Among Japanese cuisine, fresh fish dishes require a high level of culinary skill. Capturing these dishes beautifully on camera might be one of the most challenging aspects of food photography.
Now, before we start shooting, let me introduce a little trivia about Japanese fresh fish dishes.
The Difference Between Sashimi and Otsukuri
Why are they called by different names even though they are both slices of fresh fish?
Originally, it was a difference in dialect between the Kansai and Kanto regions. Nowadays, “sashimi” refers to slices of fish, while “Otsukuri” refers to slices of fish arranged on a plate with garnishes such as radish and perilla leaves, and sometimes with the head of the fish.
POINT.1 Decide the Position of the Light and the Main Subject
This is true for photography in general, but to take a beautiful photo, you need to decide what you want to emphasize the most in the frame.
And then, think about the light that shines on that main subject.
In the case of food photography, backlighting or semi-backlighting conditions make the subject look three-dimensional and can be captured beautifully.
However, when taking photos of food in a restaurant, you can’t control the lighting conditions, so it’s important to make sure your shadow doesn’t fall on the food.
POINT.2 Find the Front Side Where the Dish Looks the Most Beautiful
Actually, the arrangement of Japanese cuisine is three-dimensional, and there is always a designated “front side.” In a proper Japanese restaurant, the staff will place the dish with the front side facing you when serving.
For today’s subject, the “Three kinds of Otsukuri platter,” you can see that the light is coming from the 1-2 o’clock direction because the shadow falls in front of the dish.
And while the subject is placed at the front, let’s move it just a little to find a position where the three slices of sashimi look beautiful. *Also adjust the sake bottle and cups in the background accordingly.
POINT.3 Adjusting the Angle
The main subject of the photo is the three kinds of sashimi, and the light is set as a semi-backlight from the 1 o’clock direction. But we need to decide on one more thing: the angle of the shot.
Since this Otsukuri has a three-dimensional arrangement, shooting from a low position won’t capture the sashimi beautifully, so eye-level should be just right.
Now, don’t forget to focus sharply and take the first shot.
For the second shot, try a composition that cuts a little to the side; it will expand your imagination and result in a cool photo.
Please refer to the other shots as well.
The video is available on YouTube
You can also check out the YouTube video for this shooting tip.
*Don’t worry, it has English subtitles.