Author Topic: Food Photography - nice "how to do it" magazine (Read 8476 times)

steheap · « **on:** September 04, 2013, 11:20 »

I came across a site written by Taylor Mathis, a professional food photographer, where he produces a monthly magazine focused on a new aspect of taking great pictures of food each month. He is now on issue 8, and his approach is very straightforward and also focused on making use of simple inexpensive approaches - a white bed sheet hung in the garage door opening is how he starts. That said, his images are really great.

I've enjoyed each issue so far - it is always good to get some new inspiration! I've reviewed the site and the magazines over on my blog if you are interested (and, yes, I did sign up as an affiliate of his, but I never recommend anything I don't purchase and use for myself!)

http://www.backyardsilver.com/2013/09/photographing-food-stock-photos/

Steve

Mantis · « **Reply #1 on:** September 04, 2013, 14:27 »

Quote from: steheap on September 04, 2013, 11:20

I came across a site written by Taylor Mathis, a professional food photographer, where he produces a monthly magazine focused on a new aspect of taking great pictures of food each month. He is now on issue 8, and his approach is very straightforward and also focused on making use of simple inexpensive approaches - a white bed sheet hung in the garage door opening is how he starts. That said, his images are really great.

I've enjoyed each issue so far - it is always good to get some new inspiration! I've reviewed the site and the magazines over on my blog if you are interested (and, yes, I did sign up as an affiliate of his, but I never recommend anything I don't purchase and use for myself!)

http://www.backyardsilver.com/2013/09/photographing-food-stock-photos/

Steve

You have to cough up some doe...just sayin.

steheap · « **Reply #2 on:** September 04, 2013, 14:32 »

Sure - you do. And I comment on that in my review. Depends if you think some inspiration and useful knowledge and background is worth it. My comment was that I thought it was a bit overpriced, but I still enjoyed it and bought the most recent issue. Out of my monthly earnings, it is a small amount to pay, in my view.

Steve

ShadySue · « **Reply #3 on:** September 04, 2013, 14:59 »

Quote from: Mantis on September 04, 2013, 14:27

Quote from: steheap on September 04, 2013, 11:20
I came across a site written by Taylor Mathis, a professional food photographer, where he produces a monthly magazine focused on a new aspect of taking great pictures of food each month. He is now on issue 8, and his approach is very straightforward and also focused on making use of simple inexpensive approaches - a white bed sheet hung in the garage door opening is how he starts. That said, his images are really great.

I've enjoyed each issue so far - it is always good to get some new inspiration! I've reviewed the site and the magazines over on my blog if you are interested (and, yes, I did sign up as an affiliate of his, but I never recommend anything I don't purchase and use for myself!)

http://www.backyardsilver.com/2013/09/photographing-food-stock-photos/

Steve

You have to cough up some doe...just sayin.

Steheap said that in his OP: "I never recommend anything I don't purchase and use for myself"

Me · « **Reply #4 on:** September 04, 2013, 15:19 »

Just purchased, many thanks for link Steve.

As you say, in scheme of things small outlay for info on new topic to learn.

steheap · « **Reply #5 on:** September 04, 2013, 15:20 »

Great - hope you enjoy them. I read the first batch of 7 over two evenings - relaxing and informative at the same time. I'm just part way through issue 8.

Steve

tab62 · « **Reply #6 on:** September 04, 2013, 16:24 »

You eat way too healthy Steve

shotupdave · « **Reply #7 on:** September 04, 2013, 19:22 »

Just bought issue 1 and I must say I am pleasantly surprised how good it is. thanks for the referral

klsbear · « **Reply #8 on:** September 04, 2013, 21:29 »

I've been a following his posts for awhile now. He's got a blog with a some nice tutorials too. If you're not ready to ante up for the magazines you can get a peek at his style for teaching technique here

gostwyck · « **Reply #9 on:** September 05, 2013, 04:36 »

To quote from your own website;

" ... and, at the end of the day, what is $35 of tax deductible expenditure if it comes up with more saleable shots?"

Well, $35 is actually more than twice the price of Nicolesy's book on food photography from Amazon (the Kindle version is less than $10);

http://www.amazon.com/Food-Photography-Snapshots-Great-Shots/dp/0321784111/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1378372997&sr=1-1&keywords=food+photography

I'd certainly recommend Nicolesy's book, I learnt quite a bit myself from it, and she has a proven record of selling food images into the microstock market. I've never heard of Taylor Mathis before and IMHO his food images are not as impressive as Nicole's.

steheap · « **Reply #10 on:** September 05, 2013, 07:53 »

Quote

Well, $35 is actually more than twice the price of Nicolesy's book on food photography from Amazon (the Kindle version is less than $10);

Good point - I'll check that out as well now that my interest is pique'd! It is always the same with magazines though - they feed you new stuff on a monthly basis and we don't notice the $5 going out each month.

