It is possible I am looking at things with a bit of a tunnel vision. If you believe so, I apologize for that… However, what is the deal these days with almost everybody attacking food bloggers? No, I am not referring to personal verbal attacks – I am too thick skinned for those (if you browse some posts, you will notice I do get attacked once in a while). Instead, I am referring to the concept itself of food blogging and (damn I hate this term at times) social media… While it hasn’t broken down into a holy war, in the same sense of Windows vs. Mac vs. Unix, vi vs emacs, C vs. C++ vs. Java vs. C# or some other ideological war, it is starting to get somewhat annoying…
From the category archives:
Random
This is a bit of a “bonus” post. Today’s regular post is below.
To those not “old” enough might not get the joke behind the title of this post. It is one of the most memorable quotes from Crocodile Dundee. Or, just to refresh your memory, check this clip:
So, what this has to do with food? You will understand once you click on read more below. But, before that, a special thanks to jlomein, Jettie, Jose, fellow blogger timetochow who have been commenting in my Delicias de Alicia and Guantanamera Restaurant and Bar posts. So, without further ado…
This is the third part of my series on what I have learned all these years taking pictures. As mentioned, in my previous two post, these are the planned topics:
- The Camera
- Camera Settings
- Taking the picture – this post!
- Post-processing
Once again, this is about what I have learned by taking pictures in the last couple of years and, by no mean, is a replacement for formal education from a professional. This is very important in this post because it brings the one issue with photography that makes or break a picture: composition. Yes, no matter how proficient you are with some apps *cough*Photoshop*cough*, you need that initial picture to begin with.
(The original post of my Taking Pictures of Food series was supposed to be up for today; however, due to other circumstances, I had to reschedule it. Instead, thanks to some odd timing, I wanted to address something else…).
A lot of people might miss the point of the name of this post – that will be specially true if you do not watch South Park. The episode of two weeks ago (aka, episode 199, aka episode 1404), brought the topic of virtual friends and, well, let’s just say I am not necessarily that interested in that concept. At this point, I am sure some of you might be thinking “WTH you are talking about?!” Before anybody starting bringing some (virtual?) pitchforks and decide to stop reading this blog, please, let me elaborate…
This is the second part of my series on what I have learned all these years taking pictures. As mentioned, in my first post, these are the planned topics:
- The Camera
- Camera Settings – this post!
- Composition Taking the Picture
- Post-processing
OK, now you have your camera, battery charged, SD card in and so on. Ready to take pictures? Well, no… See, a lot of people jump right away and start taking pictures all in auto settings. For the most part, that is fine. Most modern point-and-shoot (P&S) will done fine with the default settings, provided you are not too demanding. However, more can be done if you are willing to “tweak” it a little bit. And that is the topic of this post…
Update!!!! I have included some pictures for example purposes.
Out of all the comments that are written in this blog, there is one that humbles me. No, not the one where people say I am a b@$7@rd (to thick-skinned to even bother with those). Instead, it is the one of pictures of the food. I don’t meant (or want) to brag about my pictures but, when people tell me they look quite good, well… I think that sentiment is being overblown. I mean, has anybody seen Wilson’s pictures??? It certainly does not help when other fellow food bloggers *cough*Sherman*cough* tries to mimic what I have done and tell me I have certain gear and/or my skill is better than theirs. Reality is, the only thing I have over some of my fellow bloggers is years of experience using my camera but, otherwise, I am far from being a good photographer. For example, not even for my life, I can take a decent portrait picture. Of people, the only “good” pictures I can take are candid pictures (just ask Mijune!) and 99/100 are pictures with wacky faces and “not for public use, risk feeling the wrath of those in that picture”.
Having said all that, I do believe in sharing what I know with others. In no way, shape or form, this is intended as a replacement for a book, tutorial, class or workshop (like this one offered by Jackie Connelly). In fact, I expect people to contradict me or tell me I am wrong. After all, I do learn from my mistakes!
The topics for this multi-post series are:
- The Camera – this post!
- Camera Settings
- Composition Taking the Picture
- Post-processing
So, as mentioned, let’s start with the bare basics, the camera…
What?! Another McDonald’s post? (previous ones include s’mores pie, breakfast sandwich and Crème Brûlée McFlurry). OK, I am not the biggest McDonald’s fan and, despite all the bashing given to them (at times, me included), unfortunately, it has its place in society. Hell, in Vancouver’s food blogger scene, courtesy of Sherman, we even have a phrase referencing to McDonald’s! (Whenever a restaurant, specially fine dining, serves a meal that leaves you still hungry, it is called a “Filet-o-Fish Meal”, as you would most likely drop by for that sandwich afterwards). Now, whether you like it or not, it does not matter, somebody will (I actually their soft serve are quite interesting). So, why this post? Well, blame Mijune! The other day, she wrote this tweet:
I just drove by a McDonald’s and they have McMini’s!! What are those!? They look like half a burger not a mini burger though!
Not that different from that time where I went to pick up some s’mores pie, I decided to go this time for some McMini!
