Textured Surfaces

Many thanks to Ilva at Lucullian Delights, for mentioning Still*Life~Style in her August 15 post. It was such a surprise and an honor, as I admire her many talents!

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In recent years, food photography has moved toward presenting "real" food, and moved away from creating artificial perfection on the plate. Many of the food shots we execute now are closer and tighter in on for maximum taste appeal. Props may be limited to a plate and the surface it is on. With those shots, finding a surface with texture helps to add interest.

Fabrics and wood tables are givens, but there are all sorts of other options for small surfaces.


Photographer: Laurie Proffitt

In the above photo, I envisioned a very soft, natural toned environment for the yogurt and granola. The propping is minimal, but I wanted the background to have some impact. I tea stained a piece of muslin, then ripped it in strips and did a simple weave with the fabric. I am really happy with the subtle coloration, soft edging, and shadows in the piece. It was a bit of a project, but luckily a small set!

The chowder below sits on a surface of pale blue plaster that was applied over a wood board. The cool tone and weight of the plaster work well with the food, the cracking subtly echoes the cornbread.


Photographer: Stephen Hamilton


We wanted the fresh green of this avocado pizza to pop, and simple propping with non-color elements work well. The background is a board painted in greys, and then brushed with a sand wash paint to soften. The array of paints available these days is incredible, I get inspired just browsing in the craft and home decor stores.


Photographer: Michael Maes

Keep your mind, and your eyes, open to finding new and different textures to shoot on. Here are 2 quick grabs of larger props that in themselves make wonderful backgrounds for tighter shots.



Did you guess...these are simply a well used pizza stone, and a vintage tin baking sheet!

Paula

The Perfect Prop: From Tag Sale to Top Chef

Photographer: Stephen Hamilton

The image above is one of my very favorite portfolio shots. I found the bowl at a tag sale, and was drawn to it immediately. It is an unmarked piece, simple white ironstone mixing bowl. The glaze is a wonderful white, pure and warm with a creamy depth. Inside, it has crackled in a fabulous pattern that only time and wear could create. I imagined this bowl had been part of prepping many family meals. It speaks of Sunday morning breakfasts and holiday cookies, of holding fresh picked cherries and beans from the backyard.

I occasionally brought it with me on various shoots for a good 6 months, waiting for the right fit. One day, we were on schedule to shoot a pizza. The food stylist prepped the dough, and had it holding in the kitchen. One look at that dough and I knew it was exactly what the ironstone bowl needed. The photographer agreed, and we brought them together on camera. It was a totally unplanned shot.

My job as a photo stylist is in essence to always supply the perfect prop. Sometimes it can be as basic as finding the right white plate with the ideal size, glaze, curvature, weight. Other times, like in the dough shot, it is an integral part of the magic in the final image. When there is that wonderful balance of naturally styled food, impeccable lighting and the perfect props, you can feel it as well as see it.

We did a few variations on the shot, starting with the simple dough in the bowl, then adding a touch of flour, and finally a drape of a vintage linen tea towel. They are all beautiful images, but the one with the drape seems to be most favored.


Photographer: Stephen Hamilton

Each season, Top Chef selects images from the portfolio of food photographer Stephen Hamilton to decorate the living quarters of the contestants. The dough bowl was among the group chosen for Season 7, in DC.

Paula