Festival Mediarte
Photography Tips, Art, and Music
Food Photography – Important Aspects To Concentrate On
Jun 12th
When you see an image of a tasty dish in a magazine you wish you had shot your self – keep in mind that a lot of planning must have gone behind that shot. If you wish to shoot similar images you too could get started with this article,
Lighting
You cannot have a good photograph without the right lighting. Do try and visit the place you are going to be shooting beforehand. Have a look at the lighting and remember that ambient light can be enough in most kitchens, since they are very neatly lit up. On the other hand if you prefer to have a little more control over the lighting you could carry one flash and even a few slaves for high lights. Also, you may have yellowish hues when you are shooting under bulb lights (ambient). If you want this then leave it just like that. Alternatively, a high shutter speed and flash would remove the yellow haze, and you could work on it on Photoshop as well. Just use the color balance option to decrease the yellow there.
Tripod
If you are shooting under ambient light then you may need to use a slow shutter speed. This makes it inevitable to use a tripod. Get the sturdiest tripod you can afford to carry to the venue. And then you will probably be shooting close ups of the food. Here again the importance of a tripod becomes more than necessary.
The Food arrangement
Where you are photographing food, presentation is everything. Take the time to symmetrically arrange the food items, and the cutlery around it. Make sure you let the best thing about the food stand out. For example, if its chocolate pudding you are photographing, let the chocolate sauce flow well over the pudding to give it that special feel that makes you taste chocolate just by looking at the image. It it were a burger, you would want to make sure the ham is stuffing out of the sides of the bun.
Depth of Field
Professional food photos almost always have a shallow depth of field. In fact if you are using a professional view camera you could get everything out of focus except for a few inches in the area the food is kept in. Out of focus table cloths and chairs are classic food backgrounds. Auto model cameras will not allow you to adjust this, but you could get the effect on computer later. However it is much better to shoot so as to get that shallow depth of field – a computer cannot get quite the same effect.
Finally remember, the food doesn’t have to taste good when you are shooting – it only has to look good. Professional photographers sometimes go as far as to blow torch certain areas of a barbecued chicken to make it look better!
How to Photograph Food Beautifully
Jun 11th
Leaning to take good photos is one of the most common hobbies of most people today. This is because they would want to preserve whatever memories they have during specific event or gathering. That gathering would not be complete without fond laughter, memories, and of course, food. So, what better way to preserve all these than to learn food photography?
The Meeting Of Food And Photography
Photographing food is probably one of the most challenging kinds of photography out there. It is considered difficult by most professional food photographers because there is a time constraint in the whole photo shoot. And since the marketability of the food itself depends primarily on how it is seen in print, food photographers should be well trained and skilled in order to come up with satisfying results.
If you are one of those who are trying their hands on food photography, the first thing that should be paid attention to is the camera well. It is a must that you familiarize yourself with all its features and functions especially the basic operations like focus/auto focus, exposure compensation, white balance, image resolution and size, and flash modes operation. Know when to use these features in order to highlight the best angles of your subject. It would also be best if you familiarize yourself with other equipment such as the proper use of a tripod or stabilizer will help you focus on your subject better and will also avoid camera shake that usually causes blurring.
Next is to learn the basics. In photography, you cannot break a rule if you have not mastered it so make sure that you familiarize yourself with the basics such as filling the gap and the distance. This is a major basic rule in food photography because getting close to the subject as close as possible is most ideal setting since you fill the entire frame of with your subject to create a satisfying image. Distance will give a full view of the food’s texture and ingredients.
Next basic thing is knowing to calculate the focus and depth-of-field (DOF). The use of depth-of-field never fails to create wonders in food photo shoots. With careful adjustment of focus and depth of field, you can bring to life any dish that is your subject. (TIP: Use wider or more open for a shallow DOF and a smaller or more closed one for a deeper shots.)
You should also be familiar with the simple layout of the food you wish to photograph. You can do this by identifying which is the standout ingredient. Before taking any shot, assess the scene closely and look for something that can grab people’s attention right away. You can use this main feature of the food as the subject of your subject. Also, pay attention to your set-up. It is a must to take the time off to setup your food photo shoot. If there are distracting elements in the background, remove them. If you think there’s something missing in the set up, then think of something else that would fill the empty space or gap. Prepare the garnish, the props, and other materials you might need for the shoot.
Learning to control your lights is another surefire success tip in food photography. Like in any photography styles, lighting or available light can make or unmake any photograph. Since food is the major subject in food photography, it is better that the setting is bright and the lights are soft so as to make the food more appetizing. In digital cameras, turning on the White Balance feature of the equipment can solve dark settings in an instant.
Crafts For Small Kids
May 26th
Keeping small children occupied can be a full time job. Try utilizing crafts and creative play time to encourage recreational learning while keeping them entertained. Whether it’s one child alone or an entire group to keep busy, there are more things to get kids started in crafts than you’ll be able to choose from. Be sure to try to plan your activities based on the average age of the children. It will make the process much easier for everyone involved.
A safe and easy craft that kids tend to find fascinating is origami. There are many levels of origami from the incredibly simple to the advanced type of folding. Purchase gift wrap from a craft store or local big box store. It’s fun to let kids pick out the wrapping paper that they like. Even the local dollar or liquidation store will have plenty at a low price. Easy beginner origami can be found online with no trouble. Get involved by learning with your children as you go.
