Food & Landscapes Cameras
Discussion
...quite a bit of a contrast, but can one camera do both "good"?
One of my hobbies are taking photo's of landscapes and historic architecture - I use my Dad's Nikon Coolpix P90.
This got me a bit of fame:
However, our business also entails me to take photos of food, mainly meat (see website in my profile). These photo's were also taken with the P90 and in my opinion they look ok (I'm far from a professional photographer as you will probably tell), but I struggle even more when trying to produce good photos of cooked food.
How do food bloggers produce images without the use of a studio for lighting etc?
What I'd like to know is, is the P90 good enough for these tasks (mainly on the food front) and is it my skills that are failing?
Or would it be wise to invest in a new camera? I do like the idea of a RX100 (probably a Mk1), but if it's not going to be a huge improvement over the P90, I shan't bother buying one...
One of my hobbies are taking photo's of landscapes and historic architecture - I use my Dad's Nikon Coolpix P90.
This got me a bit of fame:
However, our business also entails me to take photos of food, mainly meat (see website in my profile). These photo's were also taken with the P90 and in my opinion they look ok (I'm far from a professional photographer as you will probably tell), but I struggle even more when trying to produce good photos of cooked food.
How do food bloggers produce images without the use of a studio for lighting etc?
What I'd like to know is, is the P90 good enough for these tasks (mainly on the food front) and is it my skills that are failing?
Or would it be wise to invest in a new camera? I do like the idea of a RX100 (probably a Mk1), but if it's not going to be a huge improvement over the P90, I shan't bother buying one...
Edited by Woody3 on Friday 20th February 12:25
It's not just the camera that's doing it. Lenses play a part as well, and the aperture they can go to. Say F1.8 or something like that.
I'll pick a Google images random example
You see how stuff's blurred in the background? It's either a long long lens, or a high aperture. The type of photography, lets say in hotel menus is often backlit blown out, which ties in with nice crisp white linens and that general feel of cleanliness.
Google for steak in Images, or check this out. Look at the detail, the garnish, the colour and texture. Can almost smell it
With the image you've taken, it's not the same as a possible menu type thing from a fancy hotel, it's a record of what turned up on your table, complete with white balance showing the colour of the lights, the direction they're coming from (down, focussed and fairly harsh), person opposite you. It's perhaps something you'd instagram rather than something you'd put together for review.
Random food blog Google search turned up these:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/localmilk/1631901530...
Light looks to be natural probably a window
On this one: https://www.flickr.com/photos/localmilk/1602582584...
Earthy tones from the wood, lighting still looks like daylight, probably a window, really flat light though, so cloudy day, not much sun. Gets an interesting mood when it's exposed and the white balance is somewhere in the blues. Look at what else is in the frame, probably not a happy accident of just picking the camera up and snapping a quick shot. Very staged and calculated
Landscape camera, again, lenses and aperture and in the random Google images selection below, ability to keep the shutter open at the right aperture, with probably a tripod or something
It's not that one camera can or cant do it, it's that you need the control over aperture, shutter speed, ISO, focal length and lighting, together with finding the composition that sits best for the photo. There's a big difference in the photos posted as to the general mood and feel, together with the compsition, the light and the overall exposure of the photos
I'll pick a Google images random example
You see how stuff's blurred in the background? It's either a long long lens, or a high aperture. The type of photography, lets say in hotel menus is often backlit blown out, which ties in with nice crisp white linens and that general feel of cleanliness.
Google for steak in Images, or check this out. Look at the detail, the garnish, the colour and texture. Can almost smell it
With the image you've taken, it's not the same as a possible menu type thing from a fancy hotel, it's a record of what turned up on your table, complete with white balance showing the colour of the lights, the direction they're coming from (down, focussed and fairly harsh), person opposite you. It's perhaps something you'd instagram rather than something you'd put together for review.
Random food blog Google search turned up these:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/localmilk/1631901530...
Light looks to be natural probably a window
On this one: https://www.flickr.com/photos/localmilk/1602582584...
Earthy tones from the wood, lighting still looks like daylight, probably a window, really flat light though, so cloudy day, not much sun. Gets an interesting mood when it's exposed and the white balance is somewhere in the blues. Look at what else is in the frame, probably not a happy accident of just picking the camera up and snapping a quick shot. Very staged and calculated
Landscape camera, again, lenses and aperture and in the random Google images selection below, ability to keep the shutter open at the right aperture, with probably a tripod or something
It's not that one camera can or cant do it, it's that you need the control over aperture, shutter speed, ISO, focal length and lighting, together with finding the composition that sits best for the photo. There's a big difference in the photos posted as to the general mood and feel, together with the compsition, the light and the overall exposure of the photos
Edited by andy-xr on Saturday 21st February 12:59
Edited by andy-xr on Saturday 21st February 13:00
To improve the steak shot I'd correct the white balance (should be simple enough, the plate will more than likely be close to neutral white, so a white balance dropper placed on it will see the colour balance change). The front edge of the steak is out of focus, this could be because too wide an aperture was used for the shot giving insufficient depth of field. It could also be a bit of steam on the lens if the meat was fresh out of the pan! I'd have sliced it open to show it nice and rare in the middle, probably not bloody as that might put some off but it would look better than just slapped on a plate.
I can see what you were doing trying to get the other diner in the shot, and that would depend what you were selling. If it was a pub or restaurant I might want some ambiance, if it is the meat you're showcasing I'd fill the frame with it, cut out the distractions.
I can see what you were doing trying to get the other diner in the shot, and that would depend what you were selling. If it was a pub or restaurant I might want some ambiance, if it is the meat you're showcasing I'd fill the frame with it, cut out the distractions.
