I was quite satisfied with my adequate photographs snapped with my trusty iPhone S. Just before I started the blog, I spent some time doing some scant research on food photography. I didn’t want my photos to be rubbish, but I was happy with an adequate-enough approach and a style that was true to me. Using an iPhone is just so accessible and easy and the photos are there on your device ready to upload to Instagram or wherever.
Until….an event popped up at the Kent Cookery School. A Food Photography Workshop run by Olympus Image Space, with Olympus UK ambassador Marcus Clackson and an opportunity to snap foody delights cooked by Masterchef finalist Alex Rushmer and James Palmer Rosser, the chef and founder of the Kent Cookery School. I had to go.
But wait, I can’t use a camera. Not unless it’s in auto mode. So after booking the course last minute, I turned to the one person that could help me become acquainted enough with our camera that’s been gathering dust for the last few years, my son. He is a keen photographer and lover of analogue tech (you can check out his portfolio here). I asked him to talk me through the bare basics.
After a whistle-stop orientation with our Olympus PEN, I knew that I’d still be a novice on the workshop, but at least I could turn the camera on and kinda knew some basics about aperture and shutter speed and ISO, kinda.
On the day, 20 of us students, ranging from novices, like me, up to professional photographers, gathered at the cookery school in the morning. Leading the workshop was Marcus and on-hand to assist with all things technical and to set you up with trying out new kit, were the team from Olympus. There was plenty to try in the way of tasty treats and of course Olympus tech including the new Pro-level OM-D cameras and M.Zuiko lenses. I was happy to try and get the most out of my camera on the day but did try out a macro lens.
We split into three groups so that we could move between three work areas: process and ingredients shots taken at the chefs’ table; still life; and compositions working with light. Throughout the day the chefs were ready to answer questions about cooking and the photographer and tech team were there with practical tips, instruction and encouragement.
The chefs’ table
James and Alex cooked up a variety of dishes that day including a risotto primavera (or should that be primavero, I don’t know), macarons, a roast saddle of lamb, tomato salad, and probably other things that I missed. This was an opportunity to get some process photos as well as some close-ups of ingredients. And an opportunity to ask food-based or Masterchef-based questions.
Still life
On a wooden table, we made up arrangments of still-life style shots. A chance to get up close with the lens, add some water droplets for freshness and experiment with backgrounds falling away.
Working with light
A separate room was set up for staging finished plates of food. This included different table coverings and textures and using a variety of reflectors and flash.
Included in the day was lunch and then in the afternoon, we had the chance to move outside to photograph the barbecue and also to revisit anything that we wanted to work on some more.
I am honestly so pleased that I can say that these photos here are mine. With a few pointers, instruction, encouragement, some help with the camera settings and of course some wonderful food to capture, I have come away from the day with more knowledge and confidence around taking photographs. Now all I need to do is remember everything and start using my camera a bit more!