Food

Hacks for Speedy Video Editing With ZV-1F @ivor_xianz

geraldyeong — Mon, 18 Sep 2023 06:17:11 +0000

Hacks for Speedy Video Editing With ZV-1F @ivor_xianz

geraldyeong Mon, 09/18/2023 - 11:47

Article Categories

ZV STORIES

That’s where ZV-1F came in. It is one of the few lightweight cameras out there that has a flip mirror screen and 4k quality.

Ivor, a Malaysian law graduate, enhances the cinematic appeal of her B-roll footage with different filters.

A Little Bit About Ivor

Status

Pending Approval

Tips To Edit Your Videos Faster

Since switching to the ZV-1F, I’ve discovered some tricks that have made my content creation process much easier. And I’m going to share it with you guys!

Firstly, you can take a portion out of any long video to save time editing later on. Secondly, you can turn on Creative Look which offers built-in filters to make your videos look more cinematic whenever you’re shooting B-rolls.

That’s it! These 2 simple changes have helped me a lot and I hope it can help you too.

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Featured

ZV-1F

VLOG 相機

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Food

Level Up Your Vlogging Skills With ZV-1 @culinary.frank

geraldyeong — Mon, 18 Sep 2023 06:06:52 +0000

Level Up Your Vlogging Skills With ZV-1 @culinary.frank

geraldyeong Mon, 09/18/2023 - 11:36

Article Categories

ZV STORIES

Body Category

ZV-1

For me, the ZV-1 camera basically has everything I need to empower my creativity and the best part is, it fits right in my pocket.

On a sunny day, Frank, a content creator from Melbourne, uses the built-in ND filter to block out the sun while maintaining the desired aperture size for a blurry background that brings focus to his subject.

A Little Bit About Frank

Status

Pending Approval

Level Up Your Vlogging Skills

When it comes to vlogging, the ZV-1 camera has a ton of features that can help you out. Starting from the built-in ND filter, simply turn it on when you are vlogging outside on a sunny day and it will block out the sun so you don’t have to reduce your aperture.

There’s also a flip-out screen which you can rotate it in so many directions, a focus button which basically defocuses your background and makes you stand out more in your videos as well as a feature called Product Showcase which can help you focus on any item you put in front of the camera.

Watch me as I demonstrate these features and more in the video below:

Status

Pending Approval

How It Has Helped Me With Vlogging

At first, I really only got the ZV-1 camera as a backup camera. But every time I used it, the features kept wowing me and soon I found myself using this camera more often than my main camera.

One of the first reasons why I bought this camera was because of its small size. It could fit right in my palm and I actually felt more comfortable and confident vlogging with it when I’m outdoors. People don’t pay much attention to you when you’re vlogging with the small ZV-1 camera. And for those of you who want an easy set-up but great quality, you’ll be pleased to know that the ZV-1 camera is able to shoot in 4K resolution.

For me, the ZV-1 camera basically has everything I need to empower my creativity and the best part is, it fits right in my pocket.

ZV-1 Must-Use Features

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Pending Approval

Products

Featured

ZV-1

專門為拍攝休閒影片而設計的緊湊型相機

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Food

Document Your Foodie Journey With ZV-E10 @1999.rou

geraldyeong — Mon, 18 Sep 2023 06:00:24 +0000

Document Your Foodie Journey With ZV-E10 @1999.rou

geraldyeong Mon, 09/18/2023 - 11:30

Article Categories

ZV STORIES

Body Category

Alpha ZV-E10

The ZV-E10 camera has helped me elevate the quality of my videos and pictures.

Rou Fang Pan, an undergraduate student from Taipei, captures her gastronomic delights in slow motion to showcase the intricate details of food.

A Little Bit About Rou Fang

Status

Pending Approval

Tips To Capture Your Food

When shooting food on my campus for a Sony event, I used the slow-motion function on the ZV-E10 camera to capture the food in motion. To my surprise, I managed to achieve a pleasant effect.

Get Creative with ZV-E10

The ZV-E10 camera has helped me elevate the quality of my videos and pictures because of its quick autofocus ability. I find it convenient to introduce products without having to manually guide the camera into prioritising nearby objects.

