Shutter Sisters

feast for the eyes

By

“Cooking is like love. It should be entered into with abandon or not at all.” ~ Harriet Van Horne๏ปฟ

Food and photography make a beautiful match.  Food provides vivid colors and varying textures naturally for photographers.  From shooting ingredients, to prep work in a kitchen, to the finished product, and even nibbled on creation, the shooting possibilities are endless. I personally find photographing food a challenge, but being passionate about both makes me strive to take better food shots. A beautiful photo of a dish instantly draws me in. I have made many a recipe, and bought many a food magazine, or cookbook simply from falling in love with someone else’s photographs. When I pick up a new cookbook the first thing I do is thumb through the pages in hopes of seeing beautiful food, if I find that then I am compelled to dive in.  Some photographers have a signature style when it comes to photographing food. I think a lot of that has to do with composition and styling.  The perfect plate, linens, glassware, really add to a photo. From the rustic farm table, to the refined china,  I am continually inspired.

Lets have a feast for our eyes today. Share a favorite food shot and your thoughts on the subject.  Do you style food shots? Do you have a favorite table, cup, plate that you find yourself photographing again and again? Do you find that you are more passionate about food from photos? 

Let’s celebrate all that is sweet, spicy, steamy and down right delicious.  Tempt me please! 

Comments

  6. I don't style food but I do move them into the light. If it's too dark in the kitchen why not to try the windowsell in the living room? The good thing about photographing food: it does not move, it's patient and I can try a lot. ๐Ÿ™‚

    So here are some tomatos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/annikachristine/5514614174/
    some cakes: http://www.flickr.com/photos/annikachristine/4897129582/in/set-72157622988004781/
    and a muffin http://www.flickr.com/photos/annikachristine/4893385592/in/set-72157622988004781/

  7. I don't style any food shots, although I have been known to move a dish or mug around to find the perfect spot of sunlight. For me, taking pics of food is something I don't do that often, but when I do it is all about the memory that goes along with the food – like making muffins with my kid or creating holiday fare. Or making a warm breakfast before school (quite a rarity on a weekday) on a chilly day…http://www.flickr.com/photos/ko2008/5495355421/

  10. I love to take pictures of food, as you can tell from these recent shots!

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/23668869@N04/5531386057/
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/23668869@N04/5531378095/
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/23668869@N04/5531953116/
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/23668869@N04/5531945868/
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/23668869@N04/5531937742/
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/23668869@N04/5531345211/
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/23668869@N04/5531342601/
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/23668869@N04/5531337539/

  17. I guess I am one of the very few who has no food photos to share! but I had to say how much your shot of these gorgeous carrots just made my morning sparkle! Thanks, I really needed a shot of color.

  21. Love the post! Photographing food is one of my passionate hobbies I love photographing that perfect plating (which I can't seem to achieve).

    I guess I style my shots…I use white… a lot. Surfaces, plates, cups you name it…in part because it doesn't draw the eye away from the food.

    I love photographing all stages of a dish. Prep, cooking and finished result.

    Here's one of my favourites;

    http://winnipegweddingphotographybycoral.blogspot.com/2011/03/food.html

  24. i have a set devoted entirely to breakfast on the weekends at my table. i love the light there and love how whatever happens to be on the table tells a story of the season or whatever.
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/autumnsun/4873886979/in/set-72157624567007889/
    many times it's simply what i'm eating
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/autumnsun/5401455915/in/set-72157624567007889/
    i get excited when i look and the color in the book i'm reading matches perfectly to the bowl i'm using for my cereal.
    there's very little purposeful styling but so many times it appears as if i planned it. such as this – one my daughter laughed at me saying i planned it that way – seriously i did not.
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/autumnsun/5462953700/in/set-72157624567007889/

  27. I've been reading this blog for a few months now. I love all the variety in photography and looking through all the contributed photographs. It inspires me in my own photography and keeps those artistic juices flowing. I haven't posted any of my own photos before but thought today would be "the day" to stop lurking in the shadows. Here is a photograph I took of an orange slice. I love how it looks almost like a stained glass window. http://lainethomasphotography.wordpress.com/2011/03/04/slice-of-light/

  31. I don't really cook but I do buy fruit or veggies to become still life subjects – they don't object or move (as Annika Christine points out above) – one of the best things about them, in my book.

    Here is a blog post about purchasing a pear and the resulting photograph:

    http://www.gottgraphicsdesign.com/2011/02/11/the-essence-of-pear/

    And the inside of a pepper:
    http://flic.kr/p/9jNgiN

    And a lime slice:
    http://flic.kr/p/9pTpSf

    Thanks for a wonderful topic. The photos shared above are stunning!

  34. I definitely love shooting food.
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/juliealvarez/sets/72157605263403647/with/5523459009/
    It is something that I always have in hand, and in time, with the years I learned to really appreciate the good things of food, the ingredients, the making, the time consuming, the process of gathering, and the sharing (this is the most important part for me).
    But I always like it more when I see (and photograph) a "scene-like" food image.
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/juliealvarez/5418830676/in/set-72157605263403647/
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/juliealvarez/5418864080/in/set-72157605263403647/
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/juliealvarez/5418834466/in/set-72157605263403647/
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/juliealvarez/5436366723/in/set-72157605263403647/
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/juliealvarez/5490281543/in/set-72157605263403647/

  36. I've seen myself grow so much in the 3 years I've been a foodblogger! Photography is a passion – but, then, so is food and cooking. I usually use a white board, white plates, white cups – mainly because I use natural light and it often seems to be on the gloomy, dark side lately. I try to capture textures, color , juiciness; droolworthy is my goal. Here's one I took last week:
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/46177695@N08/5506425478/

    You can find the recipe here: http://shesinthekitchen.blogspot.com/2011/03/one-pot-chicken-with-dill-and.html

  39. This seems to be the favorite of everyone on my flickr stream:

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/leedav/2691632892/

    Sometimes I take a lot of time with shots but usually I just want to eat so things get a bit rushed. It's hard working with food every day too. I kind of have to shut off my desire to take pics of everything because I don't have time!

