7/3/2017 0 Comments #FOODSTAGRAMLike other still life objects, food is one of the most photographed subject simply because people think it’s quite easy to do and simpler to handle. Well, I have a different opinion for that matter. I see food as a very delicate subject because it has many limits, a lot of patience is needed to achieve that food shot that you want. People always have this notion, that because it’s food and it’s static, then it’s not challenging. But it’s actually quite a lot to handle. But nonetheless, I love taking photos of it. People nowadays photograph almost everything that their eyes can see, as long as it’s interesting and ‘instagrammable’ – pictures that are almost very well staged to be uploaded on Instagram, and I am certainly one of those people. Like other still life objects, food is one of the most photographed subjects simply because people think it’s quite easy to do and simpler to handle. Well, I have a different opinion for that matter. I see food as a very delicate subject because it has many limits, a lot of patience is needed to achieve that food shot that you want. People always have this notion, that because it’s food and it’s static, then it’s not challenging. But it’s actually quite a lot to handle. But nonetheless, I love taking photos of it. People nowadays photograph almost everything that their eyes can see, as long as it’s interesting and ‘instagrammable’ – pictures that are almost very well staged to be uploaded on Instagram, and I am certainly one of those people. I love taking photos in general, but the problem is that I don’t own my own standalone camera. I’ve had those ‘digicams’ when I was in high school. Now, I use only my smartphone in taking pictures for my blog. People ask me what camera do I use in taking my Instagram photos, they all have similar reactions when I told them that I only used my phone and enhanced the photos with apps, they either get shocked or they won’t believe me at all. Food is one of my favorite subjects, it’s not easy because there are a lot of things that should be taken into consideration. When I take a food shot with my phone, I follow basic rules and try to edit them as minimal as I can, sometimes…well all the time, I have to trust my gut feeling. You’d know if you have shot a good photo, it has to look and feel right and you really have to stick with it. Parang sa love, kelangan pakiramdam mo tama ang pinili mo (char, hugot lol). What are the things that need to be considered for a great, appetizing food shot? PLATES Plates are important in styling your food shot, it’s just as important as the food itself. When choosing plates, it should complement the food. The shape, size, and kind of plate should be the first to be considered. Usually, plates are round in shape which is ideal for almost every kind of dish. But sometimes, it can be inappropriate. For example, you cannot put a whole grilled fish in a round plate, you can either choose an oval or a rectangular-shaped flatware instead and also there are plates that are made solely for whole fish dishes. In this way it allows you to plate the food properly and gives you space for additional garnish. On the contrary, not everything has to be put on a plate. You can also experiment with different containers such as a skillet. It gives a ‘just cooked’ kind of vibe striking an idea that the food is still hot and is ready to serve. COMPOSITION The arrangement of the food and the color greatly impacts the entire photo. Since this is a food shot, you have to take pictures of the food itself, right? You can’t just take a photo of every food that you see unless it’s really worth the shot. Great food gives great photos. There are also times where you can stage a beautiful mess, it means that not everything is arranged neatly but it doesn’t disrupt the composition of the image. It’s messy, but it looks great. BACKGROUNDS & SURFACES Backgrounds are very important in creating food shots from a diagonal (mostly 45 degrees) angle. It can either make the overall appeal of the photo inviting or disturbing, that’s why you need to be careful. Neutral backgrounds are often used because it emphasizes the food being the subject. Any plain wall or background will do. Others also use tiles, cloth, paper or even boards just to achieve that perfect background. Surfaces are also vital to the overall photo composition. There are plain, dark, wooden and dynamic backgrounds that are used in different kinds of food shots to emphasize the entire appearance of the food. Surfaces are very important in shooting flat lays especially from a top angle, as it serves as the background. PROPS AND ELEMENTS Props are most of the time necessary in styling a certain photo, much more in food photography. The harmonious combination of elements gives off a different kind of aesthetic. In short, great photos. You have to pick the right props depending on what you are trying to achieve. Some use wooden cutting boards, leaves, grains to achieve a homey, ‘farm-to-table’ kind of vibe. Books and other techy stuff often indicate relaxation and solitude while being at work. Spacing is key in achieving a great food shot as well, you won’t want to look at a photo that looks very tight, do not put too many props as it can be very disturbing. Pick the right amount, right type with the right color and place them in the right places. Just like what I’ve said, you can always stage a ‘’beautiful mess’’ but it shouldn’t be overpowering. LIGHTING Lighting is the most delicate factor that every photographer needs to consider. Less light, darker photo, too much of it gives too much exposure and both of these takes