Food Photo Critique Request – Help Your Fellow Reader
Every week many wonderful readers make writing this blog very rewarding. Either by sending an email asking a question or leaving a comment, you motivate me to write about food photography and styling and to share what I learn. Thank you all for doing that. It means a lot to us.
Last week we got an email from a reader in India who was shooting vegetarian pizza. In his email, he wanted to get some feedback from you (Yes! You.) on how to make this photo better. Here is the email from PCP.
Email from a Food Photography Enthusiast
Hi Friends,
I need help for my food photography. we already took some shots of food which is not as satisfying since our first attempt not much satisfactory i would like you get your advice or tips to make it better.. i will post the images for readers how much your tips helped me to take a mouth watering images.Subject: Pan Pizza (Indian style)/ serving method on black pan
Camera: Canon 450D
photo shoot day: 05/15/2010Our Challenges : We use fixed canon lens 50 mm , canon kit lens 18mm-55mm, and telephoto lens 55mm-250mm. I wish to use 50 mm only but problem is we can’t cover our focus on whole pizza. lens is focusing on one particular area of pizza and rest is gradually blurry to background.. for some images its works well but for our client they need closer shot of pizza with all details.
I tried keeping my camera bit far away to cover focus all around pizza, I get the result what i want but.. my whole composition is ruined. Thought of crop it post production but image size is reduced into half.
How to fix this issue ? I have to go close to my subject and get wide focus on my subject. It may be a silly question but it adds value to my knowledge and i can take good photography and share with you guys..
Do you have any tips for this pizza shoot? or please share your experiences.
food is serving on black pan so any tips for background and table set up?
inputs are appreciated.
thank you
PCP
Photographing Pizza – copyright PCPReading the Veggie Pizza Photo
Let’s read the photo. To read a photograph, lets start with framing. What are your thoughts on framing of this photo? What do you think about the composition in this case? What can be done to improve the photo? What about the background? How can we change the background so that this photo is more appealing? What else can be improved?
My Two Cents
PCP, here are my thoughts on what I like about your photo and what can be improved in this photo.
Things I Like About This Pizza Photo
I’ll start with what are some things you have captured wonderfully in this photo. In my opinion, couple of things are really well done. They are:
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Exposure – I really like the exposure here. The subject here, pizza, is well lit and does not have any dark spots/areas.
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Color – Color is an important aspect of photography. In this photo, the bell pepper (or capsicum in India) and tomato have wonderful colors. This goes back to capturing true colors and it is done wonderfully here.
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Mouth-Watering Pizza – And above all, the photo really makes me want that pizza… now!
Overall, I think this is very well done. The pizza itself is well captured. As I said, exposure, color and appeal is wonderful here.
What I Would Do Differently
In my thoughts above, I have focused my comments on pizza itself and I think the pizza itself is captured beautifully. If I were to take this photo, I would do couple of things differently. Here are two things:
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Framing – In my opinion, I would frame a little more tightly. I would get closer and eliminate the empty space around the pizza.
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Background – Another thing that I would do differently is that I would use a simpler background. For me, the stripped pattern is a little distracting. I would prefer a plain background.
As I said before, I really love the pizza and exposure on the pizza and if these two things were different, your photo will improve even further. If I were to stare at the pizza and look only at the pizza and ignore anything around it, this photo invites me to eat the pizza.
PCP, this is my opinion. Others may have different thoughts about it and I think that’s what makes photography interesting. Photography is an expressive art, it will be different for different people.
Dear Readers, Your Turn to Help
Please leave a comment below with your suggestions on how PCP can improve this photo. If you would like to know what others are saying about this photo, subscribe to the comments feed and get future comments.
But Before That… Some thoughts…
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Even if you think your skills need improvement, critiquing and analyzing a photo will help you understand what makes a food photo beautiful and will help you improve.
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Mention what you like in this photo. Be genuine when you praise something.
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Make your critique constructive. Tell what can be improved or what would you do differently. Be specific.
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Start small, may be pick just two things that our reader can improve.
Do You Want Feedback on Your Photo?
If you would like a feedback or critique on your photos, leave a comment below and attach your photo to the comment. We’ll contact you with more details. This is a good way to learn and get some feedback directly. I think most information found online is generic and getting direct feedback is the fastest way to improve. See how to attach your photos in the comments.
Photographs used in this post are copyright of PCP. All Rights Reserved by PCP.
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- Food Photo Critique Request #2 – Improve This Food Photo
- Photographing Gooseberries – Food Photo Critique Request # 4
- Karahi Chicken Photo: Food Photograph Feedback Request
Pizza is tricky to shoot well!
I agree that the colors in this are fabulous, but that the background is distracting. I think with a solid color background, everything else would really pop!
I would also try to get in closer and eliminate some of the space around it. What about trying a portrait orientation?
Lauren, you bring a great point. Changing orientation of the frame will be a great way to see what it will look like.
I like your suggestion of removing the background.
I’d appreciate a critique on this photo. I’m attempting to learn the rule of thirds and set this scene. However I’m not pleased with the balance and would appreciate how it could be improved.
http://winosandfoodies.typepad.com/winosandfoodies_project_3/2010/05/day-143-sunday.html
What I like best is the black pan because it frames the beautiful colors of the pizza.
What I like least in the 2-toned brown stand the black pan is sitting on.