  42. The trouble I have is shooting while I'm cooking. Whenever I cook something new, I want to share the recipes along with pictures, but I forget about my camera.

    When we're eating out, then the camera is right there! Restaurants seem to love it when you take cook pictures of their food.

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/kimberlygauthier/5423198829/in/set-72157623803788731/
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/kimberlygauthier/4912242734/in/set-72157623803788731/

  44. This is a very old post from my blog that I rarely update any more.. but I don't have access to all my latest food pictures at the moment. (I took some lovely pictures of perfect little silvery smelt last weekend. I'll have to find another time to share those!)
    I love the colours and composition of these two pictures side by side. And grated raw in a salad with lots of garlic is still the only way I'll willingly eat beets!

    http://planetborscht.blogspot.com/2007/08/beet-salad.html

  47. I love food photography and am new to it as I started a blog only a few months ago. I totally agree with the above comments that I'll often buy a magazine or cookbook or try a recipe based on the photography – food styling and photography is a real art form these days.

    I've enjoyed looking at all the images here as I love to see the world through other people's eyes, it's quite fascinating.

    Some random food images from my flickr:

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/53759195@N05/5413175302/

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/53759195@N05/5380404588/

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/53759195@N05/5360377140/

  50. I seem to be taking a lot of pictures of food lately. I have restrictions on what I can eat (no gluten, dairy or soy), you would think it would be torture for me to spend time looking at food that I can't eat, but it's the exact opposite. I guess I enjoy seeing all of the foods I used to love and thinking back on those 'glory days' ๐Ÿ˜‰

    http://ttlensphotography.blogspot.com/2011/03/dinner-prep.html

    http://ttlensphotography.blogspot.com/2011/03/peeps.html

    http://ttlensphotography.blogspot.com/2011/03/pb-lovers.html

  51. I buy some cookbooks just for the photography. I tend to favor a more documentary type of minimal food styling.

    I recently photographed cauliflower: http://www.flickr.com/photos/artandlemons/5509763963/

    along with a recipe for cauliflower with brown butter and lemons: http://www.flickr.com/photos/artandlemons/5510364660/in/photostream/

    and the set-up to make an elderberry hot toddy: http://www.flickr.com/photos/artandlemons/5425636980/in/photostream/

  52. I also love food photography. Being such a visual person, I enjoy cooking a recipe much more when I can see the steps, the ingredients, the finished product…and the more real the better. I like the documentary style more than the food styling. I find food photography challenging though. If I am cooking, I am usually too focused on what I am doing to remember to take photos. And when I do remember, I find it challenging to make it look good. But there is an occasional shot I really like!

    I shot this over the weekend. We were at my boyfriend's parents house for dinner, and I saw these next to the sink. When I do photograph food I seek out the best natural light. I find that I frequently run into the problem of the food looking flat and unexciting, and capturing how it really looks is hard!

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/chelscham/5533751008/

  60. My parents bought me my first camera when I was eight. I do believe they were quite disappointed when the majority of photos from the initial rolls I shot were all of food. From the inside of bags of chips to whatever we happened to be eating for dinner that night, something about the colors, shapes, and perhaps most simply my love for food drew me to capture in on film.

    Now that I shoot digitally, I must admit it's even more of a "problem." (And, I think it still baffles my parents.) Recently, I was married and began to cook more frequently, and almost every time I do, my camera gets pulled out along with my measuring cups. (Which happen to be something I've enjoyed photographing.)

    Here's one of my most recent cooking experiments:
    http://carriemeghanphotography.wordpress.com/2011/03/13/bakers-blog/

    This is the first cake I ever made from scratch (this past July):
    http://carriemeghan.com/2010/07/27/pat-a-cake-pat-a-cake-bakers-man/

    And one time I tried to be healthy:
    http://carriemeghan.com/2010/08/05/a-kitchen-story/

  61. hmmmm, I posted here yesterday and I see that my post is gone:(…..I wonder what happened???

  62. I love your site… I discovered it the 'old-fashioned way' – I saw the book in the store and bought it immediately. I love that it's from a female perspective, and focuses on what a lot of teaching subjects on the matter don't seem touch on… emotion.

    Food is a favorite subject of mine as well… a couple of my recent favorites:

    Asparagus: http://www.donnavercoe.com/blog/2011/02/10/asparagus-2/

    Oysters: http://www.donnavercoe.com/blog/2010/12/03/sydney-rock-oysters/

  64. http://shoponlinemy-shoppingonline.blogspot.com/2011/11/popular-short-homecoming-dresses-this.html
    http://shoponlinemy.wikispaces.com/Popular+Short+Party+Dresses+This+Season
    http://shoponlinemy.bloguez.com/shoponlinemy/3160446/Homecoming-Dresses-Popular-Short-This-Season
    http://shoponlinemy.weebly.com/1/post/2011/11/type-and-dress-in-accordance.html
    http://shoponlinemy.over-blog.com/article-how-to-look-amazing-for-homecoming-in-your-homecoming-dress-87954511.html
    http://shoponlinemy.blog.com/2011/11/04/how-to-look-amazing-in-her-dress-back-home-back-home/
    http://shoponlinemy.asso-web.com/actualite-10-homecoming-is-an-exciting-week-in-high-school.html
    http://tidebuymy.blog.fc2.com/blog-entry-5.html
    http://tidebuymy.edublogs.org/2011/11/04/short-prom-dresses-are-totally-in-this-year/