Sushi for menu

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Archive 2009 · Sushi for menu

perplex
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p.1 #1 · Sushi for menu

Hi Guys

What do you think about some of these shots that I took for a menu in sushi restaurant. These images are for basic illustrations of the different pieces that they need for a white background.

I also took a few of their menus on plates but these are not ready yet.

I am interested in getting feedback especially on the lighting, which by the way were 2 SB-800 in softbox/white umbrella.

Album here

Nov 20, 2009 at 12:56 PM

perplex
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p.1 #2 · Sushi for menu

Nov 20, 2009 at 12:57 PM

dan101
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p.1 #3 · Sushi for menu

I guess the lighting is ok, but the food looks very unappetizing. Looks dried out. Maybe a little oil lightly brushes on would help.

Nov 20, 2009 at 01:08 PM

Jim Rickards
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p.1 #4 · Sushi for menu

As this is the People forum, the food doesn't fit in. Anybody know which forum this should be posted in? (Yes, I know people eat food, but....)

Nov 20, 2009 at 01:10 PM

perplex
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p.1 #5 · Sushi for menu

Jim Rickards wrote:
As this is the People forum, the food doesn't fit in. Anybody know which forum this should be posted in? (Yes, I know people eat food, but....)
Ahh - sorry - I just saw the word "Studio" in the forum description, but when I read the entire description I can see where I went wrong

Nov 20, 2009 at 01:13 PM

perplex
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p.1 #6 · Sushi for menu

Jim Rickards wrote:
As this is the People forum, the food doesn't fit in. Anybody know which forum this should be posted in? (Yes, I know people eat food, but....)

ok - thanks. I did not have any access to this (and no stylist) but I guess I could have prepared better.

Nov 20, 2009 at 01:15 PM

Steady Hand
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p.1 #7 · Sushi for menu

My comments or suggestions below are not a criticism of you, your sushi, your talent or skill. I offer them in a friendly tone of voice and with the sole intent to help you with a second POV and set of eyes. If you read sincere questions and simple suggestions as "criticism" of you, then you will miss how I am trying to help you. All smilies I post are genuine and sincere.

Of course this may be your own "style" or your own "vision" and I suppose we can assume that the images look just like they do because that is exactly how you like them. That is OK too. It just shows that there are differences of "opinion" on what looks good. IF these are exactly what you want and like, then by all means continue making your images look like that and have fun doing it. As I always say: "Follow your own muse."

_______________________

I like sushi. I find most appetizing to look at and very colorful and interesting to see (with my eyes).

What about these pics then?

Overexposed and unappetizing...looks "bland" and the light looks "blasted" in what I call "Ebay Lighting Method."

My Simple Suggestion: Try a different PP route, and increase saturation.

Nov 20, 2009 at 02:27 PM

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p.1 #8 · Sushi for menu

You might also google - food styling or food stylist - just to get some tips and tricks with food and how to make it look real and appetizing.

..and what Steady said

Nov 20, 2009 at 02:38 PM

Ian Bower
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p.1 #9 · Sushi for menu

Hello! These look pretty good. I have some experiences shooting food photography. What has been said above about it being a little "Bland" looking is correct.

What you might do to change this - Is increase the saturation and darkness to give it contrast. Do this in layers though because your yellow colors always go too far and make the food unappetizing. I might also experiement with the contrast.

hope that helps

Nov 20, 2009 at 03:06 PM

perplex
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p.1 #10 · Sushi for menu

Hi all!

Thanks a lot - ill have a look at the saturation and "Bland"ness (just need to find a US-Danish dictionary to get the exact translation of "Bland)

Ian: Thanks for the tip with layers!

Nov 20, 2009 at 03:37 PM

perplex
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p.1 #11 · Sushi for menu

I tried to play around with saturation and darkness:

What do you think?
Quite a bit of saturation:

Nov 20, 2009 at 04:24 PM

perplex
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p.1 #12 · Sushi for menu

ColtStone wrote:
Bland means kedelig og smager af lort.

Well... "smager af lort" = "tastes like shit" is a bit harsh

I think...

But point taken.

Nov 20, 2009 at 04:26 PM

FSJ_Guy
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p.1 #13 · Sushi for menu

The pic with more saturation is nicer. I would try to get that effect when you shoot the photo, not in post, however. Otherwise, it'll be a LONG evening in front of the computer.

The straight-on photos of the single pieces don't do it for me. Having them at an angle is much more pleasing. Also, I KNOW they want a white background, but try some on their serving dishes. That can look nice, too.

Try experimenting with different liquids to make the meat look less dry, too.

I'm glad you're doing this and not me. I'd eat all the product end end up photographing an empty white space!

