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Taking Good Plating Pics

LunchBox

LunchBox

Hi all...need a few tips on plating pics. I regularly enter the ThrowDowns, and have yet to emerge victorious. I'm also entertaining the idea of opening a taco-shack. regardless, I need to know what I can do to improve plating pics. The food is amazing...how can I enhance these pics to marry the amazing flavors with the visual appeal?

A few samples:

Pork loin tacos -

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Burger challenge -

burgertd18.jpg


Asian -

maytd201110.jpg


Hot dogs -

apriltd12.jpg

apriltd13.jpg



You get the idea. I realize any cool tones are unappetizing. I've noticed that in a few pics. Also...the Texas plates...it's what I have. Nothing fancy here...just functional.

So...besides getting a "special" plate...what are your thoughts?

---thanks---
 
There are alot of plating rules but one thing to keep in mind is that there is fads in its a constant evolution pioneered by top chefs across the world. I could copy all my school notes but if you want detailed instructions you would need to do some reading of culinary textbooks and perhaps photography.


Here are some basics. Menu and theme are important.

1: composed- what is it made of? Main element? Focul point?do side elements lead to main dish?

2: negative space-empty plate? Center or off to one side? Clean and uncluttered.

3: color- think function. Natural colors? Cooked properly? Compliments or contrast? Mood or.season. how is it going to taste? Sauce consistancy? On top? Underneath?

Remember negative space, composition,rule of thirds(like photo), repitition of shape, keep distance the same, flow or movement, height and functionality, focal points(draw the eye in.
Just asking yourself why during plating will improve your skills. Don't be afraid to experiment and make mistakes. Also research restaurant menus online and look at current food porn. Food is a vast subject but i should stop rambling. Hope this helps.
 
When I take photos I move in close, you don't need to see the entire plate/bowl or even the dish

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Try different angles
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Lighting
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Pick a focal point, your eye is drawn to the chilies
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One thing is clear - you are using ambient light in your pics. Add some directional lighting. Granted, the camera DOES make a difference - I don't have a digital 35mm, and am using a small point-and-shoot that turns out is rated poorly for its ability to capture light. Even though I use extra lights, sometimes my pics come out too dark (the food even looked burned in one pic, but it wasn't.) Bringing in directional light will give you highlights and shadows, and make your pics less flat. When you direct light on your plate, also think about what in particular you want highlighted, and make sure it has light.
 
go to a thrift store and pick up a couple white dishes. Plate, deep bowl, flat bowl, small platter if you can find one. You don't need a whole set, they don't even need to match, just get a couple to use for the TD pics.

Our day-to-day dishes are black. Not because I particularly like black dishes, I just found a set of dishes at a yard sale for $5 and that's what they were. I've tried plating on the black dishes, but always end up using the few white dishes I have.

NorCal, LOVE the jar with the habs! Natural sunlight is great, but you have to watch for harsh shadows. I like to take the plates outside on the deck for the natural light but not direct sunlight.

LB, for the pics you've posted, just a couple comments-
Tacos- the black beans get lost in the blue of the plate, the blue (tablecloth?) is detracting from the food. Paulky often does a full place setting with napkin, etc. With the new format of only posting 2 pics in the final entry, I think it's better to have a couple close-up shots of the food in the final entry and keep the full place setting pic in the prelim post. jmho~
-a couple are out of focus
-The hot dogs are pretty good, in focus and close up


Hang in there, you'll get some BLING before long. ;)
 
salsalady said:
go to a thrift store and pick up a couple white dishes. Plate, deep bowl, flat bowl, small platter if you can find one. You don't need a whole set, they don't even need to match, just get a couple to use for the TD pics.

Our day-to-day dishes are black. Not because I particularly like black dishes, I just found a set of dishes at a yard sale for $5 and that's what they were. I've tried plating on the black dishes, but always end up using the few white dishes I have.

NorCal, LOVE the jar with the habs! Natural sunlight is great, but you have to watch for harsh shadows. I like to take the plates outside on the deck for the natural light but not direct sunlight.

LB, for the pics you've posted, just a couple comments-
Tacos- the black beans get lost in the blue of the plate, the blue (tablecloth?) is detracting from the food. Paulky often does a full place setting with napkin, etc. With the new format of only posting 2 pics in the final entry, I think it's better to have a couple close-up shots of the food in the final entry and keep the full place setting pic in the prelim post. jmho~
-a couple are out of focus
-The hot dogs are pretty good, in focus and close up


Hang in there, you'll get some BLING before long. ;)
Click to expand...


Thanks, SL...I noticed right after loading the taco pics, that the black beans would have looked much better on the red section, and the rice on the blue. Part of this is to get better at the presentation for TD's...part of it is for possibly making money a little later on.

What's funny, is I've been painting for years, and know all about what colors do what, focal points, etc...yet for some reason haven't bridged that knowledge over.
 
