Another newbie learning to take food photos

[ntheni]

haha, ok, will keep in mind again, though I make no apologies for the bits and pieces, cuz after all, it is hawker food, and that's how they serve it.. but I might look for a better angle to avoid them next time...

here's some cakes recently tried @ Antoinette @ 30, Penhas Road

they were heavenly !

the Antoinette

This milk chocolate mousse cake infused with earl grey tea is simply SUPERB ! rich, but not overpowering, sweet but not saccharine, and the earl grey gives it a unique touch.. what a cake !


the description read dark chocolate cremeux, dark chocolate mousse, exotic jelly, hazelnut dacquoise biscuit, flourless chocolate cake, dark chocolate crunchy pearls, salted vanilla caramel...all packed into this little innocent-looking confection... and the result is absolutely potent and intoxicating..mmmm...

This is good :thumbsup:

 

[asthio88]

haha, ok, will keep in mind again, though I make no apologies for the bits and pieces, cuz after all, it is hawker food, and that's how they serve it.. but I might look for a better angle to avoid them next time...

here's some cakes recently tried @ Antoinette @ 30, Penhas Road

they were heavenly !

the Antoinette

This milk chocolate mousse cake infused with earl grey tea is simply SUPERB ! rich, but not overpowering, sweet but not saccharine, and the earl grey gives it a unique touch.. what a cake !

the Theobroma
.

What a cake indeed, superb!!! Your photos are equally :thumbsup:, not sure whether I like the way you position the cake off-centered (on the plate) but personally I won't place it that way. No offense, I feel the addition of the fork doesn't add value to the pic as a whole, kinda distracting, but thats just me
I love their grand cru and sesame (which is very unique).

 

[metranquility]

Hey Ntheni, Asthio, thanks for your kind comments ! Was just following what bro blueskies said abt dishes with no cutleries look kinda strange (see his comments on wanton mee). Will have to think harder to have or not to have cutlery then...

anyway, tried the KL Jalan Alor Hokkien Mee @ Malaysian Food Street @ RWS yesterday:

This was absolutely delicious .. The black sauce coating just abt everything was sweet and yes, creamy...the thick noodles had a rather unique bite and haha, there were huge crunchy pieces of Lard that were absolutely yummy !

think the novelty wearing off, the queues were shorter than the first time I came to the Food Street. I'm not going to complain abt shorter queues for sure

 

[asthio88]

Hey Ntheni, Asthio, thanks for your kind comments ! Was just following what bro blueskies said abt dishes with no cutleries look kinda strange (see his comments on wanton mee). Will have to think harder to have or not to have cutlery then...

anyway, tried the KL Jalan Alor Hokkien Mee @ Malaysian Food Street @ RWS yesterday:

Yup (sometimes) adding cutleries works and is necessary but one must pay attention to the details and how they are to be positioned, for eq on your Antoinette chocolate cake; I would probably place the cake in the center (of the plate) and add the fork on the side (diagonally or straight up) and frame the shoot adhering to the 1/3 rule. In this instance the fork was chopped (cropped?) right at the head so... that said I do (occasionally) make this kinda mistakes and only realize the issue after viewing them on pc ;p

The black sauce hokkien mee looks absolutely :thumbsup:, gosh I gotta try that! On the side note, pic #2 works well with the chopsticks/spoon at the side but not so on pic #1. And perhaps positioning the chili sauce further away (showing the whole saucer instead) will work better? I always have problems picking up food with one hand (especially with chopsticks) and shoot with another but your pic #3 is really great. :thumbsup:

 

[ntheni]

Hey Ntheni, Asthio, thanks for your kind comments ! Was just following what bro blueskies said abt dishes with no cutleries look kinda strange (see his comments on wanton mee). Will have to think harder to have or not to have cutlery then...

anyway, tried the KL Jalan Alor Hokkien Mee @ Malaysian Food Street @ RWS yesterday:

This was absolutely delicious .. The black sauce coating just abt everything was sweet and yes, creamy...the thick noodles had a rather unique bite and haha, there were huge crunchy pieces of Lard that were absolutely yummy !

think the novelty wearing off, the queues were shorter than the first time I came to the Food Street. I'm not going to complain abt shorter queues for sure

Nice!!! So much better than my hokkien mee hahaha

 

[metranquility]