Quote

You eat way too healthy Steve

You didn't see the dessert - apple and strawberry crumble with vanilla ice cream!

Steve

ShadySue · « **Reply #11 on:** September 05, 2013, 08:12 »

Quote from: steheap on September 05, 2013, 07:53

Quote
You eat way too healthy Steve

You didn't see the dessert - apple and strawberry crumble with vanilla ice cream!

TWO fruits: that's very healthy

steheap · « **Reply #12 on:** September 05, 2013, 08:25 »

Quote

TWO fruits: that's very healthy

Vanilla is a fruit as well, isn't it - at least a plant?

ShadySue · « **Reply #13 on:** September 05, 2013, 10:11 »

Quote from: steheap on September 05, 2013, 08:25

Quote
TWO fruits: that's very healthy

Vanilla is a fruit as well, isn't it - at least a plant?

Absolutely, so that's 3 of the 5 a day
Combine that with the orange in a lunchtime Chocolate Orange and the grapes in a Rum and Raisin Fudge and we are All Good.

DF_Studios · « **Reply #14 on:** September 05, 2013, 15:27 »

I also recommend - Food Photography: From Snapshots to Great Shots - it's a great value. Packed with useful advice, lighting setups and post-processing.

OM · « **Reply #15 on:** September 07, 2013, 18:44 »

Quote from: gostwyck on September 05, 2013, 04:36

To quote from your own website;

" ... and, at the end of the day, what is $35 of tax deductible expenditure if it comes up with more saleable shots?"

Well, $35 is actually more than twice the price of Nicolesy's book on food photography from Amazon (the Kindle version is less than $10);

http://www.amazon.com/Food-Photography-Snapshots-Great-Shots/dp/0321784111/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1378372997&sr=1-1&keywords=food+photography

I'd certainly recommend Nicolesy's book, I learnt quite a bit myself from it, and she has a proven record of selling food images into the microstock market. I've never heard of Taylor Mathis before and IMHO his food images are not as impressive as Nicole's.

Nicole's images are indeed more impressive. From a very quick perusal of the Mathis book #1, I was a little distressed to see ISO 1600 and ISO 640 being used for studio stills. Get tripod. Use ISO100.

shotupdave · « **Reply #16 on:** September 07, 2013, 22:29 »

I agree with the ISO being a bit too high, but I think you should concentrate on the technique vs the photos

steheap · « **Reply #17 on:** September 08, 2013, 09:33 »

Quote

I was a little distressed to see ISO 1600 and ISO 640 being used for studio stills.

I agree - that really surprised me as well. I was going to email the author to ask about that, but never got round to it!

I also thought that food was the perfect subject for a tripod - it doesn't move!

I guess the idea is that you can start with a bare minimum of equipment - he isn't saying that you could then sell the images, but that you can take them using the sheet in the garage door opening and a reflector, and if your camera automatically ups the ISO, then that is OK for learning.

Steve

Dan · « **Reply #18 on:** September 08, 2013, 10:15 »

I'm fixing to order a copy. Just put the money in paypal. By Wed i should be good to go.

Dan · « **Reply #19 on:** September 08, 2013, 12:50 »

But which issue would you suggest? I was thinking issue 6 but open to suggestion.

Dan · « **Reply #20 on:** September 26, 2013, 12:08 »

Bought issue 1. Only problem - part of it printed blurry from low ink, Seems like a good deal for the money,

steheap · « **Reply #21 on:** November 18, 2013, 19:25 »

The author of this first volume of e-magazines about Photographing Food has now moved on to a new volume - focusing more on composition and styling. I've extended my original post on the topic on my website: http://www.backyardsilver.com/2013/11/stock-photo-topics-photographing-food-magazine-volume-2/ and am now looking forward to getting into Volume 2.

It was quite rightly mentioned earlier in this thread that you could buy a full book for the price of the complete set of magazines (which is true) - I just happen to like these things coming along at intervals so you have time to read, absorb and practice some of the techniques.

Enjoy!

Steve

PS - the direct link to his site is: https://www.e-junkie.com/ecom/gb.php?cl=235116&c=ib&aff=257311" target="ejejcsingle" (and, yes, I have an affiliate code there - search for Photographing Food if you prefer to avoid that.)

Uncle Pete · « **Reply #22 on:** November 19, 2013, 21:34 »

At the very least, it's all Very Interesting. Keep the reviews coming.

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Author Topic: Food Photography - nice "how to do it" magazine (Read 8476 times)

steheap

Mantis

steheap

ShadySue

Me

steheap

tab62

shotupdave

klsbear

gostwyck

steheap

ShadySue

steheap

ShadySue

DF_Studios

OM

shotupdave

steheap

Dan

Dan

Dan

steheap

Uncle Pete

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