Village Idiot
No longer a newbie, moving up!
- Joined
- Mar 20, 2008
- Messages
- 7,269
- Reaction score
- 406
- Location
- Shepherdsturd, WV / Almost, MD
- Can others edit my Photos
- Photos NOT OK to edit
People are getting kind of snappy.
I think what people are responding to, me included, is the underestimation of what it will take to pull of food shots at an acceptable level of quality. I don't think people are saying "Don't do it.", they are saying "It's not easy and you should understand that." If I wanted to be a race car driver but created the impression that I didn't understand the amount of skill and experience it actually takes, I would get similar responses.
The budget is possible in my opinion, but it is stretching it very far: used entry level D-SLR with fast lens, plastic tripod, gimp software (free), foam core, diffusion paper, high wattage shop lights, clamps, cinefoil, chairs or something as c-stands to clamp things to. The thing about this set-up is that you really need to know what you are doing and isn't really the beginner route. It's more of a MacGuyver route for a knowledgeable shooter who is broke or trying to make a point.
And instead of people jumping on him saying that he needs a $1000 camera, $1200 lens, $400 triggers, $1000 in lights, they should actually let him know the important things that go into food photography (lighting, composition, styling) and that a used or older DSLR, cheaper lens, and some adequate lighting are enough to get started in learning how to take those shots that he wants.
/run-on sentence
You can buy budget speed lights, something like a D40 or 30D, and a 50mm and aside from accessories have everything you need to get started. That would at least get the person the equipment it takes to start learning and trying to apply that knowledge.