DIALUP WARNING...Pics from today's photoshoot at my client's Japanese restaurant. Anyone for SUSHI?

[Amerigo Vespucci]

:toast:

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. I'm not a huge fan of sushi, but those are great photographs.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

2. Thank you V.O....

This place is one of my favorites. Every time they tell me they need new photos, I know they've come up with something intriguing.

:toast:

[nolabear]

3. I AM a huge fan of sushi, and I just drooled all over my keyboard.

Any techniques to keep it gorgeous or is that just natural tuna talent?

[Amerigo Vespucci]

4. These are what I call "guerilla photoshoots"...

...the chefs prepare each item, bring it to me, I am ready in natural light with my camera on a tripod and I shoot EVERYTHING in natural light.

For better or worse, I have an "eye"...I know what I want the shot to look like, I know how to get the results I want. I fully accept the fact that there are studio photographers who could have me for lunch in terms of what their lighting rigs and SLRs cost, but...

...this specific client gave me a REALLY nice complement today. I shoot everything on a black background and sometimes allow a bit of the restaurant to show...a slightly off-focus chair, a bit of table, a long shot of the restaurant, etc.

But today she said that she REALLY likes what we've done over the last year or two, the black backgrounds, the way the food "pops" off of the Web pages.

For my part, it was 100% deliberate...but the fact that I "felt" what the client wanted and followed my instincts to deliver it and then got that complement was SO GRATIFYING. I was walking on AIR.

I'm glad you liked the photos, and thank you so much for your kind words.

:toast:

[Major Nikon]

21. I much prefer the minimalist approach when it comes to food photos

Studio photography certainly has its place, but for food photography I don't care for it much. Even though such photos might be aesthetically very pleasing, you just don't get the sense that you're in a restaurant or at home with a plate of food in front of you ready to be devoured, and to me that's the whole point of food photography. A good source of light and one or two reflectors is really all you need to create that mood.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

23. Their former photographer...

...had taken some shots of sushi rolls draped with fishing nets and other props.

My reaction was "You don't want this. Focus on the food."

This restaurant is different because the owner deliberately brings an artistic, creative approach to the food. But my overall approach to food photography is I want you to see exactly what that plate is going to look like when the waiter / waitress sets it on your table. I want you to see the quality, the portions, the presentation. I want it to be as real as possible. I'll send a plate back to the kitchen if there are spills of sauce, random crumbs, items not symmetrically laid out on the plates.

[nolabear]

25. Yep, all the equipment in the world can't sub for instinct.

I know this as a writer. Education is key, structure is vital, but the thing that will get you there is listening to yourself and not being afraid to insist that you can feel what is going to happen and what needs to happen.

[MiddleFingerMom]

5. GREAT photos by you and impressive presentations by the chef -- and I dislike sushi. n/t

[Amerigo Vespucci]

6. Thanks MFM...

...the presentation was a joint effort between the owner and I.

I sent several dishes back and said...as politely as possible..."here's why this won;t make a great photo."

So because I have built a relationship with the owner, I instinctively know what she likes, and she trusts my instincts, and I've gotta tell ya...in my line of work, it does not get any better than that.

:toast:

[Denninmi]

7. Curse you, Vespucci.

Do I really have to go cruising around Detroit trying to find sushi at 10:40 at night? You're making me hungry.

Too bad I can't just eat the photos, they're beautiful.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

9. I feel your pain!

And I appreciate your kind words.

:toast:

[Denninmi]

8. Curse you, Vespucci.

Do I really have to go cruising around Detroit trying to find sushi at 10:40 at night? You're making me hungry.

Too bad I can't just eat the photos, they're beautiful.

[bluesbassman]

10. Beautiful shots there AV!

I'm sure they'll look great on the webpage. Nice work. :thumbsup:

[Dystopian]

11. You are awesome!

AV...
Love, love, love your photos....
You have a gift...
That Sushi looks yummy ...inviting ...enticing.

