Like for any genre of photography light and composition are the essential elements to make a good food photograph. Light is important because it reveals textures and colours in food, while composition plays on forms. Let's see how the use of these features makes a good recipe for an appealing food photograph.
Textures
The overall idea is to appeal to the senses that can not directly engage with the subject matter. Because the taste of the food itself is not possible to translate visually, textures on the other end can be alluded to. The light can give a good idea to the viewer if that food would crunch, feel silky smooth, or gritty on the tongue. Here the smooth ribbons of carrot, on a bed of soft noodles, contrast with the garnish of fresh mint leaves, tiny sesame seeds, and crunchy slices of radish. Lighting food is a skillful technique to reveal the textures of food that can not be tasted. Here the backlighting highlights the contrast of textures in the dish, while the side light shows the radish's asperous skin in the second shot.
Colours
The light reveals the colours. The colours are so primordial to create appeal in food. In the world of food photography, the so-called brown food is known to be hard to photograph as it is not the most attractive colour and easily translates as visually dull. Here the salad with vibrant pink, orange, and yellow hues creates the main colour palette with hints of green (garnish and mint leaves). The natural pink and green hues of the radish are visual echoes of the dominant colour palette in the salad shot. And beyond the food itself, the props play within the same colour arrangement: the lilac backdrop matches the chopstick handles colour.
In the black-and-white version, you may agree that, despite the forms, textures, and pattern being visually reinforced, the subject matter loses a lot of its appeal. And as a matter of fact, food is rarely represented in a monochromatic way. The purpose of the food photograph is to trigger a reaction from the viewer, therefore the choice of colours is important. You may not like salad, but the harmony of colours in the image makes it more attractive and pleasant to look at and could make you consider it.
Forms
The bulbous shape of the radish contrasts with the root which looks like a long wavy tail. Within the diptych, the shapes are mirrored and create a rhythm within the composition. The round radish is reflected by the circular shallow plate and the direction of the radish root is repeated by the placement of the chopsticks. Because random shapes and arrangements rarely appeal to the viewer, it is important to compose within the frame for a clear visual message. So here, the juxtaposition of circular and linear creates movements and a visual dynamic to initiate interest from the observer.
In food photography, texture, colour, and form are the main ingredients that aim to recreate a sensory experience. You may not get the taste and smell, but expert use of light and composition will manage to build interest even in the food you may have never experienced before. Ultimately the images that have successfully created a reaction in the viewer are the ones that are likely to lead them to try the recipe, purchase the prepared meal, or try that restaurant.
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