Using a coloured plate takes your eye away from the food itself and in some cases detracts from the food itself. Not neccessarily solid white but a solid neutral colour or with few accents. As well, overloaded items can look messy and unappatizing, if you put your main item on one plate and the side dish(es) on another smaller plate, it often looks better. Take different plates and experiment with plating the same dishes and have people pick which ones they would prefer and why. Sometimes this can narrow down what they are seeing as customers vice what you are seeing as the cook.
 
Try using a plan white plate and try and arrange your food so it's symmetrical and neat.

Pork loin tacos look great, but you have them in the center and failing off the plate is a clump of messy sides.

The burger looks good, but the cheese bridge draws away your attention too much.

Asian looks great, but your too far away and the beans should be arranged all in a straight line.

I judge a lot BBQ contest and most have an open category that includes presentation. You would be amazed as to how neat and pretty you can get food to look when money is on the line!!
 
LGHT said:
I judge a lot BBQ contest and most have an open category that includes presentation. You would be amazed as to how neat and pretty you can get food to look when money is on the line!!
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I've never seen BBQ competition plates in person, but I would guess that they even put the meat on the plate so the muscle strands are all arrange/oriented properly, and maybe even that the meats are all cut to exactly the same length.

Wouldn't surprise me, just a guess~
 
I've voted for you in a few TDs LB. Give the white plates a go, but I have a feeling you'll be getting your crown soon anyway. All those plates look great to me.
 
I vote based on reading ingredients and if my mouth waters, and yeah, the pic, but really for the TDs, artistry does not win over sheer awesomeness. Don't sweat it too much.
 
Please don't take this as a "what can I do to improve my shots at a crown" post. I do want one...or more, and the point of this post will help that. But, I am first, a chile head...and second, an artist. I cook...I paint...and there are always ways to improve upon the craft. Knowing how to better present my dishes is a part of growing as a "chef". I've started putting efort into presentation when I entertain. Not going nuts...but tweaking the appearance of the dish...and it has taken my guests from, "ooo, that looks good", to being genuinely excited about what I put in front of them. I've started seeing first hand how paying attention to how the dish looks, after how it tastes, is paying off at home.
 
nothing wrong with a little "foo", even if it's only for the family dinner. If it makes the meal more enjoyable, that's a good thing. Good Looking food is always more appetizing than blah-looking food. Looking at all the food posts here had given us tons of inspirations, both for cooking ideas and presentation ideas. While I don't have a banana leaf to use for presentations, (SoFlo and Paulky are the Kings of Foo :lol: ) there are other things to use.

And like you said, cooking for guests takes on a whole other level of fun.
 
LunchBox said:
Please don't take this as a "what can I do to improve my shots at a crown" post. I do want one...or more, and the point of this post will help that. But, I am first, a chile head...and second, an artist. I cook...I paint...and there are always ways to improve upon the craft. Knowing how to better present my dishes is a part of growing as a "chef". I've started putting efort into presentation when I entertain. Not going nuts...but tweaking the appearance of the dish...and it has taken my guests from, "ooo, that looks good", to being genuinely excited about what I put in front of them. I've started seeing first hand how paying attention to how the dish looks, after how it tastes, is paying off at home.
Click to expand...
I love your attitude, reading this makes me want to go cook something! Plating really is a lot of the fun. It's a big part of the whole experience of eating. Espescially with guests.

As far as photos I think lighting is the single most important factor, I'm not saying I'm any kind of photographer, but one told me one time for photographing my construction projects (kitchens, baths etc) "light, light more light, when you think you have enough light, add more light".
And it really has proven to be true. I can't (or don't) always heed the advice, but when I'm taking pictures of a walk in shower with dark slate, light is the only answer! And I just have 4megapixel point and shoot.

Good luck and have fun!
 
Lighting is the key. More often nowadays both fashion and commercial photographers use "natural" lighting and I agree with "Salsalady" on the outdoor aspect. I've done the "wedding, portrait, commercial" circuit for over 30 yrs., Retired now. But I'll give you a few pointers, 1) White plates, why not, just keep in mind your eye's will always be drawn to the brightest area in a photo first off, so you'll need some colorful contrast in your plating 2)Eliminate unwanted shadows, unless the dramatic (3D) look is what your shooting for, to soften the shadow area you'll need to reflect light back into that area by means of a reflective source (foam-core, white poster board, even aluminum foil) Built-in on camera flashes generally cause harsh shadows, therefore eliminating unwanted shadows will lower the contrast and present you with a more pleasing photo. Ok only one more folks...3)If possible widen the aperature on the camera, by doing so you'll soften the fore-ground focus and blur the background, hence, directing one's eye right to the subject.....hope some of this helps!.....hey where's my camera....ah..I mean my "Hot Peppers"
 
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