm
Flash Off
Natural light
Light cloning done with Picnik, link to original:
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4024/...914cc438_b.jpg

[Ann Verm]

Baby size diner



Picture taken on the 17th of February
Camera Canon EOS 50D
Exposure 1/100
Lens 50mm
Aperture f/1.4
ISO 200

[Christine T]

here's my improvised pasta ... my 17 month old can't get enough of it, so i guess it all worked out for the best. pasta's accompanied by Calandra's bakery semolina bread.. .yummy!



Link to gallery is in siggy

Date taken:17-Feb-10 11:47
Camera model:Canon EOS 7D
Focal length:33 mm
Max lens aperture:f/2.8
Exposure:1/200 at f/2.8
Flash:Not fired, compulsory mode
Exposure bias:0 EV
Exposure mode:Manual
Exposure prog.:Manual
ISO speed:ISO 100
Metering mode:Pattern

[Saralonde]

[QUOTE=gomommygo;899045]

Originally Posted by gomommygo

Dreamin' of Summer: Kabobs

I used Picnik to alter the original image, then saved over the old photo instead of saving as new....but I did add a URL link to the original image. Both are posted on Flickr. Is that correct? Should I have saved as a new image or replaced old image? I am still figuring out how to maintain the correct links for assignment contest consideration.

Thanks, Kris

Don't worry, Kris, you're fine. A lot of people do a little editing and then post their final version.

[Keikyu]

Eggs Benedict


My husband and I make this meal at home on the weekends

Camera: Nikon D40
Exposure: 0.033 sec (1/30)
Aperture: f/4.0
Focal Length: 55 mm
ISO Speed: 400
Taken on February 20, 2010