Paper plates have been a great craft accessory for years. Most of us can recall using them as children in school to make great things like masks or giant flowers. Supply kids with a stack of plates and additional decorative items like pipe cleaner, glue and markers. It’s always fun to see what children will come up with when set loose with a stack of great materials and their imagination.
Make use of those old egg cartons by giving them to the kids for crafts. An egg carton caterpillar is fun to create. Cut the egg carton so that there is an entire row of egg slots to form the caterpillar body. Use pipe cleaner for antenna and then go crazy decorating the body however you like. This is a great one for younger kids since it involves little cutting. Be sure to always supervise and assist small children with the use of scissors.
One craft idea that will always be timeless is making holiday or birthday cards by hand. There is something so special about receiving a home made card from a child that cannot be beaten by any store bought version. It’s a true keepsake that can be kept for many years as a part of a beautiful memory.
The options are virtually endless for crafts that are perfectly suited to smaller kids. Get them involved in reading by having them create their very own bookmarks. Use sturdy construction paper cut rectangular then let them do the rest with glitter, paint or beads. Have them make one in the style or theme of their favourite story. Pencil holders are also great and related to reading and writing. Decorate a can or wooden container tall enough to hold pencils. There really is no limit to what you can do.
It’s important to prevent kids from developing extreme tendencies for electronics and TV. While those things are fine in moderation, it’s necessary to keep the brain active and stimulated. Crafts for kids are both fun and results in some pretty neat stuff.
Portrait and Headshot Photography for Your Child – Ten Things You Should Know
May 24th
When you’ve hired a professional photographer to take photos of your little one, there are a few things you can do to make sure your child is well-prepared for the experience. As any parent already knows, sometimes it can be really difficult to get your child (or children) to stay still long enough to pose for one picture, let alone dozens. If you follow a few simple rules though, you’ll have happier child, better pictures and plenty of them!
1: For children under the age of 6, one of the most important things to do is to make sure they’ve had a nap before the photo-shoot. Even if they don’t normally sleep during the day, in this case, make an exception. A tired kid is usually an impatient and cranky kid. Difficult enough for a parent to deal with; nearly impossible for a photographer to manage.
2: Feed your child first and have food ready in case they need a snack during the photo-shoot. For kids of any age (and lots of adults too), a full stomach makes a lot of difference to improving a mood and improving the ability to focus for more than a minute or two.
3: Don’t give your kid food or drinks that are proven hyper-energy boosters… No sugar and no caffeine before or during the shoot! This means no pop, nothing with ketchup, no sugary cereals, no cookies and so on. Hyper kids are even more difficult to photograph than tired or cranky kids.
4: Be sure to explain clearly to your child about the photo-shoot before you even meet up with your photographer. Tell them the photographer’s name; explain what will be happening and why the pictures are being taken. Very important to explain, is that they need to listen to what the photographer is asking them to do. (Such as how to pose, or to look at the camera or to hold still, etc.)
5: Never, never, never leave your child unattended with a photographer, unless it’s someone you already know and trust. Other than the obvious safety reasons, it’s just common sense that a child in a strange or new situation should be accompanied at all times by a parent or guardian.
6: During the shoot, unless the photographer specifically asks you to, try not to direct your child too much. Although it’s instinctive that you’ll want to, it really is best to let the photographer be in charge of the situation as much as possible. Assuming you’ve hired someone with experience photographing children, you should be able to relax and trust that they know what they’re doing, and that includes how to direct your child for the best possible results.
7: Before your shoot, be sure to take a few minutes to let your child get comfortable being around the photographer before the camera comes out. Again, an experienced child photographer knows it’s important to establish a rapport with the little ones before starting the photo-session. Even ten minutes of your photographer talking to the child – or with very young children, just getting them used to the sound of a new voice – will make a big difference in the quality and tone of your child’s session.
8: Be sure to give your child a few breaks during the session. Bring a few of their favourite small toys with you. If you’ve booked more than half an hour (most sessions are 60 to 90 minutes at least), then take them for a 5 minute walk halfway through. If you’re somewhere outdoors, let them run and play for a few minutes. If you’re in your home, let them play in their room or in your yard for a short while. A good child photographer not only won’t mind, they’ll encourage you to do this. Again, a happy child is much easier to take pictures of than an unhappy one.
9: A simple thing but sometimes an overlooked one, is to be sure your child has gone to the washroom right before the shoot. And if they haven’t, then be sure to take at least one washroom break – even if your child doesn’t ask for one – during your session. Many children are too shy to ask to go to the bathroom if they’re around a stranger or in a strange situation. If your child is still in diapers, make sure they’re clean and dry at all times during the shoot. If they need a diaper change, don’t hesitate to take the time. Child photographers know to expect this, so don’t worry about taking the time to do it.
10: If, despite all your best efforts, your child is in no mood for a photo-shoot and is fussy, or crying non-stop or just won’t be still or calm, don’t try to force the situation. Reschedule. Your photographer will still need to be compensated for their time, even if they can’t take the photos you hired them for. The sooner you decide it’s better to reschedule, the less time you’ll need to pay the photographer for being in a situation where they’re unable to do their job. Although it might end up costing you a bit more than you’d bargained for, if the photos of your child are important to you, rescheduling with the same photographer will be worth it.