Product Photography

During our Product photography work shops we were given a tutorial by Tim, in which we looked at photographing a wine bottle and an aftershave bottle. The aim of this work shop was to show us the cheats and techniques used to photograph difficult products such as glass or reflective lids ect. 


Here ive photographed the set us used to capture an image of a men's Clinique 'Happy' aftershave bottle. The layout may look busy but there is a purpose to pretty much every object on the table. As Tim explained, when shooting a fragrance bottle or anything with a reflective lid such as this, anything in the room, including the photographer and the camera is reflected in the object. This obviously doesn't look very professional. 

The kind of image we were aiming with this set up was like the image below. In order to do this the set up started with a light lighting up the background to ensure it was white and that there was light coming through the glass bottle. Next are large foam boards which were white on the side facing the light, this ensured the light was being reflected onto the background and no shadows were being caused. 

Next a light is being shone using a light box to create softer lighting, onto the object. the light box can be seen to the right of the image. Then either side of the aftershave bottle are black boards being propped up, this is what causes the light and dark reflections in the stainless steel lid rather than reflections of people of objects in the room. 

Lastly the bottle is placed on a mirror or sheet of glass which helps to create the floating look which can be seen in the image below. 

Touch ups were then made on capture one such as adjusting the colour and removing ant scratches on the bottle or specks or dust ect. 

Below a still life book on lighting found in the library:

This helped me to grasp the concept of lighting objects.

Below are some shots taken before the lighting and set up were correct. These images i took of Clinqiue products go to show the importance of getting the studio set up correct when photographing such objects. 

Final Image 

Product Photography

Techniques in Product Photography.


During a session with one of our technicians Tim, last week, we looked at tips and tricks for product photography. An extremely helpful skill we were shown was how to create appropriate relfletions in shiny objects. We captured image of a glass bottle and a clinique aftershave.

I took some leaflets from work with images of product photography inside to give an example of what we were trying to achieve in our session. 

Almost all of clinique product photography includes this look of sharp clean white and black reflections on the products. If you image capturing images on reflective products without using any techniques or tricks, you and your camera or studio are most likely going to be what is reflected onto the product. 

In our session with Tim we used two black sheets of paper with a slight space in-between them, hung in front of a light box. I had actually watched a youtube tutorial which used a very similar technique to Tim, prior to this session. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFkvwCUiSIw

This video explains one way in which these reflects can be achieved yourself in the studio.

Product Photography

The Semeotics of Product Photography/ Advertising.


During seminars last week we were shown a slide show exploring the semeiotics of advertising images, product photography in particular. By this, i was encouraged to start to look at the denoted and connoted messages behind advertising campaigns. Although at the level i am at i am yet to grasp the art of standard product photography, and i know standard website images should be what i aim to be able to achieve first, i know it is interesting and very helpful to keep in mind how to further my product photography in order to transform it into an advertisement rather than just a product shot. 

In the seminar we looked at examples of advertisements that had deeper meaning that what first meets the eye. Rather than use these examples in my blog, i want to explore the advertising campaigns which came to my mind when watching this seminar.

As a part time job i work for a cosmetics company called clinique. Every time a new product is launched, advertising campaigns are designed. Ive always took notice of the product photography and advertising campaigns which clinique bring out. I take note of the way the products have been photographed, how they've been positioned, i question why they may have been positioned in that way and i take notice of what other objects are placed in the shot and why? 

Heres an example;

http://thebeautyexperience.annabelle.ch/2014/01/10/clinique-lanciert-die-superdefense-spf20/

Here is Cliniques Superdefense daily defines moisturiser SPF 20, photographed in a clean crisp shot, partnered with a spoon and some berries. 

When partnered with the text which goes with this campaign or even knowing more about the product, it becomes clear that the berries are photographed with the moisturiser because the main trait of the product is that it is packed with anti oxidants. As most of us know, something else which is packed with antioxidants is fruit. The addition of the fruit, the spoon, and the creamy looking moisturiser makes the moisturiser almost look appetising.

http://www.alteregostyle.com/en/clinique-event-12-02-2013

Again in this advertisement, what first meets the eye is two products and some eggs, one plain, one freckled. Once again when seeing the ad next to the text and titles which go with it or having product knowledge, you become to understand that the even better franchise is a collection of products designed to correct dark stops, and give a more even skin tone. Through working on counter and being aware of the advertisements the company beings out I'm aware of how well they work. Several times when this was being advertised i had women coming in describing the advert they'd seen rather than being able to tell me the product name. The simple yet effective symbolisation of a freckled egg then becoming a perfectly even colour is something which appeals to and sticks with the customer, as well as putting belief in them that it will work. 

Phase one

Soup Photography

After researching other food photographers and gathering an idea of style appears to be popular in food photography or work well at the moment, we were then split off into groups once again and given a food to photograph. Our group was given soup. 

These images were my best images which came out of the shoot however on reflection, i think to have made the food look more appealing i could have focused the image more on the bowl of soup itself. Personally i feel they are both good images but my eyes as a viewer tend to be drawn to the other objects such as the ingredients next to the soup. When the whole idea or aim is to be selling the soup itself and making it look appetising. 

in the image below i chose to crop more into the image to try and make the bowl of soup more of a main focus. I think just a simple adjustment such as this definitely works a lot better. 

