Lighting/lens for food photography

[BBSLM]

I need to take picture of food for a website. I'm aiming for blog-style foodie photos, not highly stylized promotional-looking photos (if that makes any sense). Right now all I have is a Nikon D40 with the kit lens, and a tripod, so I need equipment recommendations for the following two environments:

1) Indoors, in front of huge south-west facing windows. I should be able to get away with just using the natural sunlight and a few bounce cards here. If that doesn't suffice, would an external flash or umbrella light work best? Are there any particular models you recommend?

2) Indoors, windowless kitchen with bad florescent lighting. I'll definitely need some sort of light source. Again I'm thinking external flash or umbrella light, but I don't know which.

Also, would the 50mm f1.8G lens be a good choice for this?

And what about filters, a lens hood, or something else I'm missing.

Thanks in advance.

 

[D-B-J]

From what i've read, food photography can be REALLY technical. But then again, i have no firsthand experience, so hopefully someone with will chime in.

 

[Big Mike]

As long as you've got a tripod, you can probably get away without additional lighting. Keeping the camera still on the tripod, allows you to use any shutter speed, and thus you can get enough exposure in just about any light. It shouldn't be too hard to get creative lighting in those situations. In the kitchen might be less attractive lighting, but you could work it with impromptu reflectors or flags (to reflect or block light).

 

[Helen B]

There's a lot of good suggestions and links on this site: Craig "Meathead" Goldwyn

 

[BBSLM]

Thanks, guys. I'll try the long exposure + bounce cards in the kitchen.

Reading the Meathead link now.

So is the 50mm f1.8G a good lens for me?

 

[andrewleephoto]

Thanks, guys. I'll try the long exposure + bounce cards in the kitchen.

Reading the Meathead link now.

So is the 50mm f1.8G a good lens for me?

It depends on what food you're doing but generally yes unless you're doing smaller foods (if that makes any sense)...

 

[BBSLM]

Thanks, guys. I'll try the long exposure + bounce cards in the kitchen.

Reading the Meathead link now.

So is the 50mm f1.8G a good lens for me?

It depends on what food you're doing but generally yes unless you're doing smaller foods (if that makes any sense)...

Makes perfect sense. Nothing too small, though.