Come on chaps, PH responses are supposed to be properly "creative", especially on a Saturday ....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ztSd9_TJ6o
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lc88lf1SjaA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NupzXUP1hqk
First 2 are food, third is Landscape.
Might exceed any budget you have though ....
On a slightly serious note - I think one needs to decide what is to be achieved and in particular what 'look' you might want to communicate. Different outputs for different markets.
The other challenge, technical in this case, is that the two subject you have mentioned are at almost the opposite extremes of the technical spectrum. (OK, not quite Astro and Macro but you will probably get my drift.) Although the good camera body will most likely cope with both and everything in between there might be a case for differentiating on lenses. A lens good for one subject type may be compromised or limiting for the other. This may not be quite so true at the higher end of the market depending on how you wish to shoot each subject.
In that respect a tendency to go up market starts to look wise ... but may set you off on a course of significant spending as many here will testify.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ztSd9_TJ6o
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lc88lf1SjaA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NupzXUP1hqk
First 2 are food, third is Landscape.
Might exceed any budget you have though ....
On a slightly serious note - I think one needs to decide what is to be achieved and in particular what 'look' you might want to communicate. Different outputs for different markets.
The other challenge, technical in this case, is that the two subject you have mentioned are at almost the opposite extremes of the technical spectrum. (OK, not quite Astro and Macro but you will probably get my drift.) Although the good camera body will most likely cope with both and everything in between there might be a case for differentiating on lenses. A lens good for one subject type may be compromised or limiting for the other. This may not be quite so true at the higher end of the market depending on how you wish to shoot each subject.
In that respect a tendency to go up market starts to look wise ... but may set you off on a course of significant spending as many here will testify.
Woody3 said:
What I'd like to know is, is the P90 good enough for these tasks (mainly on the food front) and is it my skills that are failing?
My 2p worth - you'd get some benefit from a better camera (eg a DSLR with a good lens) but you'd get a lot of benefit from developing your technique and maybe learning a bit of post processing (eg photoshop or suchlike) 
Thanks for the replies chaps.
I don't think I can change the lens on the P90, so I'm going to look at aperture and shutter speed and have a play with it over the next couple of days, read through the links, and report back with my photos to see what I'm doing wrong/right if that is ok?
Just to clarify, the photo of the cooked steak in my first post is from a food blog (who I think uses an RX100). This is what I am achieving with raw meat:
p.s. I'd love to go "big" with a camera, but unfortunately we are only a small business and our website is still in its early days, so I can't really justify the expense at this moment in time.
I was secretly hoping you were all going to tell me to get a RX100
I don't think I can change the lens on the P90, so I'm going to look at aperture and shutter speed and have a play with it over the next couple of days, read through the links, and report back with my photos to see what I'm doing wrong/right if that is ok?
Just to clarify, the photo of the cooked steak in my first post is from a food blog (who I think uses an RX100). This is what I am achieving with raw meat:
p.s. I'd love to go "big" with a camera, but unfortunately we are only a small business and our website is still in its early days, so I can't really justify the expense at this moment in time.
I was secretly hoping you were all going to tell me to get a RX100
Edited by Woody3 on Monday 23 February 18:58
Woody3 said:
Thanks for the replies chaps.
I don't think I can change the lens on the P90, so I'm going to look at aperture and shutter speed and have a play with it over the next couple of days, read through the links, and report back with my photos to see what I'm doing wrong/right if that is ok?
Just to clarify, the photo of the cooked steak in my first post is from a food blog (who I think uses an RX100). This is what I am achieving with raw meat:
p.s. I'd love to go "big" with a camera, but unfortunately we are only a small business and our website is still in its early days, so I can't really justify the expense at this moment in time.
I was secretly hoping you were all going to tell me to get a RX100
Hmm. My instant reaction to that one was to start thinking about Breakfast ... so job done I reckon!I don't think I can change the lens on the P90, so I'm going to look at aperture and shutter speed and have a play with it over the next couple of days, read through the links, and report back with my photos to see what I'm doing wrong/right if that is ok?
Just to clarify, the photo of the cooked steak in my first post is from a food blog (who I think uses an RX100). This is what I am achieving with raw meat:
p.s. I'd love to go "big" with a camera, but unfortunately we are only a small business and our website is still in its early days, so I can't really justify the expense at this moment in time.
I was secretly hoping you were all going to tell me to get a RX100
My second thought was that for web site purposes the thing that might give you the greatest benefit could be lighting, especially across a range of, er, raw subjects if you will excuse the pun. I would think flash rather than continuous to keep the slow cooking factor under control. And of course off-camera. A couple of inexpensive flash units and some reflection/bounce material could be a good start.
The downside to the suggestion is that the P90 (afaict) does not have a flash hotshoe and nor does the desired RX100 so things can a little fiddly seeking an off camera solution that is easy to use and reliable.
And, of course, of camera lighting is rarely if ever going to be of much use for typical landscape shots.
I should probably add more ideas (though others here ill certainly be able to offer more useful suggestions from their professional experiences) but I keep thinking of sausages and bacon ....
markmullen said:
....The front edge of the steak is out of focus, this could be because too wide an aperture was used for the shot giving insufficient depth of field. It could also be a bit of steam on the lens...
Worth pointing out for something like this that of the area that is in sharp focus a 1/3 of it is in front of the focus point and 2/3s behind.
Dunno about landscapes but just like portraiture, you need to coax the right expression from your subject. Here's how with food....
http://youtu.be/afNIRFCiKEo
http://youtu.be/afNIRFCiKEo
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