Food is one of the few things many people can quickly bond over. Despite the cultural, racial, ethnic, or geographical differences between individuals, food can always erase boundaries. In fact, it is one of the easiest ways to start or end a conversation. While we celebrate this fundamental necessity, we must also applaud those who have continuously portrayed it with dignity and affinity: painters and photographers. The former created some stellar still-life portraits, while the latter took it up a notch to depict the varied ways we can praise our primary source of nourishment. And so, we bring to you a round-up of some stellar food photography, which will make you fall in love with the photographer’s creativity and leave you feeling hungry.
The lead image is by Louise Hagger, Emily Kidd, and Alexander Breeze. All images are used with permission in our interviews.
Les Garçons
Unlike the usual tabletop photography, Les Garçons actually brings summertime to the table! The lovely color palette, the use of flowers, and the soft light are a few things you will begin to love. In fact, the dash of green in yellow is such a pleasing thing, as it creates great contrast, too. The series was created for a dairy cooperative called Agropour, while the styling was done by food stylist Karine Blackburn.
In his interview, Les told us:
This series features simple and surprising taste experiences in a visual approach that reflects the delicate colour and beautiful geometry of new life. We like to create images that are insightful, colourful, sometimes slightly magical, and articulate a passionate and provocative point of view.
Tessa Dóniga Johnson
Tessa Dóniga Johnson’s series is called ‘Break/Fast,’ which is a literal reimagination of “breakfast.” The image is truly distinct, and it opens up a whole new world of looking at food photography. In fact, it is one of those images that will instantly draw the viewer in and urge them to think about the concept. Since the way it was shot, it can also be a wonderful advertorial.
Here’s what Tessa said about her work:
Making people question what they see is something that I value in the work of other artists who inspire me. I believe my work is of a dreamer, and that search of trying to make unique images is something that keeps me working in this field.
Suzanne Saroff
The image showcases the beauty and fragility of our natural world. The grapes, and how they have been crushed, appear to be an unfinished story from a larger narrative. However, what draws you the most is the varied colors of the pulp. Some are beige, some are red, while the remaining look grey. It seems like a comment about how, despite the similarities, they are unique and different. It also reminds me of Bernd and Hilla Becher’s photographs of disappearing industrial architecture in the United States. This is why we had to include this in our food photography roundup.
In our interview, Suzanne said:
I now use my photography to study how I experience the world, explore my emotions, and, as a byproduct, communicate them.
William Kerr
While most people prefer to shoot food in color and digitally, William has a rather different approach: Kodak Tri-X in the 6×7 format. The black and white analog photography offers a fresh and different perspective on food photography. It leaves some room to play with light and shadow and focus on our perception. For instance, the bread can easily be misunderstood as a gravel path or a macro photograph of mud. At the same time, it also encourages viewers to investigate what they are looking at.
In his interview, William told us:
I’m trying to get at the essence of the food in some way. I mean, that’s my idea. So sometimes I am actually thinking “well this is stupid, garlic doesn’t have an essence” but sometimes I feel like I’m getting at something. I try, anyways.
Yuliy Vasilev
Yuliy’s foodscapes are genuinely out of this world. His concepts are unlike anything we have seen before, and how he uses food to showcase distinct perceptions must be celebrated. For instance, in the image above, he creatively used broccoli as a forest while building a city of food graters around it. The cars are a cool addition, making the whole scene appear like an actual city. In a way, looking at his unique images, it appears like one is having a dream.
In his interview, Yulis told us:
Self-critique is a must for every artist. I have made photos that many other photographers will consider great, but in my opinion, they are not worthy, and I never even tried to even edit them. I am absolutely happy if I am able to make 10–15 excellent shots a year.
Louise Hagger, Emily Kidd, and Alexander Breeze
This is the first collaborative project on our food photography list, which is surely surreal. The images were created to depict Elvis Presley’s wedding buffet, which truly was King-like. The image is very well shot. The bright hues, pastels, and running red are eye catchy, as it is inviting. The use of light and the post-process both help to capture the retro aesthetics, which a lot of people love today. In fact, it is not only the food but also the plates that draw your attention. They are cute as buttons and something that many of us would want in our houses.
In our interview, Louise Hagger said:
The images represent the highly documented fatty diet of this American King, with an array of baby pink hued foods styled with authentically retro props, and embellished with paper umbrellas – iconic for every dining table of this era – all set in an imagined replication of the home environment of these lovers.
Iri Greco and Jim Fryer
The photography duo really fuse art and photography well through their images. Food photography does not have to limit itself; Iri and Jim prove that. The dark overall background and bright colors fuse so well together, but there is also so much tension in the pictures. For instance, the image above will make you question what exactly is going on, and they already have been successful by engaging you to read it and build your own story. It is much like what paintings used to do for us.
In their interview, Iri told us:
Across all those positions, food was either art, craft, activity, or necessity. I definitely used my artistic sensibility in my work but it was also practical: food is meant to be consumed. It is so ingrained in me to envisage foodstuffs as cooking – sometimes I forget to look at the ingredients as objets d’art in and of themselves.
Howard Shooter
Sometimes, food photography goes beyond commercial/advertorial aesthetics and can be shot as a documentary project instead. The diptych above is quite simple but yet so engaging. The colors are contrasty, and the shapes stand out. In fact, on the one hand, you see the preparation and, on the other, the final result. This also allows one to take a break from all the surreal images and embrace the joy of cooking.
In his interview, Howard told us:
I have known people who take a mean Instagram shot and ask me if it means they can become professional food photographers. It is a million miles away from what we do in terms of technique, understanding branding, controlling lighting and creating moods, but I love the immediacy of it; it’s like the newer version of the polaroid camera.
Mark Mawson
We all love coffee, and it seems Mark loves it just as much. Titled Coffee with a Splash of Milk, the project is a very straightforward and abstract approach to food photography. At first, you will wonder whether it is painted, but then, when you read the caption, you realize it is food. What one will appreciate here is Mark’s ability to think out of the box. the image above is stunning. It sort of reminds us of how dark and pure magic clashes to create something different. Harry Potter fans out there will surely enjoy this.