In order to capture these images my group had to work together in buying and finding all of the equipment and food. We used old planks of wood placed on the floor and an old chopping board as the background. To keep in touch with this old warn theme we bought a bowl from the market and used a rustic looking spoon and knife. The soup we photographed was Butternut soup, we bought soup, herbs, crutons, garlic, cream and a butternut vegetable. Some of my group chose to place half the butternut vegetable in the image however i felt it looked too over powering next to the bowl of soup which i knew had to be the main focus. 

I like the way in which the herbs are scattered and nothing in the image is perfectly placed. I feel like fits in with the theme of the rustic background and resembles a lot of the food photography styles I've been researching. 

Food Photography

Food Styling.

In one of our seminars we looked at the art of food styling. I found it so interesting and it actually took me by surprise to see how many tips and tricks need to be used in order to style food. This video i found on youtube shows and insight into the work of the photographer and food stylist and how important a food stylist is. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HW-NzD9dFow

Food styling techniques are something i need to start learning more about and considering for our next shoot in food photography. As a beginner in food photography i know i need to know these skills myself as i would not have a food stylist to work with if i were asked to capture an food photographs myself.

Food photography

David Munns



David Munns is a London based food and drink photographer i came across when researching food photography on the internet. The work of David Munns follows the style of food photography i am finding myself very attracted to; Rustic, vintage, easy, home syle cooking, much like the work of my previously researched photographer; David Loftus.

What caught my eye most about David Munns work however, is the way in which the images he presents on his website, he presents side by side images of the finished dish as an outcome, and the main ingredient or ingredients next to them.

for example;


http://foodphotography.co.uk/230/

A lot of this photographers work comes across to me as fresh and summery. He uses bright vibrant colours and uses rustic backdrops like worn planks of wood or tables, again much like the work of David Loftus.



http://foodphotography.co.uk/palenta_peaches/

In some of his images two totally different dishes are placed in a piece next to one another like this image in the link above. This to the viewer looks like main course and desert set out. I think this makes the food look even more appealing as you imagine yourself being able to eat both courses. Many of his images are captured from an above angle, once again like i found in the work of David Loftus. This view point makes the viewer feel as though they are stood above the food looking down at it on a table, the viewer therefore feels more like the food is personally for them and they are about to eat it themselves.


http://foodphotography.co.uk/pasta_chair/

In this above image the half pulled out chair and the view angle looks as though it is inviting the viewer to sit down themselves; a very well thought out idea in order to make the food look more enticing.

Week 1

Photographing Fruit

Week 1.

For our first task in food photography we were assigned groups and asked to capture images of certain foods. Our group had to photograph lemons.  This task encouraged us to look creativly at a food and choose to style it in whatever way we wanted.  

Still life photography

Still Life Introduction


In our final project of second year we are studying the genre of still life photography. Within this we are set to explore the forms of food, product, documentary, nature and digital montage.

starting with one of the most difficult aspects of still life photography we have been asked to photograph and research food and the art of food photography.

During our tutor Richard's seminar we looked at various examples of food photography, food photographers and where it may be found. It was surprising to me just how many places food photography can be found. in my own time i found some magazines which came with newspapers which had brilliant examples of up to date current day food photography.

David Loftus

Food Photography. David Loftus




David Loftus is a food photographer we were introduced to during one of our seminars. I was able to relate to David Loftus' work through having many books with his photography at home. David Loftus is the photographer whom photographs all of the work by the famous chef Jamie Oliver for his cook books and magazines.

After researching this photographer in books and on his web site i chose some images which i felt caught my eye and inspired me most. 

http://www.davidloftus.com/food#45

What i find most interesting and inspiring about David Loftus' work is the contiuous style which seems to repeatedly flow throughout his work. His style often includes bright, vibrant, saturated colours. Although as we have learnt in seminars, food photographers almost always work along side a food stylist, all of the images produced by Loftus seem to follow this similar style, the food is placed quite relaxed and loose, in a messy style, however to look at the viewer wouldn't think of it as messy, the images make the food look related, like you can imagine having just cooked it at home; with knives laid on chopping boards, crumbs and herbs spread around.. 

http://www.davidloftus.com/food#4

David's images also always seem to follow quite a rustic, vintage theme with old rustic backgrounds and surfaces which the food is placed upon. Something i like about David Loftus' work is the fact his backgrounds are always varied and as a photographer myself, i can notice just as much thought is put into the backdrops and colours as the styling of the food. I think this is so important as David's work presents perfectly, the type of colour of a background often compliments the food or sets the kind of feeling or thought you want to intend from the image. 


http://www.davidloftus.com/food#18


Something which i would not have thought to do myself which David Loftus often does in his images is include peoples hands, either holding the food, or holding knifes and folks looking like they're about to dig in. Again i think this is actually a really good idea, as it relates back to that theme of making the food look relatable. Like the image in this link above, you feel although you're threre yourself, at the buffet about to join in.