The MOST IMPORTANT part of photography is light. Photography is literally capturing light - from the Greek "Photo" and "Graph," roughly translated as "drawing with light."
Soft, Natural, Side Light
Soft, Natural Side Light is the best lighting for food. Hard shadows don't look right with food. We want soft light with low contrast and bright shadows - but not NO shadows.
Side light gives us just enough shadows to show off the shape and texture of the food.
It's hard to take good photos in dark restaurants with harsh overhead lighting, outdoors in bright sun, or in a home kitchen with a big fluorescent light over your kitchen island. (Not that I know anything about the last one...).
Large north-facing windows are your friend for soft, natural light, especially if they have sheer curtains to diffuse the light a bit. If you're trying to take pictures in a restaurant, try to get close to the windows but out of direct sunlight.
(I learned this too late. I wish I had bought a house with north-facing windows in my kitchen. Or am I the only one who judges real estate on its food photography potential?)
Artificial Light
Let's talk about Natural vs. "Available" light. I live in Northern Ohio, where natural light photography has a problem. Six months of the year, from October through March, the sun sets before 7 PM. (And, it's closer to 5 PM during the winter months.) Early sunsets don't leave time after dinner if I depend on natural light.
"I'm an available light shooter. I always carry a flash and an umbrella to make sure it's available." - Paraphrased from David Hobby, Strobist.com TKLINK
Artificial light is like the old joke about Sales: "Sincerity is the key. Once you can fake that, you've got it made." The key to artificial light is learning to make it look natural
Artificial light can make life much easier - but it takes a little work to make it look natural.
Artificial light is a complex subject, one that I'll get into at a later date. For now, remember to use a large light source as close to the food as possible. A photo umbrella or softbox, just out of frame, softens artificial light and makes it look natural. And, often, I use a foam board as a white bounce card, directly opposite the light. (I buy 30-inch by 20-inch foam core boards from craft stores or office supply stores.)
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