In a photograph, there are shapes and lines and color and other elements of art. The interaction between these elements defines how compelling the image is.
Composing these elements and sculpting that photograph takes time and patience. Let’s look at how to simplify the process by pre-composing.
Improve Your Composition by Removing Food
Previously, we talked about sketching your ideas and using the sketches to plan your photo shoot. However, as you must have realized after completing the assignment from day 11, that sketching an idea doesn’t mean that the final photo that you are satisfied with will look exactly like your sketch.
Once you sketch your idea and are ready to set the table and scene, there will be some more thoughts and ideas that come up as you work on creating the scene. The goal should be to finalize the scene by using the elements of art and composing the frame.
So how do you go about doing that?
After sketching the image, start arranging the elements on the set/table. Start with the sketch you like the most. Arrange the plates and bowls and flatware according to the sketch.
How do things look? Does this match with your goal with this photo? If so, bring out the food and see how the food looks on the scene. Add last minute finishes to complete the scene. And then take the shot.
How Does This Help?
Pre-composing the scene helps in couple of ways. This approach helps you to break the creative process into several steps. Rather than bring the food, plates, background, flatware and any thing that you need and starting to compose the scene, we make this a two or three step process.
We have composed the scene first without the food and then we adjust our composition once food is brought in. Not bringing food right away helps in several ways. The props are easier to handle, food doesn’t stand while you are composing and looks fresh, set doesn’t get messy and you can patiently work and compose the scene.
I find this process helpful and helps me tackle this challenge piece by piece. For someone else, they may bring all in and then compose. For some, creativity comes out of chaos and for others, it is different approach.
Everybody’s creative process is different. Experiment with this and develop your own process. I am sure as time goes on your process will change and composing a set will be your second nature.
Suggested Reading
- The Photographer’s Eye
- Day 11: Sketch Your Food Photo Ideas
- One Important Question That is Ignored By Photographers
Your Assignment
For this assignment try this. Set the table and bring in the props. Bring in the plates and bowls and everything you think will work in this scene. But don’t bring the food just yet. Arrange the props and other elements with a goal in mind.
Take couple of shots. Does the combination look good in the frame? Take few more shots and once you are satisfied, use this arrangement for your final food shot. Show us your arrangements by uploading the photos to LFP facebook page.
What is Your Process
How do you go about photographing food? Share your process with us in the comments below.
Awesome tip! I’ll be letting my wife know for her food blog. Just discovered your blog, and I love it.