I opened the book to read it on Sunday and finished reading by Tuesday! Neither because I know most of the book contents, nor the book has no contents except some gorgeous photos by the author! The book has almost 260 pages of useful information! But, because the book is written in such a beautiful style. As if someone is whispering in your ears. Also the information flow very smoothly and free of clutter of technical stuff although the book covers most of food photography aspects.
At the beginning I ignored and skipped the parts that talk about exposure, Aperture and Shutter speed and went directly to the parts of interests. After reading one chapter of those, I went back to the beginning of the book and read it from first page to the last. Even I read the information I already know. I don't know why but I felt inspired.
The author is a French came to USA in 90s and worked in several restaurant before she became the master chief of pastry for a French restaurant.
At the beginning she was photographing the pastry she make for the other colleague to make the same when she goes for vacation. In 2006 she left the restaurant job and started her award winning blog [...] and devoted her time in cooking , designing and photographing food.
Soon she progressed and became a professional food photographer and her photos published in national magazines such as Elle Magazine, Forbes Magazine and others
In the first chapter: a talk about the light in general and the importance of it to make a photo and some basics about how to deal with light and find it.
Second chapter is devoted for the talk about photography basics like Exposure variables and how to balance. Then a talk about light and controlling the white balance. At the last, a talk about the camera modes.
Third chapter is for the natural light and the characteristics of softness and hardness and how to control that using available tools. Then a talk about the direction of light and applying that in food photography.
In the fourth chapter: here where the artificial lights enter into the picture. A talk about equipment used as lights Scrim panel and some setting for them. Then a talk about the popup flash and how to utilize it in food photography. Then a little talk about triggers followed by a talk about soft boxes and their uses.
Fifth Chapter: Composition in food photography, this is where we start getting in to food photography business. A talk about where to put your subject - the hero - and centered subject in food photography. Then a little talk about the famous Rule of Thirds! Followed by a talk about the focus and its importance to make your subject pop. Then the importance of depth of field and its importance as every subject requires an appropriate depth of field. At the last of this chapter a talk about a very importance subject which is perspective and camera angle.
Chapter six is devoted for the preparation of the place and plate! The place you take photo at has to have some important features that make food photography a little easier safer and more fun. Also the plate has to be indicative of the food you are photographing all this along with making the scene and hero/props relation together with discussion about surfaces (backgrounds) and utilizing food height and color contrast are discussed in this chapter that ends with an important advise to shoot tethered . very important chapter and full of valuable information.
Chapter seven: a talk about food types and styling them. It covers most of the food groups like herbs and spices, pastries and nuts, fruits and vegetables, soups, fish, meat, fries and pasta, burgers and sandwiches, breakfasts and pastries. Also suits like cakes, pies, ice creams and frozen suits. Cold and hot beverages. The chapter ends with a discussion about styling kit and tools used.
Chapter eight - the last chapter of the book is for after photography related like downloading your photos from camera to your computer and the required equipment. then a discussion about copyrighting/watermarking your photos. Followed by discussion about post processing software available and the free ones of them. And finally sharing your photos in the web and printing.
The book has a section of appendixes that includes: A glossary, B equipment guide and C resources and where to get more information in this subject.
For me, the book is 100/100 and deserves all pennies paid and each minute spent with it.
The book is missing the part of post processing, but that is not so important to me. If you understand and apply the information in this book in your shoot, you will make photos that need no post processing or minimal amount of processing.
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Raksha's Kitchen
Very good book for learning food photography.
Reviewed in India on April 14, 2019