It has also allowed me to try out different themes and styles as well as create new creative compositions.

My Gourmet Journeys With ZV-E10

Status

Pending Approval

Products

Featured

Alpha ZV-E10

ZV 可交換鏡頭式休閒攝影及 VLOG 相機

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Food

Tips To Film on the Go With ZV-1 @jecuteh0916

geraldyeong — Mon, 18 Sep 2023 05:58:46 +0000

Tips To Film on the Go With ZV-1 @jecuteh0916

geraldyeong Mon, 09/18/2023 - 11:28

Article Categories

ZV STORIES

Body Category

ZV-1

I use the ZV-1 camera because it’s small and compact. It's very convenient to take out, especially for ladies.

He Jen Huang, an actress from Taiwan, is always camera-ready with her small and compact ZV-1 camera to showcase her passion for gastronomy and create compelling food videos.

A Little Bit About He Jen

Status

Pending Approval

On the Go With ZV-1

I use the ZV-1 camera because it’s small and compact. It's very convenient to take out, especially for ladies. Although it’s small, its photographic and videographic functions should not be underestimated.

For example, its autofocus speed is very fast and the video quality surprised me a lot. I can easily create beautiful scenes and videos with the ZV-1 camera.

What I Like About ZV-1

Another thing that surprised me is how good the audio quality is. This is because of the camera’s built-in directional 3-capsule mic which allows for clear audio quality.

Overall, the ZV-1 camera has improved my videography a lot despite its small size.

A Foodie Day With ZV-1

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Pending Approval

Products

Featured

ZV-1

專門為拍攝休閒影片而設計的緊湊型相機

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Food

Look Your Best on Camera With ZV-1 @duck0720

geraldyeong — Mon, 18 Sep 2023 05:28:57 +0000

Look Your Best on Camera With ZV-1 @duck0720

geraldyeong Mon, 09/18/2023 - 10:58

Article Categories

ZV STORIES

Body Category

ZV-1

With the ZV-1 camera, you don't have to worry about not having any makeup on or not looking good in front of the camera.

Ching Hsuan Lin, a video editor from Taiwan, enjoys using the ZV-1 to document her gastronomic adventures and everyday moments.

A Little Bit About Ching Hsuan

Status

Pending Approval

Look Your Best With Filters

With the ZV-1 camera, you don't have to worry about not having any makeup on or not looking good in front of the camera. Just turn on the Soft Skin Effect. You can even customise the intensity to better suit your preferences.

Photography Tips for Beginners

Because of the ZV-1 camera, I could gain access to more video recording techniques. Besides being easy to operate, it is also very intuitive. As soon as you start recording, there will be a red flashing light in front of the camera, so you never have to worry if you’ve pressed the record button.

It is a camera suited for casual videographers. With a small compact body, it is light and easy to carry around in my usual small bag.

My Gastronomic Adventures With ZV-1

Status

Pending Approval

Products

Featured

ZV-1

專門為拍攝休閒影片而設計的緊湊型相機

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Food

FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS | Capture stunning scenes | Review by Eat Love Photo

Harriman — Tue, 16 May 2023 07:34:34 +0000

FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS | Capture stunning scenes | Review by Eat Love Photo

Harriman Tue, 05/16/2023 - 13:04

Article Categories

Reviews

Body Category

Alpha 7C

Lens Category

Vario-Tessar T* FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS

Alpha 7C | FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS | 16mm | F9 | 1/160s | ISO 100

Alpha 7C | FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS | 35mm | F3.5 | 1/160s | ISO 640

Alpha 7C | FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS | 35mm | F4 | 1/80s | ISO 100

Alpha 7C | FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS | 16mm | F6.3 | 1/20s | ISO 80

Alpha 7C | FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS | 35mm | F11 | 1/100s | ISO 100

Creative inspirations, equipment selection

How can you make everyday life, extraordinary? By snapping a photo and appreciating all the wonderful, fleeting details that are often so easily missed. My favourite camera and lenses are the Sony Alpha 7C, FE 35mm F1.8 Lens and FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS lens.

