a food photography workshop

Some of my efforts at last night’s Food Photography Workshop.

This month’s Sustenance Festival offers all kinds of unique events and workshops, even coinciding with ‘World Food Day’ (October 16th). Most of the activities are happening at Vancouver’s Roundhouse Community Centre…. everything from a fermentation workshop to story telling, food photography and food related films. I was lucky enough to catch last night’s food photography workshop, led by local pro Jackie Connelly.

Connelly began the class by showing us the tools of her trade. Lighting, diffusers, ‘bounce back’ materials, plus a portable kit of mini hand tools such as tweezers, tooth picks, water spray which are essential to the food styling process. It was when we delved into the technical details of our cameras that my eyes began to glaze over. I quickly realized that I do not know my camera nearly as well as I should. ‘F Stop’, “Shutter Speed’, ‘AF Mode’? Huh? I’ve heard all of these terms before, but heck if I know what they really mean or how to work with them when using my humble Panasonic ‘point and shoot’. After reviewing an informative list of tools and techniques, Jackie set us loose to play with the lighting, subjects and provided props. The majority of the students had brought along their snazzy SLR cameras, many of them accompanied by equally impressive tripods.

Over the years, I’ve developed a simple style of photo taking, working within my limited understanding of camera functions. I came away from the evening’s class determined to dig out my manual and become more familiar with my camera. And I’m sure I have a tripod packed away somewhere…..