I get a few questions in my classes, trade shows and book signings about my photography.
Way back when I left school I studied photography and worked as a cadet photographer - honestly at the time I didn't have what it took, I don't think I had the maturity or patience. I regret (slightly) not seeing my 4 year course through... I dropped out at the end of 2nd year and transferred across to another degree that I did finish...... much to my parents relief
Live and learn !
Whats that saying - No such thing as mistakes only lessons learnt?
Flash forward a few years later (a few more than I am willing to admit) and I am back to it - I'm loving it. Images take time and patients and I get a kick out of it.
Today I was photographing a blood orange tart that I made. I was photographing it with the intent of blogging the recipe - hopefully in the next few days I'll get around to it.
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| Picture A |
What I actually wanted to write about today was how I took the photo.
I like to use natural muted light, that way I don't need to mess around too much with my exposure.
I used my fixed 50mm lens and set my camera to F/1.4* (*F stop or focal ratio).
Its worth having a read of your camera manual if all of that sounds like another language.
The next important thing is where to take your picture - as in whats in the picture.
To give you an example I have used an old door and painted it with a few different paints and techniques (picture 1)
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| Picture 1 - Old door painted |
The top two panels I painted with a green paint. Letting the paint dry and then lightly sanding it back. I then painted white over the top of the top panel heavily and the second panel only lightly.
I painted the bottom panel in the white, letting the white layer dry I sanded it back lightly and then added a blue layer on the bottom panel.
I chose sections of the door to photograph the tart (Pic A blue section, Pic B green section)
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| Picture A |
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| Picture B |
and then used another part of the door for a nice flat textured surface shoot(picture C blue section)
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| Picture C |
I then used the top part of the door to picture one of my quilts hanging off it (picture D)
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| Picture D |
I tend to be drawn to rough old surfaces, I think they are easy backgrounds to photograph? Maybe.....
I'd love to see what you guys do and what types of areas or surfaces you use in your photos!
paste a link in the comments and I can have a stickybeak
Xx Siobhan Rogers
