Taking photos of food goes beyond angles and lighting because capturing the mood is also a key aspect of a great food photo. The two basic types of moods are distinguished between "bright and airy" and "dark and rustic".
Elements of a Mood: Dark
Images composed of elements such as dark wood, antique flatware, and stoneware, cups form a solid, rustic, create almost mystical feel. Rich food, starches, and herbs are ideal for portraying a darker surrounding. These useful bits can change the entire mood of a photo. "Always consider what backgrounds, props, and lighting mood best suit the dish you are topo graphing," (Gissemann 74).
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| Dark wood that creates a mystical feel |
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| Black background portrays a dark mood |
Lighter summer vegetables dishes express the lighter colors. Using the seasons or climate can be a guide to getting a certain mood. White plates, highly polished flatware, bright backgrounds, and plenty of light convey a bright, airy, lighter than-life feel. A little pop of color within the dish can also provide a light and bright feel throughout the whole photo.
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White surroundings and complements of color
creates a bright feel
|
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The white background brings out the dark
shades of black
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Even when you take great care of setting up the subject, something may appear missing within the photo. Certain angles and compositions can easily make food subjects look empty, so it is important to create a feeling of depth within the photo. To fill in that empty space, using a prop can cover that. "Don't be scared to populate the foreground, the middle ground, and the background with suitable objects," (Gissemann 75).
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The added jalapeño in the photo, creates
depth
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The addition of other dishes in the background
fill in to make the photo look fuller
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Practice Makes Perfect
The great advantage of photography is that most of the time, you can take plenty of time setting up and capturing pictures without running the risk of your subject drying out or collapsing. Still life's are ideal for food photography because they allow lots of practice with composition and getting to learn how the different settings of a camera work.
While reading about the different moods of a photo, I learned that the background and surroundings play a big part on portraying the type of mood. Whether it's through objects surrounding the dish or the colors of the wall/table, they all have an affect on what mood is shown through the photo.
Question: What type of mood in a photo usually draws you attention?
Gissemann, Corinna. Food Photography: a Beginner's Guide to Creating Appetizing Images. Rocky Nook Inc., 2016.
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