Japanese Food shots

Fujito · Jan 18, 2011

I'm a sushi chef and my father is the owner/chef of a restaurant. I use these pictures in a weekly email I send out to customers about specials. I enjoy doing this because it combines two things I really enjoy doing--food and photography! Both are art, and I really enjoy being a sushi chef along with doing pastries and even cooked dishes because the way in which you present it on the plate is an expression of art every time.

I would really love to do this professionally, but I'm not set on whether to uptake photography in general as a profession instead of continuing with the restaurant business or going into corporate marketing (my current major). I don't know of many food photographers who were actually chefs before, so that'd be interesting. Anyway, here are some shots that I've accumulated over 2010. I don't have a macro lens (yet) and I only use a 430EX flash. I don't have any remote triggers either, so it's all bounced light.

1. Kobe beef shabu shabu

2. Walu Ceviche

3. Spanish Mackerel Carpaccio style

4. Tuna nuta

5. Eggplant with miso

6. Baby Octopi

7. Dragon maki

8. Lobster Spring Roll

9. Amaebi sashimi

10. Unagi uni nigiri

11. Thomas Kellar's rendition of a strawberry shortcake (this was a difficult dessert to make)

TGood · Jan 18, 2011

Great shots as usual since I see your stuff on TST lol

PerfectlyFlawed · Jan 18, 2011

Presentation of the food is wonderful! They all look beautiful... some spots on a few pictures looks washed out or blown out.. Id work with your light a little bit. I like the composition as well! Thanks for sharing

dantambok · Jan 18, 2011

Nice shots! They look delicious :sexywink:

Fujito · Jan 18, 2011

TGood said:
Great shots as usual since I see your stuff on TST lol

haha word. TST has too much drama going on right now. So much arguing :lol:

PerfectlyFlawed said:
Presentation of the food is wonderful! They all look beautiful... some spots on a few pictures looks washed out or blown out.. Id work with your light a little bit. I like the composition as well! Thanks for sharing

Thanks, which ones? I'm all up for CC. I want to invest in some more lighting equipment this year. I've seen a few of the photographers that come in the restaurant for magazine articles work, and they either use light boxes with an umbrella flash setup, or just an umbrella flash.

Village Idiot · Jan 18, 2011

A bounced flash will give you a flatter look since the ceiling is generally a much bigger light source than most modifiers people use. Using a more directional light, like a flash with an umbrella, will still give you a nice soft light, but it will give you slightly more shadow and there for, more contrast.