Get up close and personal, or ultra-wide, with a zoom lens

My first foray into photography involved daily snaps of still life and small corners. But since I started using my Alpha 7C with the FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS lens zoom lens, a new, ultra-wide world opened to me. Through this lens, I realised the appeal of wide-angle shooting.

I find wide angle shots fascinating because it extends the world in front of us - making the sky bigger, open fields larger and more endless, and roads seem longer and more interesting.

Change your field of view with the FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS lens zoom lens

With a focal length of 16-35MM, the FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS lens allows you to discover a wider field of view. When shooting buildings, the lens adds depth and meaning to lines and outlines - and despite its wider field of view, the FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS lens keeps images focused, while adding layers and richness to the scene.

Alpha 7C | FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS | 16mm | F4 | 1/80s | ISO 100

Most importantly, this zoom lens gives you the ability to capture every detail in the amazing world around you.

Alpha 7C | FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS | 16mm | F4 | 1/80s | ISO 100

Indoor environments with a wide-angle lens

When using a wide-angle lens to shoot indoor environments, you can see how the wide angle elongates the field of view and expands the space. But even in doing so, the lens - and especially with a constant F4 aperture - retains superb clarity and detail in subjects and objects.

Alpha 7C | FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS | 16mm | F4 | 1/60s | ISO 1600

Alpha 7C | FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS | 35mm | F4 | 1/40s | ISO 400

Optical Steady Shot (OSS)

A useful feature on the FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS lens is its built-in Optical Steady Shot (OSS), which keeps shots in focus when shooting handheld and with a slow shutter. I've found this to be really convenient for shooting along streets, everyday shots, and snapping in low light conditions.

Alpha 7C |FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS | 18mm | F14 | 1/15s | ISO 400

Shooting from interesting angles

I love using lightweight equipment for my daily snaps, so it's great that the FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS lens is lightweight and simple to maneuver. When shooting, it's easy to crouch low for some really interest shots that are composed of both your subject and part of the environment that's in the foreground - like leaves, the ground, etc.

In the examples below, I've squatted low and shot with an elevation angle - using the flip screen of the Alpha 7C to view my shot - and placed the leaves of a tree in the foreground for some interesting snaps.

Low angle, flip screen, larger aperture.

And because this camera and lens are so lightweight, it's also great for food shots - since you can easily hold the camera with one hand, even raising it above your head. (If you do so, just use the camera's flip screen to check the framing of your shot.)

In the photo below, you can see how I've managed to capture the mood of an "afternoon coffee break" using one hand to operate the camera, while my other hand is in the shot.

Alpha 7C | FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS | 16mm | F4 | 1/80s | ISO 400

High angle shot, flip screen, smaller aperture.

One camera, two lenses. A lifetime of memories.

As photographers, we enjoy capturing moments of our life in snapshots. Over time, our photo albums become a collection of memories - which many times, reveal details and treasures that we missed at the time.

That's the magic of daily snaps, and why some of our simplest photos, can also be the most precious.

Alpha 7C | FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS | 16mm | F4 | 1/80s | ISO 1600

Alpha 7C | FE 35mm F1.8 | 35mm | F2.8 | 1/1600s | ISO 1600

Products

Featured

Alpha 7C

緊湊型全畫幅相機

Vario-Tessar T* FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS

ZEISS 全畫幅廣角變焦鏡頭

GP-VPT2BT

無線遙控拍攝握把

SF-M64T

SF-M 系列 Tough 規格記憶卡

NP-FZ100 Z-series Rechargeable Battery Pack

Z 系列充電式電池組

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Food

Travel

FE 35mm F1.8| Never miss a special moment | Review by Eat Love Photo

Harriman — Tue, 16 May 2023 03:11:52 +0000

FE 35mm F1.8| Never miss a special moment | Review by Eat Love Photo

Harriman Tue, 05/16/2023 - 08:41

Article Categories

Reviews

Body Category

Alpha 7C

Lens Category

FE 35mm F1.8

Alpha 7C FE 35mm F1.8 | 35mm | F7.1 | 1/ | 500s | 500

Alpha 7C | FE 35mm F1.8 | 35mm | F3.5 | 1/160s | ISO 640

Alpha 7C | FE 35mm F1.8 | 35mm | F3.2 | 1/2000s | ISO 100

Creative inspirations, equipment selection

The joy of shooting with a prime lens

Shooting with a prime lens is always a pleasure, and we actually enjoy its fixed focal length - which means having to move physically closer or further away from an object before snapping a photo. It's a vivid and interesting feeling that must be experienced to be fully appreciated.