away the details of the subject. The source of light is very much important as well. Natural light, being the most recommended, may be the best source of light. It gives you this diffused shadow and ample light to give off an either soft or strong mood to the photo. Although natural light can give harsh lights that would make the photo look bad, that’s why you should take your photos during the right time. I take most of my photos with natural light on early mornings (7 am – 9 am) and also late afternoons (4 pm – 5 pm) where the clouds act as a giant diffuser, scattering the light beautifully and softening the shadows. Sometimes, I experiment with harsh lights and try to manipulate of the shadows. Hours from 10 am – 3 pm gives off solid shadows, sometimes it doesn’t quite suit the food shot, sometimes I can find my way around it. Trial and error. POST-PROCESSING In food photography, we aim to create great food shots with the least edits and post-processing. We try to make it as natural and as accurate as possible. While Photoshop and Lightroom are the widely-used post-processing software for high-end photography, there are quite a number of mobile applications that are suitable for mobile photography. VSCO™ is by far my favorite photo-editing application. I use it in every photo that I take whether it can be food, travel, products or even selfies! Its filters and manual setting help me in enhancing the overall structure of the photo, as well as the vibrancy and richness of it. Its in-app camera also takes sharp photos and enhancing the quality of the built-in smartphone camera. Definitely an essential. Lightroom for Mobile is my second choice for editing my photos, simply because there are presets that are not found in VSCO™. Their manual setting is a little bit more complicated than VSCO™, it’s great because there are specific settings that I can adjust. Snapseed is my favorite when it comes to adjusting the curves and resolution of the photo. Although sometimes HDR can be overwhelming, it can always be turned down by the manual settings. When choosing photo-editing applications, the key is to be patient. Not every application is suitable for your individual style. YOUR CHOICE OF SMARTPHONE Let’s face it, those previous tips that I mentioned above cannot be properly executed without a proper tool. Your photos’ quality greatly depends on the camera that you use. Since mobile photography is not as complex as high-end photography due to some limitations, you have to make the most of what you have. For the past decade, OPPO has been focusing on innovating mobile photography technology allowing consumers to realize that they are very competitive in bringing their own breakthroughs to the market. Their dedication led them to manufacture the first smartphones with 5MP and 16MP front cameras allowing the people to enjoy their next level selfies. Rotating cameras, Ultra HD Feature, and the 5x Dual Camera Technology were introduced by none other than this captivating brand. OPPO, is one of today’s leading innovative smartphone brands is stepping up their game for mobile food photography as well. And since they offer a wide variety of smartphones, choosing the right one for taking food shots can be quite tedious. So, everybody has been asking…Which OPPO #SelfieExpert smartphone is the best for foodies and taking great photos with their yummy meals? Why? Being a foodie, somebody that loves food and sharing it with the people around me through pictures, I would really have to pick the smartphone that has the best specs to ensure optimum results that require only minimal effort from the user. That smartphone for me is the OPPO F3 PLUS. Oppo F3 Plus comes with a 16megapixel rear camera powered by the all-new Sony IMX398 sensor that offers an extra-wide F1.7 aperture allowing the camera to perform perfect focusing speed, noise reduction and is optimized to work very well in low-light, giving the users a chance to snap clear and beautiful images with accurate time. Its shape, size, and gripping capacity make it also a better choice in mobile food photography, the OPPO F3 Plus has a smooth metallic surface that is unrivaled by any other smartphone, made possible by going through two sand spraying processes, polished three times and multiple rounds of Computer Numerical Control Milling. The unit has perfectly rounded edges and river-smoothed pebble texture that makes the F3 Plus a wonder to hold. This gives optimum ergonomic comfort to the user while taking pictures and enjoying your yummy goodies! In addition, it is equipped with a 6-inch Corning®Gorilla® Glass 5 which makes taking photos a total breeze; it also has vibrant, responsive screens that would make your photos look even more alive! F3 Plus’s 4000 mAh battery assures that you’ll never worry about your battery usage when taking photos of your food! With its 64GB onboard storage and 256GB expandable storage, users will be able to snap plenty of food shots without worrying about the storage memory! You can take a snap of your favorite dish from every angle until you can find the right one! And last but not the least, OPPO F3 Plus runs on Android 6.0, ColorOS 3.0 that gives a seamless, steady and lightweight experience that optimizes power usage and keeps you cruising throughout the day, ensuring the best quality not only for your food shots but for selfies and other photos as well! Truly Oppo, not just with F3 Plus but for every model that they have brings the mobile photography game to a whole new level! For today’s mobile photography enthusiasts, OPPO is truly your #SelfieExpert.
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