Yup (sometimes) adding cutleries works and is necessary but one must pay attention to the details and how they are to be positioned, for eq on your Antoinette chocolate cake; I would probably place the cake in the center (of the plate) and add the fork on the side (diagonally or straight up) and frame the shoot adhering to the 1/3 rule. In this instance the fork was chopped (cropped?) right at the head so... that said I do (occasionally) make this kinda mistakes and only realize the issue after viewing them on pc ;p

The black sauce hokkien mee looks absolutely :thumbsup:, gosh I gotta try that! On the side note, pic #2 works well with the chopsticks/spoon at the side but not so on pic #1. And perhaps positioning the chili sauce further away (showing the whole saucer instead) will work better? I always have problems picking up food with one hand (especially with chopsticks) and shoot with another but your pic #3 is really great. :thumbsup:

Thanks for your kind words, as well as your words of advice ! will keep in mind again. I was lucky to get a seat near the window, so the lighting conditions were excellent. However, will remember to be careful abt the composition in the future.

 

[metranquility]

Heng Ji Chicken Rice @ #02-131 @ Chinatown Food Centre (Smith Street)

Chicken was delicious and fragrant, rice was not bad too, but a little too nuah for me (cuz I like the firm type like they serve @ Boon Tong Kee)...

Trying to improve, so can I just check, which of the two photos above works better for you ? Thanks for your critique !

 

[metranquility]

Nonya Rice Dumpling from Joo Chiat Kim Choo Traditional Rice Dumpling

Tasty rice dumpling with generous amounts of filling... enjoyed my nice breakfast

 

[asthio88]

Your Kim Choo's nyonya dumpling is a killer!!

Very well taken :thumbsup:
Of the 2 chicken rice pics, I prefer the 1st one. You may need to watch out for the exposure, WB and the contrast. I did a simple tweak
here... Have a pleasant weekend

 

[metranquility]

Thanks for your comments ! I took the liberty to link it back

actually, the original pic was quite similar to your edited one above. However, I wanted the photo to show more details of the rice, and chicken, so I pushed the contrast up a little, and lowered the EV... guess maybe I overdid it... :cry:

Would welcome more comments !

 

[ntheni]

I Like no.1 too as the light fall more on the chicken. no.2 will be great if there's a reflector in front of the rice but who will bring a reflector to hawker centre haha :bsmilie:

 

[asthio88]

Thanks for your comments ! I took the liberty to link it back

actually, the original pic was quite similar to your edited one above. However, I wanted the photo to show more details of the rice, and chicken, so I pushed the contrast up a little, and lowered the EV... guess maybe I overdid it... :cry:

Would welcome more comments !

Go easy on the clarity & contrast
Any adjustments with curve/contrast/exposure etc will also affect the color so if your sole purpose was to add more punch to your images (w/o affecting the color), you could change the blending (of the adjustment layer/s) to luminosity or doing it in Lab mode instead of RGB and adjust the Lightness.
If you look at the 2 chicken rice pics, the color cast (espec on the plate/saucers which I assume to be neutral) is very obvious.
Pls don't be offended but the color of the rice is brownish orange, the chicken (innards) is unnatural too. ;p You probably have overdone it, all I did (tweak) was reducing the contrast and adjust the WB (which may need a lil more work).

 

[metranquility]

no prob... thanks ! will take note next time... which is today...

Ri Yi Beef Noodles @ Gourmet Street coffeeshop @ Blk 210 Hougang Street 21

Very tender beef, lots of thick beehoon, and tasty beefy soup, only downsides i can say is tt the chilli can be a little more tangy, while the stock (for "dry" noodles) can taste a little stronger... Still pretty good !

 

[blueskye168]

no prob... thanks ! will take note next time... which is today... Ri Yi Beef Noodles @ Gourmet Street coffeeshop @ Blk 210 Hougang Street 21

Very tender beef, lots of thick beehoon, and tasty beefy soup, only downsides i can say is tt the chilli can be a little more tangy, while the stock (for "dry" noodles) can taste a little stronger... Still pretty good !

Yummylicious ah bro, must be...tasty-good...!!!


Well, relax...hehee...and here comes the comments bro...:bsmilie: 1) ...the inappropriate-orientations of utensils gave a feel of "Towards-the-side/outwards" = quite Uninviting-feel and :nono:balance on the whole...slowly view your shot again bro...you'll soon "feel" it...!! 2) ...at least 2/3 to 1-stop up on EV would be :thumbsup: hmm...that's basically about this shot...and no prob, you'll gradually improve your shot further without much prob like our bro Anthony...(whereby he's now sooo much better, which is quite drastically improved from where he started off actually...!!!!!)


