Monday 1 March 2010

Professional Hands

I have been blogging for about 2½ years, and have just over 300 posts under my belt (which is bigger now than when I started)! Learning how to present my message in a friendly, yet interesting way is a challenge but the hardest part has been the photography.

Photographing your evening meal when the entire family are standing around waiting to eat, can become rather frustrating (for them more than me). Seeing whose plate looks the best, and then walking around the house looking for a good background and enough light, are only two of many problems which this blogger faces.

This Friday I was privileged enough to spend an afternoon with professional food photographer, Dirk Pieters and food stylist Aletta Lintvelt. What an inspiring experience! I would love to be able to tell you that they make it look easy - but actually it takes a lot of hard work to get the perfect shot.

Nothing in the picture is random - even the random tomato slice is placed perfectly into position. The photo is taken, checked, things are moved, lighting is changed and then photographed again. When I thought it was perfect, they were still not happy and as it turned out - you can get better than perfect!

Dirk really helped me see the difference that lighting and camera angles can make and gave me some sound advice which I can very easily adapt to my pictures at home, without Keith having to building on a studio.

Here are some photos from Friday all taken with my camera and no photo-shop....



Thank you so much to Dirk and Aletta for allowing me to spy into your world. I had a wonderful afternoon and learned so much from watching you work.

6 comments:

Marisa said...

Beautiful photos! I especially like the one of the mielies. Amazing what difference the right lighting makes (spoken as someone who also recently had a mini photography lesson).

Cookie baker Lynn said...

What a treat to be able to spend time with the pros having hands-on lessons! Lighting is key and something I struggle with all the time here in sunless Washington.

Wendy T @ Mint Tea said...

Hi Rose, lovely photos!!! What an experience, very lucky! So pleased I can see them!!! Boerewors and mielies....mmmm, things we really miss from home! Have a great weekend. xxxx

SavoringTime in the Kitchen said...

How lucky you were to spend time with professional food photographers! Great shots too!

PS, thanks for your visit.

Jeanne @ CookSister said...

What a fantastic opportunity! I was also amazed when I attended a proper pro food shoot last year at how many times each dish gets photographed, minutely changed, and then photographed a dozen times again. Lighting is the single biggest benefit to a food photo... Great shots!

Forage said...

just saw your pics from that day now for the first time! Really excellent

Jeremiah 17: 7-8

"Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. He will be like a tree planted by the water."

It is not your business to succeed, but to do what is right : when you have done so, the rest lies with God.
C.S. Lewis

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