If you want to take great photos, you need to learn the language of photography. While you speak this language with your tools, you should also learn how to read photography.
In this post, we discuss how to read food photos and improve your photography.
So what do we mean by "reading" a photograph anyway? Reading a photo is studying the photograph by observing and trying to find out how a photo was created and the thought process behind a it.
When you read a photograph, you start to understand the photo and you start connecting with the photographer and her process. Reading a photograph will give you an insight to information like how was this photo taken? where was the camera? How was the light?
As photographers we take lot of photos. If you are getting started (or even have been working) with photography, you need to start observing and noticing photographs from other artists to learn from these photographs.
So how do you start reading photographs? There are several things that you can learn about a photograph just by observing it thoughtfully. Here are few such questions to ask yourself when you are trying to read a photo:
Subject – What is the main subject of this photo? How is it placed with reference to the frame? What if that was changed?
Camera – Where is the camera? What is the camera angle?
Lighting – Where is the light coming from? Where are shadows in the photo?
These are just three main areas that would give you a good start. If you are doing this for the first time, don’t complicate this exercise and keep it simple.
Once you are comfortable with these three areas, you can learn more about this subject by reading more about how to read a photograph.
Further Reading
-
How to Read a Photograph – There is a whole book on this subject… in case you would like to learn much more about reading photos.
Assignment
Below we have two photos. Observe these photos and try to answer the questions above.
In the comments section below, share your answers with other readers.
Tell us what is the main subject? What if the elements in the photo were placed differently? Where was the camera? What do you think the camera angle was? Where was the light source?
What do you think? Share your findings in the comments below.
Reading a Newspaper photo by Dustin Diaz
I am having trouble “reading” the bottom shot. But my view of the top shot is the emphasis is on the preserve and not so much the bread. Interestingly enough the bread takes up more of the frame. I see this as an early morning breakfast with window light coming from the right. The shot is taken from above and it accentuates the preserve.
I can’t make out what the subject is on the 2nd one and it seems like the loght source was “blocked”. The 1st photo has obviously better lighting and I think it wants us to look at the jam. Probably both bread and jam were the subjects but the “lines” (slices) of the bread lead me to the jar and then the bread knife lead me to the bottom (bread with jam).
I do agree with Mike on the top shot. I think the light comes from the right too, maybe 3 o’clock or 3:30 (the bottom side of the knife is lighter than the top side). The subject is the preserve it stands out from the rest, the bread seems to blend in with the board everything is placed on.
On the bottom shot I assume the deserts are the subject, the light is coming from 7-8 o’clock. the bowls are placed on the lower left and upper right connecting points of the third-lines (Do not know how to describe it). Camera is from above. The background is slightly texured, even “crinkled” a bit in the top and almonds and pistachios are spread around it. I think a less “busy” composition could have given the shot a much better feel.
I’m just starting to catching up with lessons. I love this one. Will never look at a photo the same way again. Thanks.
Thanks for such useful tips. Reading a photo will surely open our minds to how we take pictures!!
Though both are overhead shots, yet the 1st one if better lighted & compose. In 1st one, camera is overhead and light is coming from right side around 3 O’ clock angle. The hero- jam jar is placed well as per the rule of thirds on the top right corner. And it works coz eye moves from bread to jar and settles on the slice of bread with jam (left to right eye movement). It’s a rustic breakfast setting, emphasised with wooden board/bench with hardly any props. The jam on the knife and bread crumbs hint the presence of a person, making it an active setting.
2nd picture has no such takeout or highlights. It’s a straight shot of two desserts(??) made of pistachio & almonds which are spread all over. So for me only memory remains of pistachio, since I can’t make out the dish
My guess: #1 (Softbox @ 2PM) and #2 (Natural Light @ 9AM) ..
For the first picture,
- Main element is the jam
- It’s really good as of now but, elements could have been placed differently, a lot of bread is seen here. It could be good if more of jam is shown.
- Camera angle was around 80* or more close to being 90*. The person holding the camera was either standing on a stool or a ladder.
- Light was a window mostly on the right. Brighter near the jam bottle
Second picture
- Main element is the pudding or content in the cups.
- Surely made a difference. I would place only 1 cup rather than two and arrange the props in a better way rather than so much random
- Camera angle as close as 90* and camera is right up.
- Light source is on the left. I guess you have used a reflector on the right.