Also, I agree that a tighter shot and less of a ‘set-up’ would focus more attention on the beauty of the shot — the pizza in a black pan.
Joan,
That is a great observation. Didn’t even notice that brown stand. Was too much focused on food I guess
and now that I have seen it, can’t take my eyes off.
I would not photograph the pizza in its entirety (looking down or straight ahead). I usually shoot portrait style and in this case(with the plate propped up so viewers can see the details of the pizza). Maybe cut a slice of the pizza and place it on a nice looking plate for a different look.
I did an experimental triptych at http://digital-photography-school.com/forum/other-sys/103138-pizza-story.html
What I find it’s a good idea to make pizzas really mouth-watering is to cut a slice and leave it close to the cut. Like other readers have already pointed out, I think the background cloth is too distracting, a simpler one would better highlight the main subject, which looks very good in itself. I would also eliminate the stand, like Joan said. I would leave the vegetables and lemon, but eliminate the additional napkins, and somehow focus on half the pizza or so. The shooting angle is quite right for me. Good luck!
It sounds like the issue with using the 50 mm is the amount of bokeh it is producing. Assuming you are using a tripod, set a smaller aperture and use a longer exposure to expand the focus area of the lens. Play with your settings but I start out with f/9 or f/10 in aperture priority.
The pizza itself is beatuful but the brown background is too busy. You seem to be using several pieces of cloth and they don’t run together evenly plus they are tilted in the photo. Find a solid background or a larger piece of the cloth. Also use solid color with the decorative linens.
Lastly I would lower the camera angle and get in closer. If the Depth of Field was your concern, setting a higer aperture should help here with the 50mm.
Hope this helps and look forward to seeing the final shot.
C-
It is a very nice shot, indeed. Great colors and lighting. Although most people suggest cleaner background, I actually like this one. I love most of the props- the hot pepper and tomatoes go well with pizza. I would remove the lemon, it doesn’t strike me as a pizza ingredient. Also, I think the napkin on the right is a bit distracting. I would certainly do a tighter composition, which would probably require rearrangement of the props. And try different angles, maybe shoot a bit lower.
I love the colors and exposure : the pieces of pepper are a beautiful green, it’s a very appealing pizza.
I do not have the skills to suggest improvements about your focus challenge, but I’ll suggest a few things about the background :
I like the napkin on the right, but I think the one behind the pizza is not necessary.
I really like the red peppers, they are very appealing, and the tomatoes, but is there any lemon in the recipe ? If there isn’t any lemon in the pizza, I think you should remove it.
I quite like the strips pattern, I think it goes well with the “Indian style”.
I’d love to see your final shot, too.
Hi
I think the idea is great but I would do things different.
This is how it could be more interesting to look at:
-I would have taken a lower point of view
-Less dof
-Light (flash) from right or left behind and right or left from you a reflector to light up the darker sides (you could also take the shot near a window, as long as the mainlight comes from on side)
- tilt the camera a bit
maybe the ingredients more together and take the sot closer. When there is only a part of the pizza and the vegetables people realise there is a veggie pizza on the menu
Hope this helps
Bye Martijn
To me the picture has a lot of stuff going on in it. Too many napkins, too many side props and too many dish mats aka the striped background. I also agree about removing the brown stand.
The tomatoes on the side look like they are a bit dusty, I would give them a wash or a rub to remover the “dusty” look.
The peppers ads pep to the pic, I quite like them but maybe use them on the back, instead of the standing napkin.
The pizza itself looks very appealing as everyone said, but I think the attempt to create color to make it stand out has created a color clash. While red and green are appealing the yellow and purple look off with it. I also disagree with the solid color background idea but I suppose since we are talking traditional Indian Style Pan Pizza, they can choose a traditional Indian fabric with colors matching those of the pizza yet in lesser intensity: perhaps jade green and gold combo. Or if a solid background is chosen some cutlery can be used.
oops add not ads!
Thank you very much Neel and LFP readers for your valuable and genuine comments which really gonna help me for my future shoots.
- P.Senthil Kumar
Hi! I have just seen this post. I think the pizza looks good, but I would love to see it closer, a tighter composition. I also think there are too many props around. A simpler background may help, just white or any other light color. They will make the black pan stand out. Maybe if you cut a portion of the pizza we will be able to see the texture of the dough. I love the colors! they look super real.
Do you have your final shot? I’d love to see it.
I think it would be great if the towel is removed in the picture. Then the cheese will be added next to the tomatoes. I agree that it should be closer to capture the pizza more. But I still think it is a nice picture.
I agree on what Karen has noticed! the towel is overlapping the pizza pan and i think replacing it with other veggies would be great! (it’s just my opinion) anyway, the whole concept of this photo was nice! Pizza is one of my favorite food.
Modern day advances in digital photography has allowed for anyone of any experience level be able to take photographs – it is as simple as point and shoot. Thanks to modern technology, the photographic process has become over simplified to the extent that practically anyone can capture professional quality images by purchasing a modern digital camera and a professional grade lens.
I think it takes a lot more to Professional Photography, and I think it is attitudes like that, that devalue the industry and the work of professionals. It’s a shame.
http://futurephoto.weebly.com/
Wow delicious pizza, wish it was real that i could it taste it. I love pizza so much because of its color especially the cheesy taste the stickiness of the pizza.