Have you ever wondered how different angles could change people's perception of how a dish looks? Well, the format of a photo communicates a specific atmosphere and shows different details of the object and surroundings. It is also a super crucial element of food photography. Going into every shoot with an idea of how you want the result to look will make it a whole lot easier and this blog will help you do just that.
Landscape or Portrait Format?
Landscape formats are used when you want to capture plenty detail. However, some subjects can be captured effectively using both formats, but it depends on personal preference.
Portrait format composes more depth and looks more dynamic than landscape format. This is used when there are tall subjects and props. Portrait formats are also used a lot during advertisements because our eyes work horizontally.
Landscape formats are used when you want to capture plenty detail. However, some subjects can be captured effectively using both formats, but it depends on personal preference.
Portrait format composes more depth and looks more dynamic than landscape format. This is used when there are tall subjects and props. Portrait formats are also used a lot during advertisements because our eyes work horizontally.
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| Landscape |
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Portrait
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Different Types of Angles
There are also three widely used views in food photography. This includes eye level, bird’s eye, and diagonal at 45 degrees. The angle you choose depends on the subject and personal preference. For example, pizza looks best from a bird’s eye level and multilayer cakes should be captured at eye level. When you’re not sure of what type of angle to capture, just take various photos from various angles and select the best image later. This will find out the type of angles best suited for certain type of foods.
Eye Level: Shooting at eye level means positioning the camera on the same level as your subject. This is ideals for drinks, burgers, cakes, and layered foods. "It offers the viewer a look inside the subject, clearly revealing the individual layers,"(Gissemann 59). Remember that the view will only be able to see the front of the subject, so focus on making it look really good. The downside of an eye-level view is you have to put effort into making the background look nice because it is visible. Food served in pots or cups should be avoided because it blocks the important view of food inside.
Bird’s Eye View: This angle provides an overview of the subject and its surroundings while emphasizing the shapes pf the individual object. The downside of shooting from a bird's eye view is that it is difficult to create a balanced composition. Shadows are generally an issue when shooting from above. It is also important to take care of the arrangement of the objects in the photo.
Diagonal Angle View: Shooting at an angle is a good compromise. This medium works for just about any dish and it enables you to get the details on the front, sides, and upper surface of the subject while giving a clear indication of its shape and size. "This type of shot is particularly easy on the eye because it utilizes the angle at which we see food when we sit down to eat,"(Gissemann 61). This camera position is best for close-ups or when you have to shoot in a small space.
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| Eye level angle |
| Bird's eye view |
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| Angle view |
Question: Which angle do you tend to use the most when taking photos of food?
Gissemann, Corinna. Food Photography: a Beginner's Guide to Creating Appetizing Images. Rocky Nook Inc., 2016.
Tiffany, I like how you took the same picture in 3 different angles. Some angles look better than others depending on what the picture is. You also do a great job explaining. To answer your question I usually take picture of food using eye level angle. I will try to take pictures in different angles now.
ReplyDeleteThank you Divya! I usually take pictures in eye level too.
DeleteMmmmmm... you're blog made me hungry. I love how in depth you get with your research. I can tell you worked really hard on this. Your pictures look reat, and really make me want the food in them!
ReplyDelete