As a food blogger, sometimes, you go through "moments."
One of those "moments," is realizing that the food pictures that you took are hideously unappetizing.
After this past Easter week/weekend and all of the activities with the church, friends, and family, I finally sat down at my computer, ready to begin posting again. As I uploaded the pictures from my camera to my computer, I realized to my chagrin that I have a lot of ugly food pictures. And when I say "ugly," I really mean "fugly." Ahem, like that below.
Can the world of food blogging be more like the cute fantasy world of Ugly Betty? Can good content (what is on the inside) redeem really disastrous food pictures (what is on the outside)? Should you still post on a meal or a restaurant, even though your pictures came out looking like a bad nightmare? That is the food blogger's dilemma.
Admittedly, sometimes I am too lazy to garnish a plate with grated cheese and chiffonaded basil. And most of the time, the lighting in my windowless kitchen sucks the big one. I wish all pictures automatically came out perfectly, with gorgeous lighting and cute props.
Thanks for listening to my blathering, and staying with me despite the oftentimes poor quality of my pictures and posts. I will crank out a substantively decent food post soon, I promise.
I think it looks delicious! But I get the same way - sometimes I think the pictures don't do some dishes justice.
ReplyDeleteI think your photo looks gorgeous, whatare you talking about, my friend?? Itlooks so delicious, colors are perfect and I want to dive right in!!
ReplyDeleteWe are always our own worst critics. I think your photos are ALWAYS beautiful, and I am working toward getting to your level!!
ReplyDeleteI think the fugly picture actually looks quite tasty. :-)
ReplyDeleteI wish blogs had taste or smell options! LOL
I don't find this dish unappetizing! It looks really good to me!
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Rosa
I have a lot to learn about taking good photos and also get annoyed when they don't turn out well. But, sometimes I prefer seeing more "real" photos than the superbly styled and professionally photographed stuff. Kinda like how sometimes it's more fun to see celebs-running-errands photos than the magazine photo shoots. Does that make sense? :P
ReplyDeleteOh it just the quite the opposite really. Looks delish.
ReplyDeleteCheers,
elra
I would say not ugly. If that was taken in my kitchen, the quality of the photo would have gone down even further! I have to either hope for a good day outside or take the photo of the food on the stove...
ReplyDeleteThe photo of just the red sauce and pasta looks really delicious...even without any garnishes. Mmm...
I know exactly what you mean. Actually, the photography is the part I like least about food blogging. Especially waiting for your food to get cold while your try to doll it up and take glamour shots of it. I say put it on anyways, I mean, nobody makes things to look perfect all the time.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, for an "ugly" picture, it looks pretty good!
Actually, that looks pretty good to me. The spaghetti looks coated perfectly with just the right amount of sauce.
ReplyDeleteIf I hesitated to post everytime I had a bad photo I probably wouldn't have any entries on my blog!
PE, I feel you on the Blogger's Dilemma. Most of my fave foods are just ugly in general (soups are boring in pics, pastas look gross, and let's not even get into chili or cheesy potato casseroles!) But it's the thought that counts. :) Keep on keepin on!
ReplyDeleteI TOTALLY hear you! I too, sometimes look through my camera and think, ugh...none of these look good! However, I have to agree with everyone else that your "ugly" photos are not ugly at all =)
ReplyDeletePE, this is precisely why I rarely post about the food I cook. I don't have the patience for the picture taking part of it. It's hard enough to cook the recipe properly than to worry about plating, styling and lighting! I'd rather eat it while it's hot. That looks hot too if I may point out. Hot and delicious. And in focus too!
ReplyDeleteI hear you on the fussy lighting bit. Even sometimes when I feel like puttering with food, the whole process frustrates me :) Food is not necessarily lovely by nature. And sometimes making it that way is an excercise in futility!
ReplyDeleteThat said -- I'm all for letting food show its fugly side. I could go for some of that fugly pasta! Bet it was delicious!
This is funny! It's true. We don't have the camera we'd like to have in order to take good pictures, but at this point...we'll settle on just sharing the food and recipes. Hopefully people won't judge our photography too much. Your pics are always appetizing though!
ReplyDeleteI think that pasta photo looks delicious! But, I know what you're saying, and I've definitely been there--many times!
ReplyDeleteI think the pasta looks really good but I do understand your point.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your support fellow bloggers! Gosh, I guess we need continue breaking out those props and hoping for good lighting!
ReplyDeletequoting a friend "to the untrained eye they will look sublime"
ReplyDeleteneki desu
I beg to differ. I actually think that first photo looks very tasty!
ReplyDeleteLooks great to me! I would've had no qualms about posting that last pic (or the first pic for that matter)
ReplyDeleteI think spaghetti is beautiful. I have always loved spaghetti. Photograph away!
ReplyDeleteI have a beige food photographing problem. Beige food just looks dull and...beige. Caramel sauce is beige but oh so delicious. Photographs pretty dull. Oh well.
I've had this issue and have opted to post ugly food. Some of the best tasting food isn't attractive and some beautiful food is tasteless.
ReplyDeleteAnd if you think your spaghetti is ugly, you should see mine. On second thought, maybe not...