Steak!

[pjgh]

Who doesn't enjoy a good steak?



Canon 300D
Sigma 24mm Super Wide II (Nikon mount on adapter)

... button mushrooms and onion rings in the background. Too much blur, or just enough focus on the meat?

The Venetian Blinds behind make interesting textures on the plate which can also be seen in the wetness on the meat - it appears more like a bad touch-up but actually, it's all for real.

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[John B.]

For me, it's a perfect combination of sharpness and blur between the steak and mushrooms. A little more light on the front of the steak with the help of a reflector would have been good. Photographing food is not as easy as it looks but you did a good job.

[pjgh]

Thanks, John - for me, it's the compromise between getting a good picture before the food goes cold. I photograph what I eat.

I have some white plastic cards for this purpose, just didn't press them into action. Good reminder! Thanks.

[John B.]

Thanks, John - for me, it's the compromise between getting a good picture before the food goes cold. I photograph what I eat.

So do I, Pjgh! Quite seriously, my wife recently brought a cup of coffee into my office and saw a photo of a peanut butter sandwich on the monitor. She asked me why I had taken the photo, and said it looks awful. I had to agree with her, which is why I didn't post it here.

Okay, so we're not all going to make it as food photographers, but I tried!

[TCampbell]

John mentioned the light is a bit dark in front. A reflector ... or just grab a cookie sheet since you're in the kitchen. Anything that can bounce a bit more light into that front would work.

I'm thinking a tiny bit more DoF so that a bit more of the steak is focused -- particularly near the front where we get to see all the juicy bits. Wider lenses stretch the depth in the shot -- which can make the steak lonely. Anything slightly in the background will look like it's even farther in the background. It was far in the background already then lens will send it to the next county. For my food shots, I go for longer focal lengths. I used a 60mm macro with my crop-frame body and I use a 100mm on my full-frame body -- the long-lens compression effect helps pull the food closer.

That lighting obliquely behind the steak puts a very nice reflection on the top which really helps it look juicy! Now I'm hungry.

[pjgh]

Got it! I have these white A3 plastic sheets - just need to put them in reach. We have a slide up the side of the sink for tea towels. Perfect place to keep them.

Cheers! Wait for my next one ...

Meanwhile ...



Muhahhahahhaaaa!

[adam23]

I agree with John. The blur between the steak and mushrooms is just perfect. Maybe you can Adjust the curves a little bit more. The second image, in my opinion, has too much exposure but it looks delicious!

[pjgh]

Thanks Adam - I'm very unsure of what to do with curves and levels. The most I do is to pick the white balance and perhaps add a little contrast. I'll play around and see if I can get the image to jump out a bit more. Likewise, re-visit the second picture and bring the exposure down a little. That was a very bright day!