It is great to see an example of commercial photography on the forum. My comments come from my experience as an advertising photographer and as a (former) professor teaching commercial photography. First: I have been aware of Katharina's photography on the forum and admired. She is developing a certain stylistic approach which has a very Russian flavor. That stylistic approach is missing here. Second: Food photography is done differently in different parts of the world but basic concepts are... basic. It should look appetizing. Third: the bite. I think it is contemporary. Fourth: The light is a problem. Most all food photography is lighted with from the back with a diffuse light source and a significant fill in front or on top. This makes the food look better, outlines shapes and creates highlights on the edges of subjects not on the top. Go to an outdoor eating event and you will find tables under a tent or other shelter. Eating in the open in full sun is not pleasurable. We only do it if necessary. The light here is creating highlights that obscure parts of the subject labels and makes the packaging unattractive. The chocolate itself is treated differently by the light since it is on a different angle. It does look appetizing. Fifth: Style again. In the US there are three major styles of food photography. New York, Chicago and West Coast style. New York style looks lived in. It feels real. In Chicago style the food is so perfect it is more like a display than a meal. In West coast style the light is slightly less diffuse, approaching sunlight, more reds and yellow colors and the food is different. New York style is done primarily for magazine illustration, Chicago style is done for clients. You see examples on product labels. West coast style is primarily editorial. Final comment: Several years ago I spent part of a sabbatical in Moscow as a guest of the Russian Fine Art Photographer's Union. This was before there was much done for advertising in Russia which was why I was invited, to lecture on advertising as done here in USA. I had the opportunity to review many of the members portfolios. The experience was wonderful in too many ways to expand upon here. If there are comments I would be happy to expand on what I've written. JOHN __________________________________ jr@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx See my Photography at http://www.retallackphotography.com