***Ooh yah hor, I nearly forgotten about your "Chicken-Rice" shot liao...and have helped you 'edited' it...hope you try your best to "Catch-It"...any doubt, do let me know bro!!!






Cheers man...!!!!!!

 

[metranquility]

thanks for your comments again...



Beach Road Famous Laksa @ Block 17 Beach Road (coffeeshop opposite Beach Road Food Centre)

Today, went to Beach Road to try this Laksa which I have not had for ages... still good, though not as lemak as Katong ones... the laksa stock is still flavorful, with haebi bits found at the bottom...

 

[wackykid]

Ri Yi Beef Noodles @ Gourmet Street coffeeshop @ Blk 210 Hougang Street 21

Very tender beef, lots of thick beehoon, and tasty beefy soup, only downsides i can say is tt the chilli can be a little more tangy, while the stock (for "dry" noodles) can taste a little stronger... Still pretty good !

yup... agree all to what u say... it's good... the soup is very beefy so it's very nice...!! i'd also prefer if the chilli can be a bit more tangy.... but overall it's still very nice..!

oh i love the KL HKM at RWS too.... but i think Kong Kee @ geylang is still the best...! should try that...!


regards,
wacky

 

[metranquility]

Kim Bak Chor Mee @ Lai Wah Coffeeshop @ 574, Balestier Road (junction w Jalan Dusun)

this is another Outstanding bowl of BCM ! it's unlike normal teochew BCM, could only catch a faint whiff of vinegar.. it was replaced by is a smokey (yes, smokey), tasty chilli, coating every strand of noodle.. as well as generous amounts of pork lard... I counted at least 3 or 4 pieces. The BC and liver were in the bowl of soup, so have to take some time to fish them out buall cooked to the perfect texture... wonderful BCM in a humble little stall in Balestier...


Fatty Cheong @ 01-120 ABC Brickworks Food Centre, 6, Jln Bukit Merah

Roast Duck

Pork Ribs, Siew Yoke and Char Siew

Perfectly carmelized char siew and pork ribs, as well as fatty siew yoke w crispy skin...crispy and tasty duck.... Delicious but to be eaten w moderation !!

 

[metranquility]

Wah Kee @ #01-81 Bendemeer Food Centre

What struck me immediately was the Char Siew - totally black in colour, seems like they made them themselves... definitely carmelized pretty well, but will definitely lose to the pig's armpit version @ Zhong Yu in Tiong Bahru FC ..

The Wantons are also pretty big and meaty, unlike the miserable stuff we get from some stalls... noodles are nice, but not outstanding....

I will say this stall does a competent plate of wanton mee, but won't rate this as my fav.



Pandan Leaf Nasi Lemak @ #02-43 Tanjong Pagar Food Centre

What you see here cost only $2.50 in all...

and you get huge meaty juicy drumstick, sweet crispy ikan bilis, fishcake, otah, egg, all sitting on top of fragrant rice that is cooked to the perfect texture, not too dry, not too nuah... even the sambal chilli was not too spicy, and was well-harmonized with all the ingredients, so it doesn't overpower the nasi lemak fragrance...

who says good is not cheap, cheap is not good ?

 

[ntheni]

Pandan Leaf Nasi Lemak @ #02-43 Tanjong Pagar Food Centre

What you see here cost only $2.50 in all...

and you get huge meaty juicy drumstick, sweet crispy ikan bilis, fishcake, otah, egg, all sitting on top of fragrant rice that is cooked to the perfect texture, not too dry, not too nuah... even the sambal chilli was not too spicy, and was well-harmonized with all the ingredients, so it doesn't overpower the nasi lemak fragrance...

who says good is not cheap, cheap is not good ?

ahh....Your post reminded me that I have not visit this cheap and tasty stall for ages.

 

[asthio88]

Kim Bak Chor Mee @ Lai Wah Coffeeshop @ 574, Balestier Road (junction w Jalan Dusun)


Pork Ribs, Siew Yoke and Char Siew

Perfectly carmelized char siew and pork ribs, as well as fatty siew yoke w crispy skin...crispy and tasty duck.... Delicious but to be eaten w moderation !!

Oh mine, the char siew is soooooo :thumbsup: fatty Cheong (fei zhai xiang) used to be my regular place for char siew, have not been there for quite a while though... Love the Tg Pagar nasi lemak too :heart: