How to Photograph Freshness That Shows
The expression "that's" so fresh" is usually heard when one sees an item that appears to be fresh, juicy, just picked, has a great smell, looks refreshing as in a river stream and so on.
The majority of the times the person uttering the words has not even touched less tasted the item, drank it or gotten in it. It is the perception of the item; how the person sees it, that creates a sensation or expectancy of freshness in the person's mind.
Photography can also have the same effect. Images that capture the "freshness" of a subject are very appealing to an audience. Food advertisers have known this for quite some time now and that's why when you see a can of soda or beer which has dew all over its surface it makes you want to go and get one.
Images of freshness should focus on subjects that by their appearances makes an audience think of freshness; such as fresh fruits, vegetables, fresh fish, a cool river stream, even a fresh new face. The possibilities are unlimited.
You will need to research and use some of the techniques long used by food advertisers and food photographers. Misting a product just before being photographed is one of the principal techniques. For this theme you should first try having to "work" freshness into a product, instead focus on recording images of subjects that showcase the theme on their own without the need for any interference from you, off course if at all possible.
But don't stop if subjects are not easily found. Apply the theme in your studio. Better take a good staged photo that not taking any at all and by knowing how food photographer's create "freshness" the task will be easier.
Examples would be photographing a clear stream in the early hours. Fresh ripened tomatoes while they are still on the vine, an apple orchard just after a light rain. A fisherman's catch right off the boat.
Your photographic emphasis should be to capture the details and the textures of your subjects in close up mode, anything longer may hide certain details such as dew on a fruit from the audience. However, if other elements enhance the theme with their inclusion then add them to the scene, such as a basket of fresh fruit with the farm right behind it, or a river bed on which a fresh caught trout is laying.
A basket full of strawberries will really look as if freshly picked if the strawberries detail and moistness is shown in close up, otherwise it's a basket of strawberries colorful and all, but says nothing about their freshness. A fresh sliced watermelon is just a fruit unless the image shows the glistening sugary juicy nectar droplets.
Browse through current magazines and notice how the majority of edible products adds are photographed up close and always appear to be moist. keep in mind that a photograph can only stimulate and heighten ones visual sensibility.
The subjects involved in this composition do not have to be products that are consumed, nature is full of suitable samples such as a beautiful flower full of morning dew, a grassy field slightly wet from the morning mist. A nice waterfall surrounded by lush foliage, leaves floating on a pool of crystal clear water, a scene of a snow capped mountain top.
Images of people interacting with water such as a dip in a pool, playing with a water hose, jumping into a lake are also suitable subjects. Even just simple images of a water source, the rain, or mist can be used. A farmer picking fresh laid eggs or fresh drawn milk all speak of fresh.
For people the best examples really make the axiom long used by the modeling industry of always looking for "fresh new faces" be true. Your best examples will be of young people without hardly any make up but with a radiant looking expression on their faces. Babies and children make for great shots too. Capture images during bath time and nap time.
Adult models shown right out of the shower while their hair is still wet and water drips from their bodies have always been considered images of freshness as well as cleanliness. Use discretion because your focus is on representing a sense of freshness, nudity may just be too much of a distraction.
An image of a young face is better than a whole body one. Images that show people peacefully resting under a cool shade makes anyone wish they were there, use these sorts of samples when they present themselves.
Try to always be creative and look at things differently, ask yourself what if? Challenge yourself to see the theme that you are currently pursing in everything; imagine how you can take a subject and use it to add a sense of freshness to it.
Take for example a dry tree leave just laying on the ground, which is actually a good image for a decay theme. Take this same leave, place in on a shaded location, if where you found it's not so already, preferably on a wet grassy field, sprinkle some water on it, and the surrounding area then take a picture. Now you have turned one theme into another by simply using creativity and imagination.
What do you think about this project?
A different approach
- The Renovating Freshness | Cruzine
Freshening gallery of pictures, featuring different objects, but united by the same theme of freshness.Since the dawn of the times people have urged for freshness – in both direct and figurative meaning. To be fresh and clean means not only to be att