Project: Donuts (Attempt #2)

OK, so I went to my parents, and they happened to have a half eaten box of donuts!  This time, they were more gourmet type donuts, although they were bought earlier in the morning.  So, back to my place they went, under the flash gun.  Attempt #2 came out better, but still a little ways to go!  So there will be at least one more attempt, before I consider this project done! 🙂

That’s more like it: plump, symmetrical donuts.  These looks much more appetizing that attempt #1!

Also, the colorful ball sprinkles came out really interesting.  I just love the close-ups!

Finally, a nice close up shot of the coconut!

Project: Donuts (Attempt #1)

So, as we all know, photography is all about INSPIRATION.  The other day, I came across this food photography blog, which had a picture of some donuts…

http://stilllifewith.com/2009/12/16/menu-for-hope-2/

That’s it!  My new photo project would be to do donuts, with this photo as my inspiration.

Well, I learned a few things.  First off, let’s repeat the number one rule of food photography, but also for all photography (in my mind to this point…):

Rule #1: In order to take good food pictures, you need to have food that looks good!

Rule #2: The more perfect your pictures are, the more perfect they have to be! (Including the food itself!)

Rule #3: The hardest part of food photography, is obtaining the food itself!

OK, so I think all 3 rules were again beaten into my head (yet again) on this project.  First off the donuts:  IT WASN’T EASY TO FIND A PLACE THAT HAD PLAIN, CHOCOLATE, AND SUGAR JELLY FILLED DONUTS!  Finally, after going to a few donut shops (in the rain), I decided to give up!  And I didn’t even TOUCH my camera yet! [argh…]

So finally, I went to the Vons grocery store on the way home… to see what they had.  Well, what they had was far from perfect (breaks rule #1 and #2), but at least they could be a starting point for attempt #1.

Here’s what they came out like:

and this:

Things I learned from this attempt:

1) GET GOOD LOOKING DONUTS (NOT DRY); That are fat, and moist looking (not flat, and dry)

2) CHOCOLATE: The chocolate really needs to be fluid and flowing, not dry and cracking.

3) JELLY FILLING: The jelly needs to be oozing out of the hole.  Not like guts coming out of a stab wound (note to self: not appetizing at all…)

4) SIZE OF PLATE: Get the right size plate!

5) BACKGROUND: I’m not so sure green works with donuts.  Somehow, I think baby blue works better.  Green isn’t bad, but it just doesn’t seem all that inspiring for donuts.

6) SPRINKLES: Pink and yellow on chocolate looks pretty nasty. (unappetizing).

I will think about these lessons learned, and See you later in ATTEMPT #2! Coming soon!

Total cost of attempt #1: $4.00 (2 dollars for donuts, and $2.00 for milk — not pictured, but I was prepared!)

Fig Jam

So I got this delicious fig jam as a Christmas present.  Before digging in, however, I thought I’d try to photograph it.  What other way to capture its essence than to use the toast as a background!  Of courses the plate, knife, and jam and toast all were deliberately placed in these photos.  Maximize the browser and click on each photo to select, then click on it again to make it full size!  Tehn you can enjoy each at their best!  Yummm!

Wow, so the warm crispy toast is so wonderful with the sweet, tangy, and savory jam.  So scrumptious!  Thanks for the present Auntie!

Lobster at Mom’s House

Wow!  So since George was going to be away for Christmas, we decided to do our Christmas dinner early this year!  So my mom ordered some lobsters online… and here they are!  Heheh… another exercise in lighting.  This was at 9:00pm, although it “appears” that this is in the early afternoon with the light shining through the kitchen window from the light!  Thanks Canon Speedlight!

A Pack of Christmas Cookies

A serious work with the background.  My mom had this tree that was made entirely of ornament bulbs. A wide open aperature made this shot possible.  The bulbs provide not only contrast of color, but contrast of form as well… a dreamy Christmas treat for sure!

Raw Ingredients: Radish

What better way to capture color than to look at a crisp, glistening, moisture covered bunch of radish?  Nature’s way of showing deep reds with bright greens.  Another serious macro shot…

(Click on the pic for an inspiring full size)

Mini Mini Pastries

OK, so here’s something interesting.  I really see this one as a piece of art rather than a photograph. Using serious macro capabilities here, these delectable treats are only a fraction of an inch long.  But the colors are and detail are amazing.  These are actually part of this little Japanese miniature food collection!

A Piece of Auntie Ann’s Christmas Cake

Just checking the DOF on this one.  Since I’ve been upgrading to all “L” lenses, I wanted to see if I could duplicate the DOF given by my 50mm 1.4, lens which I see many other food bloggers using for their food photographs…  Here, my 85mm is set at 5.6.  1.4, and even 2.8 came out with too much blurriness.  I think I get pretty good bokeh with 5.6 in this photo…

Hello world!

Hello world!  Welcome to my new blog, where I will be posting some of my work, and discussing various aspects of the photo!

Thanks for stopping by, and looking forward to blogging something new soon!