I tried Sushi for the first time a couple months ago...
It really sucks...big time!
I actually had to spit out something in my napkin.
Very lady-like of course...;-)

The third photo looks like something I had...
I tried to use chopsticks ...could not.
I'm a vegetarian ...so don't really know what's in there..
But....it sucks. And you're golden.

Thanks for sharing excellent photos of sucky stuff!
:loveya:

Oh...and the last photo looks like a gathering of aliens!
Sorry...this just hit me in a funny way...
But a good way ...because it's you...

peace~

[pacalo]

12. You really do make it look so appetizing, Amerigo. Beautiful work.

:toast:

[Angry Dragon]

13. I will pass on the Sushi

[emilyg]

14. Beautiful - I'm drooling.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

15. My dear Amerigo Vespucci!

I never eat raw fish, but these pictures are amazingly beautiful!

You certainly have the touch...

Well done!

Here's to your continuing success!

:toast:

[Amerigo Vespucci]

34. Thank you CP...

...taking these photos has fired me up to seek out additional restaurants. It's a challenge because some restaurant owners "get it," some don't. The trick is to remain energized by the ones who do, and not get discouraged by the ones who don't. As long as I remain aware of that, I see a turnaround on the horizon.

:toast:

[BiggJawn]

16. Nomnomnomnomnomnomnom...

Oh, those are great! I LOVE the way the rice glistens!

[Amerigo Vespucci]

22. Thank you...the client commented on the way the rice looked, too.

She asked "how did you get the rice to look like that?" I told her "It's just a matter of finding the right natural light." I did the shoot around 2:30 PM. When I got there, the light coming into the restaurant was glaring...I had some concerns. A little over an hour later, it was much more subdued, and exactly what I was hoping for.

:toast:

[HopeHoops]

17. What the HELL is the crusty stuff on the nori in the third photo????

[Amerigo Vespucci]

18. I believe it is tempura batter

Not positive...the chefs made the rolls and they were brought out to me. I didn't ask about the ingredients.

[HopeHoops]

19. I've never heard of that being used on nori before. Weird.

I like the lemon - nice touch.

[whistler162]

20. If you knew sushi like I know sushi ohohoh what a gill! ;)

nice photos.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

24. Here's one more:

:toast:

[Tallulah]

27. Stunning

I wonder if you took my picture could you make me beautiful too ? :)

Nice work.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

28. I wouldn't make you beautiful. I'd show the world how beautiful you are.

That's what a photographer does. Photographers who can't do that are just individuals who happen to own cameras.

:-)

[Tallulah]

32. You made my heart beat fast

That was beautiful.

[GoCubsGo]

30. Want.

Want all of it. Especially what was in the very first photo. The only bad thing about those photos is that they remind me of how long it has been since I had sushi.

[IcyPeas]

26. lovely lemons...

at first glance I thought it was squid. very appetizing photos.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

29. The lemon thing really worked for me, too...

...I have other shots on the Website where lemons are used...some just plain slices. But when that dish came out yesterday my immediate reaction was "WOW, that looks NICE." I made a deliberate attempt to make it the "star" of the photo while letting all of the other elements show as well.

:toast:

[Ikonoklast]

31. Crap. Now I want sushi.

Nice pics, the products looks awesome.

There is a small, family-owned all you can eat sushi bar not too far from home, I usually meet my kids and their SO's there for lunch once a month or so.

Even with the high volume they do, they still put artistry into their food items.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

33. This restaurant has two locations...both family-owned.

The original location is what I would classify as a "standard" Japanese restaurant. All of the photos I've posted on DU in this and other threads are from the newer location. The focus there is on creativity, presentation, and of course, taste. The original location pretty much has a "set" menu that I don't imagine will change anytime soon. The newer location introduces new dishes every 3 to 6 months. Every time they call me for photos, I'm excited to see the new creations. Framing the shots, selecting the angles, finding the right lighting...I've got the best job on the planet.

:toast:

[Odin2005]

35. I want that sushi!!!

*DROOLS*