Nov 20, 2009 at 05:24 PM

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p.1 #14 · Sushi for menu

FSJ_Guy wrote:
Also, I KNOW they want a white background, but try some on their serving dishes. That can look nice, too.

The great thing about sushi is that everything is dressed up. Many places have different dishes and planks on which they put their food. A restaurant around me uses these boat shaped dishes to place a bunch of food on them. I think the dish will go a long way to making the food more interesting.

Also, I agree about the lighting. I think the food is overexposed, so a lot of the detail is lost in the bright areas of the food and especially in the rice.

Nov 20, 2009 at 06:11 PM

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p.1 #15 · Sushi for menu

Steady Hand wrote:
My comments or suggestions below are not a criticism of you, your sushi, your talent or skill.

Ah hahahahaha! You crack me up Steady! I think this is particularly funny because I know what usually goes there in place of sushi...

But yes, the saturated version looks much better to me!

Nov 20, 2009 at 06:25 PM

Steady Hand
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p.1 #16 · Sushi for menu

The White Castle hamburger shot...got me..

I knew they used a THIN hamburger patty, but I did not know it was THINNER than the slice of cheese and not much thicker than a quarter.

_____________

Tell your client that WHITE background is not good for WHITE rice based food.

Good luck, and eating!

Nov 20, 2009 at 06:26 PM

perplex
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p.1 #17 · Sushi for menu

Hi Guys

I really appriciate your feedback (what would a community be without interaction and participation!)

A few specific things:
1: I am happy with your comments on the saturation etc. Its strange how you think that something can look ok and then its obvious that something is wrong.

2: The client explicitely wanted the straigt-on angle for the rolls, but I have a some of the menus that are of course another angle.

3: I'll try and work on the exposure for the rice as this is kind of an integral part of the sushi

4: Thanks againg all for superb feedback. Im glad i posted it here, before sending it to the client!

Nov 20, 2009 at 06:40 PM

Steady Hand
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p.1 #18 · Sushi for menu

hey

you just lucked out and found some Sushi Lovers.

Good luck with your edits and keep posting.

Nov 20, 2009 at 06:51 PM

perplex
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p.1 #19 · Sushi for menu

Steady Hand wrote:
hey

you just lucked out and found some Sushi Lovers.

Good luck with your edits and keep posting.

For sure I'll keep posting.

You guys give great advise. Now its a little bit late in Copenhagen (first few glaases of redwine is in) but first thing tomorrow I'll work on my PP and upload a few more shots that hopefully are just a bit better than the first ones.

Have a nice weekend!

Nov 20, 2009 at 06:57 PM

Young Image
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p.1 #20 · Sushi for menu

Good Morning (at least in NY)
a couple of things. First as already mentioned you seem to be ovrexposed (at least your pictures are). The white rice blends into the white background. You also said you used an umbrella. I am far from an expert in food photography but I have read that when shooting food you generally don't want to use light modifyers like umbrellas or soft boxes. Low camera angles and very tight crops were suggested which you did do.
Interestingly this past week I entered a shot I took of Sushi on the Fred Miranda weekly contest for the category of colorful. If you get a chance take a look and let me know what you think of my shot.
Regards,
Larry

Nov 21, 2009 at 12:25 PM

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p.1 #21 · Sushi for menu

Jim Rickards wrote:
As this is the People forum, the food doesn't fit in. Anybody know which forum this should be posted in? (Yes, I know people eat food, but....)
it would fit in me! looks great!
J

Nov 21, 2009 at 01:46 PM

eddiejclayton
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p.1 #22 · Sushi for menu

LMAO @ that burger shot!!

I'm now hungry for sushi. Might look better with a different background instead of the white (I know that's what the customer wanted right?). Is that an eel avocado roll I spy in there? *yum yum*

Nov 21, 2009 at 03:38 PM

joosay
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p.1 #23 · Sushi for menu

If this is in the people section..I hope there aren't human meat in any of those...

Nov 21, 2009 at 03:50 PM

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p.1 #24 · Sushi for menu

If there is human meat in it, I don't care. ;D It looks so good I'm starving now. I'm gonna have to nom down some sushi after work to take care of this. Curse you and your good sushi photography!

Nov 21, 2009 at 07:12 PM

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p.1 #25 · Sushi for menu

The focus of attention should be the food. In your shots it is the background.

If I were running a sushi restaurant in Copenhagen, I'd want pictures that made the food attractive. These shots look like medical examiner pictures. No amount of sharpening or saturation will help.

My advice: rethink and reshoot. At least that way you'll get to taste more of the product

Nov 21, 2009 at 09:33 PM


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