One of the key elements to taking good photos, not just with smartphone photography but in general, is “understanding the light” that shines on the subject. Light that hits the subject from the front is called “front light”, light from behind the subject is “backlight”, and light from the side is “side light”.
Mastering this can truly allow you to capture food photos with a sizzling effect, and it’s no exaggeration to say so.
Explaining “Light” Using Rice
Now, using rice, a staple food for the Japanese, I’ll explain “how to read light.”
Probably, very few people are conscious of the direction of light in their daily lives. However, in photography, understanding the direction of light becomes a crucial task.
POINT.1 Observe the Direction of the Shadow
When shooting with natural light, you can determine the direction from which the light is coming by observing the shadow of the subject.
In the case of the photo below, there’s a shadow on the bottom left of the subject, indicating that the light is coming from the 2 o’clock direction (which is a semi-backlight).
POINT.2 Shoot Food Photos in Backlight or Semi-Backlight
The best lighting for food photography is backlight or semi-backlight. And the least favorable lighting is “front light.”
Front light refers to the light coming from behind the photographer. This can result in the photographer’s shadow falling on the food, making the subject appear dark or causing the food to look flat.
I’ve taken photos of “rice” from various lighting directions, so please check and see how the direction of the light affects the outcome of the photo.
Upon comparison, it’s clear that the most flattering shots are taken in backlight or semi-backlight.
POINT.3 Enhancing Backlit Photography
When shooting in backlight, one of the challenges is that the foreground of the subject can become dark due to shadows.
In such cases, using a reflector or white objects like paper to illuminate the shadowed areas can brighten up the dark parts, resulting in a more beautiful photo.
By doing so, when taking food photos using natural light, understanding and adjusting the direction of the light can truly make a difference, and you’ll likely see the improvement in your photos.
Semi-backlit (2 o’clock direction)
Semi-backlit (10 o’clock direction)
Side-right
Side-left
Front light
Backlight
Backlight(Using a reflector)The video is available on YouTube
For the basic tutorial on the “Understanding Light” photography technique, we also have a YouTube video available. Please make sure to check it out!
*Don’t worry, it has English subtitles.