What we like about the 35mm F1.8 Lens is its easy-to-use focal length, which is great for snapping food and people. When your eye is close to the viewing window and you find the perfect frame, you know you've got a great shot!

Alpha 7C | FE 35mm F1.8 | 35mm | F2.5 | 1/2000s | ISO 640

What makes the 35mm F1.8 prime lens ideal for daily snaps?

The lightweight nature of the 35mm F1.8 Lens is incredibly useful for daily shots, as it's easy to carry in a bag whenever we're outdoors. When we're at a café, a prime lens with a large aperture and 35mm focal length is the ideal combination of creating the appearance of a quiet and relaxing atmosphere.

Alpha 7C | FE 35mm F1.8 | 35mm | F2.5 | 1/160s | ISO 100

Alpha 7C | FE 35mm F1.8 | 35mm | F2.8 | 1/80s | ISO 200

We like how the 35mm F1.8 Lens captures everyday life in all its simplicity and innocence, yet remains focused and detailed.

Beautiful bokeh

Perhaps our favourite feature of the 35mm F1.8 Lens is its large F1.8 aperture, which allows you to shoot subjects with gorgeous bokeh that highlights the three-dimensionality of your subject - while keeping important elements focused.

Alpha 7C | FE 35mm F1.8 | 35mm | F1.8 | 1/1000s | ISO 100

Alpha 7C | FE 35mm F1.8 | 35mm | F2.5 | 1/3200s | ISO 100

The photo on the left is one of our favourites, and we shot it by placing the camera close to the ground - using the flip screen to frame the image. Because of the large aperture, the single leaf became the focus of the entire image. What makes this photo extra special is the sunlight creating a spotlight effect on the leaf - transforming an ordinary leaf into a character that's on a stage - highlighted by an illuminating stage light.

Low angle, flip screen, large aperture.

Low-light shots

When shooting indoors and without natural light, we recommend increasing the aperture for better light intake - as well as an indoor light source to provide some light. The good news is that even in low lighting conditions, a slow shutter speed (which allows more light to enter your photo) and the Alpha 7C's stabilisation system can enable you to take some outstanding photos, even in handheld mode.

Alpha 7C | FE 35mm F1.8 | 35mm | F1.8 | 1/250s | ISO 1000

Alpha 7C | FE 35mm F1.8 | 35mm | F2.5 | 1/160s | ISO 1000

Larger aperture, low angle, shooting distance of around 1 metre.

A lightweight combination: The Alpha 7C and 35mm F1.8 Lens

We really enjoy how lightweight the combination of the Alpha 7C and 35mm F1.8 Lens is, as it makes carrying the camera and lens around for daily snaps a pleasure. It's also very versatile.

When shooting, you can set the Alpha 7C to APS-C mode. With a 35mm lens, APS-C mode creates a 1.5x magnification effect, so the image captured by the camera looks similar to one shot on a 50mm lens (35mm * 1.5=52mm, which is close to 50MM). This allows you to capture distant objects with amazing detail and clarity.

Alpha 7C | FE 35mm F1.8 | 52mm | F2.8 | 1/200s | ISO 250

One camera, two lenses. A lifetime of memories.

That's the magic of daily snaps, and why some of our simplest photos, can also be the most precious.

Alpha 7C | FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS | 16mm | F4 | 1/80s | ISO 1600

Alpha 7C | FE 35mm F1.8 | 35mm | F2.8 | 1/1600s | ISO 1600

Products

Featured

Alpha 7C

緊湊型全畫幅相機

FE 35mm F1.8

全畫幅標準定焦鏡頭

GP-VPT2BT

無線遙控拍攝握把

SF-M64T

SF-M 系列 Tough 規格記憶卡

NP-FZ100 Z-series Rechargeable Battery Pack

Z 系列充電式電池組

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Food

Travel

FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM | Capture transition images smoothly | Review by Jacques Crafford

Harriman — Mon, 15 May 2023 10:16:33 +0000

FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM | Capture transition images smoothly | Review by Jacques Crafford

Harriman Mon, 05/15/2023 - 15:46

Article Categories

Reviews

Body Category

Alpha 7C

Lens Category

FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM

Video Name

Cooking | Main

Creative inspirations, equipment selection

My inspirations stem from my love for food, culture and nature. And here's the best part - you don't need to travel abroad to experience all these beautiful things. All of us can enjoy a diversity of food, culture and nature in our hometowns - we just need to know where to look.

When shooting my videos, I really enjoy using the Sony Alpha 7C camera and FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM zoom lens.

Zooming in on cuisine

I love filming cooking videos, but in kitchens, space constraints and other obstacles - like varying tabletop lengths and equipment placement - can sometimes lead to compromised shots. That is, unless you have a zoom lens. With the ability to zoom in close for detail or zoom out to show a scene in its entirety, you have more choices for angles and framing, which adds more flavour and spice to the story your video is narrating to hungry audiences.

Watch how Jacques captured these dynamic shots behind-the-scenes.

Video Name

Cooking | BTS

How I shot one of my favourite cooking videos: Told through 8 scenes

Scene 1: The rolling onion (0:18)

Alpha 7C | FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM | 70mm | F2.8 | 1/200 sec | ISO 1600

While I usually shoot at wider focal lengths (like 24mm or 35mm), there were space constraints that prevented this from happening. This is where a zoom lens comes in handy. With my FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM lens, I could easily track the shot by simply zooming in.

Alternatively, you could carry several prime lenses and use the one you need for each shot - but I find that a zoom lens saves me time, while giving me more creative freedom. It also means having less gear to carry around, which is always a nice bonus.

Communicate and coordinate movements with your subject

The trick to nailing a shot like this is to move at the same angle and focal plane as the object. In this case, as the onion was being rolled in a straight line, I tracked it in the same straight path it took - and the end result was a smooth shot.

Scene 2: Creating a stylistic transition (0:33)

Alpha 7C | FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM | 50mm | F2.8 | 1/200 sec | ISO 1600

The goal of this shot was to capture the transition ideally with my camera - which meant smoothly tracking the movement of the food being prepared, before dipping the shot below the counter. This also meant that the next shot would have to be a top-to-bottom reveal, so the transition would feel natural to viewers. In this case, it was fortunate that there were extra trays on the counter, which I used to create the "reveal".

A zoom allows you to maintain great framing even when moving behind obstacles for in-camera transitions

This particular counter was fairly long, which made it necessary to zoom in after the shot had dipped below the counter. While it would have been doable with two prime lenses and a lens swop halfway, the FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM zoom lens allowed me to film the shot smoothly and easily.

Scene 3: Showcasing the surroundings with a wide shot (0:35)

Alpha 7C | FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM | 35mm | F2.8 | 1/200 sec | ISO 1600

What I love about this shot is that it shows more of the surroundings, giving viewers a better look and feel of this kitchen. When shooting cooking videos, it's easy to get carried away with close - up shots of everything - after all, ingredients and food always look delicious and fantastic up close. However, too many close - ups can give viewers a feeling of being "boxed in".

Pull back past objects in the foreground for a sense of movement and wider space

For this shot, I've used a pullback movement (done manually with my hands) and have deliberately used the objects in the foreground - the salt pot and steel beam - to enhance the sense of movement and wide space.

What about shakiness? Even with all that movement, the combination of the FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM lens and the Alpha 7C's SteadyShot feature kept everything nice and clear.

Scene 4: Blending and contrasting colours (0:35)

Alpha 7C | FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM | 70mm | F2.8 | 1/200 sec | ISO 2500

Here's a little "behind-the-scenes" secret that I'll share with you - there's more to this shot than meets the eye! If you look closely, you'll see that the colours of the spices not only complement the colours of the lights and chef's apron - they also contrast each other strikingly well.

Handheld shots allow you to perform flexible movements and bring dynamism to your shots

This didn't happen by chance. We made a deliberate decision to choose spices that would create this effect. You may also have noticed how nicely the white light hits the chef's hands from the left, while a yellow light comes in front the top, creating a dynamic scene that's a showcase of contrasting colours - once again, this was a deliberate decision and set up.

The FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM lens creates very smooth bokeh at all focal ends - and at 70mm, you'll also get a shallow depth of field that can create a very interesting look and feel.

Scene 5: The climatic zoom (0:44)

Alpha 7C | FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM | F2.8 | 1/200 sec | ISO 1600

This is probably my favourite shot in this entire video. This is the point of the video where the music climaxes, so for extra effect, I zoomed in the entire time to add more zest to an already exciting moment.

Use your zoom to create trick shots with dynamic movement

For this shot, using a constant aperture zoom lens like the FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM enables you to play around with your zoom, without the usual changes in exposure that you'd expect from other lenses. This translates into a more fluid and believable shot, all the way through.

Scene 6: Salt on the lens (0:52)

Alpha 7C | FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM | 35mm | F2.8 | 1/200 sec | ISO 2500

This scene was shot at an angle that was different from what viewers have become used to (by this point in the video), giving them a nice "break" in expectations and perhaps surprising them a little. This shot was made possible with the Sony Alpha 7C's flip screen, which made it easy to set up the shot and monitor it, even in the dark.

Protect your lens with a plastic cover for interesting but potentially messy shots, like salt falling on the lens

When setting up a potentially "messy" shot like this, be sure to place a glass or plastic cover over your lens to avoid accidentally damaging it. And if you're wondering why the transparent cover that I placed over the lens isn't noticeable by viewers, it's all thanks to the FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM's shallow depth of field when the aperture is set to F2.8.

Scene 7: Flaming chicken (0:53)

Alpha 7C | FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM | 24mm | F2.8 | 1/200 sec | ISO 1600

In this shot, I had some fun with fire! At first, there weren't enough flames coming out of the grill, so we "cheated" by mixing some oil and water, then putting the mixture on the chicken just before flipping it - causing it to flame dramatically and on cue!

Also, see how there's a blue light on the left side of the background, and a yellow light on the right side? Those were intentionally added to create more colour and contrast in the scene - making it even more dramatic and eye-catching.

Get close to the subject, then pull away to create dynamic movement

Shooting at 24mm F2.8 on the FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM lens allowed me to get closer to the subject, before pulling away - creating dynamic movement in the shot. This is another advantage that the FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM zoom lens has over fixed 35mm or 50mm prime lenses.

Scene 8: Flipping out! (0:56)

Alpha 7C | FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM | 35mm | F2.8 | 1/200 sec | ISO 1600

Tracking a fast-moving object like a rotti flying through the air, can be very challenging - but it doesn't have to be. With good communication between you and the chef - and the patience to try the shot multiple times - you can get the perfect shot.Just ask the chef to toss the food up continuously, and at a constant rhythm, so it's easier for you to time your shot.

Get the moving subject to repeat the action continuously, so you can gradually coordinate your camera movements

This was one of the few scenes I shot from the opposite direction. The background was a little dull, so I moved a yellow light to the back wall to "spice up" the background with some colour. When shooting a fast-moving shot like this, excellent autofocus speed is a must - and the FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM lens performed perfectly here!

Capturing the culinary arts, at its finest

I'm absolutely fascinated with cooking and want my videos to highlight the fun and energy that goes into the culinary arts. As you've seen from the examples above, sometimes this means "breaking the rules of the recipe" to create an eye-catching video. And if that's what's needed to make the dish preparation look fantastic, I say, "go for it"!

At the end of the day, my hope is for someone to be inspired by my videos and decide to pick up cooking - or even better, shoot a video of themselves whipping up a tasty dish!

Products

Featured

Alpha 7C

緊湊型全畫幅相機

FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM

G Master 全畫幅標準變焦鏡頭

ECM-B1M

槍型麥克風

ECM-W2BT

無線麥克風

GP-VPT2BT

無線遙控拍攝握把

Article Theme

Filmmaking

Food

Tips for Taking Aesthetic Photos in Cafes

Calvin — Fri, 30 Sep 2022 06:46:48 +0000

Tips for Taking Aesthetic Photos in Cafes

Calvin Fri, 09/30/2022 - 12:16

Article Categories

Alpha 7C Playground

Body Category

Alpha 7C

I began my food photography journey eight years ago when the hype of cafe-hopping was at its peak. It is so fun and interesting to visit these aesthetic cafes and try their delicious food. What makes me really want to share about cafes is their beautiful interior, delicious food, ‘brew-tiful’ coffee and refreshing drinks. It allows the audiences to take a step back, relax and live in the moment.”

