5 Different Looks… Using Light, Diffusion & Composition to make Food Venue Photography Easy
People ask me, OMG how did you make that photo look so good using artificial light? Or, how did you create that ambiance with just one light source? The answer is simple: Understand how light and diffusion affect your photography, and how to use it with different compositions, and you have the key to creating AMAZING images.
In this blog I will show you first hand how we controlled the light and transformed the IIKO Mazesoba atmosphere from this:
to this:
Some things to know first:
Things you need to know about IIKO Mazesoba before you read on, especially for those who don’t understand lighting and atmosphere. IIKO Mazesoba restaurant is lit mostly with artificial light, A LOT - in fact, and the purple neon sign adds a purple hue to most of the photos taken inside, including any photos with food and drinks. It is also quite oddly dark for a venue with many lights, and because the venue is surrounded by many concrete buildings, any natural light coming through tends to be quite weak and cool (blue).
Our goal is to use artificial light inside the venue to highlight IIKO Mazesoba’s food and interior (wall, furniture, signage), and transform naturally lit dull, cool blue images into warm and inviting, delicious food that your camera won’t help but want to eat first!
Look 1 - strobe, shaped
The two following images was created with a strobe, no diffusion modifier, shaped using an umbrella to minimise fall off away from the wall to create shadow behind the table. The direction of the light came from the left, with the edge of the umbrella running parallel to the beer glass.
By composing the subjects in this way, the eye moves from left to right, from the bright cup to the beer glass, up the liquid trickle up to the bottle, whist the bowl and gyoza sit subtly in the back and foreground.
By doing this, I have created a moody and subtle drama; the focus is on the beer head as it overflows.
In post-production (Lightroom & Photoshop), I brightened and clarified the image by +25 points, and I used the Dodge Tool to bring back the highlights and midtones on the bottle label. I also used the Burn Tool to deepen the shadows against the wall.
Look 2 - strobe, diffused, direct
The next two following images was created with a strobe, diffused; the light pointing straight towards the table.
By doing this, I have created dimension with shadows and bright highlights. Even the grey wall behind the table has some gradual light fall off.
By pointing the light directly at the bowl, it becomes clear that this bowl is the focus of the image. With its deep shadows against the table, the eye natural glides to the gyoza side dish and the beer.
In post-production (Lightroom only), I clarified the image by +25 points and lowered the highlights value to bring some detail back into the food and beer label.
Look 3 - strobe, bounced
The next two following images was created with a strobe, no diffusion modifier; the light pointing straight to the ceiling.
The ceiling was about 3-4 metres high, so setting off the strobe light from 1.5 metres towards a neutral (grey) surface gave a natural, diffused look to the image, the shadows falling softly underneath the objects.
Some might say that this look is “flatter” than the others. I say it’s less dramatic.
Note that the composition of the table items is almost exactly the same as Look 2, just taken at a different angle and focal length.
Also note conflicting light sources, the bottom of the wall has a slight yellow tone caused by a nearby light source, and slight purple highlights on the table from the neon sign. For creative & demonstrative purposes we left these in the photo.
In post-production (Lightroom only), I used the Radial Filter to remove the softly lit highlights from the top of the image, and then gave the image an overall brighten and clarification of +25 points.
Look 4 - strobe, diffuser, shaped
The two following images was created with a strobe, diffuser, shaped using an umbrella to concentrate light to the table area to bring out the contrast of the black bowls against the light timber table.
The direction of the light moves the eye from left to right, clear by the dark but diffused shadows falling to the right.
Flatlay photography relies heavily on composition, especially with deep shadows involved. All of the objects in the flatlay have been placed to account for not just the shape of the object, but the shape of the shadow.
The Before photo is to demonstrate what a flatlay would look like without a single, powerful, directional light source.
In post-production (Lightroom only), I increased clarify, shadow, and black point to bring out the contrast.
Look 5 - naturally diffused light
The two following images was created with natural light.
Weather: Fine, full cloud. Time of day: 3pm. Season: Winter.
Natural light can deliver amazing results, and can require minimal equipment to use. The downside, it’s generally uncontrollable, so consistent results can be a huge challenge. Luckily, a full cloudy day for us meant we would have even, diffused light for long enough to get this shot.
For this look, we composed the image so that the natural light streamed between the archway and the neighboring building, hitting the right side of the noodles, opposite to the person’s right hand holding the noodles. Shooting straight on, we captured the noodle's immense length and height.
In post-production (Lightroom only), I increased clarify, shadow, and black point to bring out the contrast. Using colour calibration I adjusted selected colours to warmer, and others more subdued.
Well there you have it; five different looks using light, diffusion techniques & composition to really capture strong, engaging images. Understand how to use these three elements and soon you’ll be telling amazing food stories that will make your audiences go WOW.