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Photography Tips From My Friend, Brian

By on January 26, 2010 with

You know you’re getting old when you can’t recall how you met a friend.  Yikes!  I’m not really sure how I met Brian or his band, Peyote but, somehow, about 17 years ago, I started hanging out with this talented group of guys!  I loved their music and their sound so much I began to act as “manager” (not really sure what that means!)  But, basically I began to make calls to local venues and get them booked.  I also began to compile a list of followers and notify them of upcoming shows.  I even got to hang with them in studio and witness the process of putting together a CD!  Honestly, as I look back, those were some of the best times of my pre-married/mommy, life!

Brian kept the beat!  The man really does have killer talent on the drums!

Just a few weeks ago, I found him and lead singer Michael on Facebook.  Gotta love Facebook!  I began to puruse his photos and found some simple yet beautiful pictures of food!  Turns out Brian has some skill with the camera and also in the kitchen!  I tried to recall any meals we shared when the band was together…I have a very clear memory of being in their kitchen and watching them whip up Top Ramen and stirring in some frozen corn!  (I’m glad you’ve grown in your culinary talents, Brian!)

Anyway, I sent him a message and asked  if he would guest blog some of his tips!  So, here’s Brian!

Hey everybody!
So, I was asked by Kristin, I know her as Kip, to be a guest blogger.  I’m Brian Tankersley.  Kip found me on Facebook after about 10 plus years, and many kids later.  How she is able to blog and do everything with 5 kids, I have no idea! I have 2 boys, 9 and 6, that keep me crazy…..I mean crazy busy.  I’ve been married to Emily, my awesome wife, for 12 years.  I know you’re probably wondering why I was asked to be the guest blogger and I’m still kind of wondering myself!  Well, Kip saw some of my photographs on Facebook  and thought it would be a good idea for me to offer up some photography tips.  I know that  almost everyone puts pics on Facebook;  mine, however,  are pictures of food along with the standard pics of the boys, vacations and all the other things you would normally find.  I guess Kip was impressed enough with the food pics, and it fit perfectly with LoveFeast Table, that she asked me to share with you what I think makes for a good photograph.  Although I am quite flattered, I don’t know if I’m really qualified.  I enjoy taking pictures, and although I work as a news photographer at a local TV station, I don’t consider myself a professional photographer and most of the time I feel like I’m just kind of wingin’ it.  However,  with that being said, I can tell you what works for me, and how I approach taking pics of food.
I use a Nikon d50 with a wide and telephoto lens.  I use Aperture to edit my pictures.  My camera is nice, but not a top of the line DSLR.  I think a decent compact camera with your basic computer photo editor can produce a nice quality picture.  Ok, lets just get to it.
• Lighting: I think the most important thing you can do to improve your picture is to turn the flash off.  It produces really flat and harsh shadow, which is not flattering to the dish.  To work around this, I take my shots using natural light.  I go set up by the window or door, wherever there is some nice sunlight coming in.  I also don’t have the dish directly in the sunlight (which can cause harsh shadows).
•Composition: My approach is “less is more”. I don’t like to crowd the plate but to really focus on the subject.  I would say I take a minimalist approach to my pictures.  Focus not only on the food, but what you put the food on.  I don’t think you can go wrong with a white plate, it’s like a blank canvas that makes the food stand out and be the star.  And if the food is the star, focus on it, get close!  Fill the shot up with the food.  I don’t need to see the whole kitchen ( or window or front door).
•Focus: Make sure you are focused on the food, not the plate, fork, napkin.  Move around, change angles, move the plate, see how the light falls, or how a different angle can make a totally different look.  I think shooting down on the plate works well, everything should (not forks) be in focus.
These are three areas that I think can improve the quality of your pictures.  I know there’s a lot more to it than what I mentioned, but I think it’s a good start.  Like I said, I’m not a pro, just a guy who finds taking pictures of food, to be fun.  Really that’s what I hope you would get from it.  Have fun, it’s just food!
Hopefully, if the shots don’t turn out so well, the food will.  Thanks to you for taking the time to read this, and to Kip, for letting me blog for the first time.
Enjoy,
Brian
and yes… I made all of the food.
Note: All photographs in this post were taken by Brian.  To see more of his work, visit him here-Brian’s Flickr Account
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  1. Twitter Trackbacks for LoveFeast Table » Blog Archive » Photography Tips From My Friend, Brian [lovefeasttable.com] on Topsy.com says:
    January 26, 2010 at 4:52 pm

    […] LoveFeast Table » Blog Archive » Photography Tips From My Friend, Brian lovefeasttable.com/blog/photography-tips-from-my-friend-brian – view page – cached You know you’re getting old when you can’t recall how you met a friend. Yikes! I’m not really sure how I met Brian or his band, Peyote but, somehow, about 17 years ago, I started hanging out with this talented group of guys! I loved their music and their sound so much I began to act as “manager” (not really sure what that means!) But, basically I began to make calls to local venues… Read moreYou know you’re getting old when you can’t recall how you met a friend. Yikes! I’m not really sure how I met Brian or his band, Peyote but, somehow, about 17 years ago, I started hanging out with this talented group of guys! I loved their music and their sound so much I began to act as “manager” (not really sure what that means!) But, basically I began to make calls to local venues and get them booked. I also began to compile a list of followers and notify them of upcoming shows. I even got to hang with them in studio and witness the process of putting together a CD! Honestly, as I look back, those were some of the best times of my pre-married/mommy, View page […]

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    January 1, 2011 at 5:22 pm

    […] Kristin’s friend Ryan shared his photography tips with us!  Check out his Flicker account […]

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