Products

Featured

Alpha 7C

緊湊型全畫幅相機

FE 40mm F2.5 G

G 系列全畫幅標準定焦鏡頭

FE 24mm F2.8 G

G 系列全畫幅廣角定焦鏡頭

Here’s what you’ll need

1. Your Alpha 7C 2. FE 40mm F2.5G (SEL40F25G) 3. FE 24mm F2.8G (SEL24F28G)

Cafes are known to have some of the most aesthetically-pleasing interiors, coupled with some delicious tasting and looking food, here are some tips to take aesthetic photos in cafes:

1. Shoot with natural light

One of the biggest challenges when shooting in cafes is finding good lighting. It is simply bizarre to bring along studio lights or a reflector to capture the perfect cafe shot (unless it is for commercial food photography). Hence, finding a seat with natural light will be very helpful to capture beautiful food photos. It could also avoid the yellow overcast from the artificial light on food and reduces lots of time during post-editing.

If you’re having trouble capturing in natural lighting, one way to remedy this would be to use artificial light such as your camera’s flashlight to make up for the lack of light.

2. Order beautiful food or drink

Alpha 7C | FE 40mm F2.5 G | 40mm | F2.8 | 1/125 sec | ISO 125

Everyone loves to see beautiful food and drinks. The colour and plating of food will add bonus points when you are taking photos. Just try to limit the food colours to around 4-5 types and try to avoid dull colours. Warmer colours, such as red, orange and yellow can trigger appetite. My favourite combination is always a cup of hot latte and desserts with strawberries.

One factor to consider when using a straight-on angle is the placement of objects. You don’t want your objects blocking other items in your shot.

3. Use props

Alpha 7C | FE 40mm F2.5 G | 40mm | F2.8 | 1/125 sec | ISO 125

Sometimes it might be slightly boring if you’re just capturing one dish and a cup of coffee. It is hard to come up with different arrangements. By adding props, such as a magazine, table cloth, flowers, or even a laptop, the added subject matter will allow you to come up with outstanding photos. However, it is important to balance all the props to avoid clutter and distraction.

4. Use a hand model

Alpha 7C | FE 40mm F2.5 G | 40mm | F2.8 | 1/200 sec | ISO 125

Having human elements in food photography helps to add a sense of a story to the photos. It is useful to capture moments such as pouring a drink or syrup or using a fork to poke before enjoying the food. It may be difficult to achieve this photo by yourself. Just ask your friend or even the friendly cafe staff to borrow their hands in the frame.

5. Capture the cafe’s surroundings

Alpha 7C | FE 24mm F2.8 G | 24mm | F5.6 | 1/125 sec | ISO 125

Other than taking food photos, it is also great to capture the cafe comers. It gives the audience a first-person view as if they are visiting the cafe at that moment. Sometimes you may capture the barista in action when they are preparing coffee. Using a grid is helpful to plan your shot composition and alignment.

6. Plan ahead and be fast

Alpha 7C | FE 40mm F2.5 G | 40mm | F4.5 | 1/125 sec | ISO 125

Shooting food in a cafe is fun, but do not take too long as the food will get cold and the coffee might have bubbles. It might affect the outcome of the photos. It is tougher to shoot with ice cream, smoothies and iced coffee as it may start melting and would not look the same. Hence, you should start to plan your angle after placing your order and start shooting after the food is served. Click here if you need some tips on how to frame your food!

Extra Tips

Some people say, “The camera eats first,” which goes to show how much people really love taking photos of their food. While we can be pretty excited to take pictures of delicious food, it is really important to plan ahead to decide where to get the best lighting, what food to order and where to capture the best angle. Practice makes better, try to experiment with different angles, framing and props and you will find the best shot for you.