I recently ordered a copy of Helene Dujardin’s new book, Plate to Pixel
If you’re not familiar with Helene’s beautiful food, recipes, and world class and simply awe-inspiring photography, you’re missing out and you must check out her blog, Tartelette.
In her book, Helene covers everything from camera setting “lessons”
to composition in food photography
to lighting, props, food styling, arrangement, and so.much.more.
In the past, I’ve reviewed other books on food styling and food photography:
Food Styling: Books, Props, & Photo Quality
And Food Styling: Pretty & Not So Pretty Pictures
And I had Matt & Adam’s amazing event: Real Food Styling & Photography Workshop
Please read this post if you have any interest in food photography, photography, or even just food!
The event was so profound, that it changed my life as I posted about here.
But back to Helene’s book, I cannot recommend this book enough. If you are only going to buy one book on food photography, or dare I say photography in general, this is the one book to buy.
Helene’s examples, lessons, knowledge, and expertise that she shares on everything from camera settings to natural lighting discussion to how to set up your shots to how to make your food photography tell a story is all just splendid!
She pays extreme attention to detail in each and every word written in this book. She conveys some difficult concepts simply and thoroughly, but without dumbing them down or glossing over anything at all.
Each and every chapter is like a photography lesson and I have been having lightbulb moments going off left and right as I read it.
The book is almost 300 pages and because of the sheer amount and volume of very detailed information, I will get through all 288 pages sometime this millennium. I am taking my time with it; reading a few pages, putting the book down for a few days, letting it soak in, while practicing with my own camera and food. And repeating.
Thank you, Helene, for writing this book! I know from talking to friends and reading post after glowing post around the ‘sphere about this book, it’s helping so many of us.
Interested in a few recipes?
Here is Helene’s hummus recipe
I have 4 ingredient vegan hummus with really awful photography but the recipe is still a winner.
And Helene’s blackberry pie recipe
We can all dream and aspire to create images like that one day, right?
I try to emulate her shots, style, composition, and just everything she does when I am photographing my own food lately.
But I better break out my Dark Rum Caramel Sauce and go to town because I have a lot to learn and caramel sauce makes learning and studying more fun.
It’s either caramel sauce or Magic Eight Bars I’m thinking!
And I think you all should check out Helene’s book.
From my last post, Messy Cook, it sounds like some of you are messy. But there were many of you who are neat freaks like me. Good. Nothing wrong with not wanting to dirty every dish and bowl you own and getting a little high blood pressure attack upon seeing things in a state of messy disarray and wanting to clean it all, immediately. Well, that’s the story I tell myself at least.
Questions:
1. What’s the last book that really left an impression on you, and why?
I admit that I don’t read many books anymore. I would like to say I do, but really, I don’t.
I love reading blogs and reading articles on the internet and just surfing the web and going to various webssites as needed because everything I want to know is a click-click-click away. I get a bit bored with most books after having so much info at my fingertips, and so readily available. Thus, it takes a lot to hold my attention with a book and for a book to make a lasting impression on me. But Helene’s book has succeeded on all fronts.
2. What’s your biggest challenge with photography and your photos?
For me, when I’m shooting food, it’s making the food look as good in the pictures as it really was in person. The camera can strip away things leaving them looking flat, dull, or with really horrible composition even though in person, it really was pretty. Finding the pretty is a huge challenge for most everyone, I’d say.
Making my food pictures beautiful in terms of composition and what to include or not include in my setups and shots is always a challenge. For instance, I ask myself, should I include that spoon and napkin or does it make the shot look cluttered? If I don’t include it, the shot may look sparse with too empty/negative space. Determining what belongs in a photo and what doesn’t is a challenge.
I did a post on my tips and tricks for getting the best shot. I’m sure it’s laughable for Helene, but many of you told me it did help you.
At the bottom of this post is my takeaway message on my food styling and food photography from my workshop
And in this post I address the fact that just because you have an amazing camera, you won’t necessarily have amazing images. Conversely, just because you have a point and shoot, you can still take awesome photos. All a fancy DSLR is going to do is make the resolution and quality of the final image better; but a crappy photo is still a crappy photo, just in higher resolution with a DSLR. You have to work on making your pictures better, not just pining away for a DSLR! That won’t solve your problems unless you practice and work on improving your photography skills.
And my biggest challenge when shooting Skylar is making sure she doesn’t stick her tongue out at me!
P.S. Thanks for the entries for the Bamboo Travel Skirt Giveaway.
That sounds like an amazing book! I need some definite work on my photography skills! I’m really going to look into this Averie, Thanks for the review!!
you dont need work!! you have beautiful shots! I even wrote that to you in a comment field the other day and that I’d love to talk cameras, settings, etc with you!
sigh….
what else can I say?
I’m gonna get it – it’s beautiful – I’m always inspired by lovely photos – they are like soul medicine for me.
I suck… I’m still working on the focus part LOL
THANK YOU for sharing!
I just recieved this last night as a belated birthday gift! It is awesome! The pictures are beautiful and so helpful! I skimmed it quickly and can’t wait to read it more thoroughly later
I love Helenes blog- stunning photos, and her recipes always sounds wonderful! One of my all timde favorit blogs!
Looks like a great book, averie. Your enthusiasm is contagious: I just want to run out and take photos! My challenge is how to be artistic with a point n shoot camera. I find books always motivate me – whether they be running, yoga, “improve your life” – whatever. Always fun to try new ideas!
“your enthusiasm is contagious”– thank you sweetie!
THe props get me everytime. I just don’t have the patience for it. I used to, but lately, I just snap away and hope for the best. Maybe I’ll just start calling it my “simple” and “spartan” look; that makes it sound intentional and not lazy.
Taking photos like the ones Helene takes and like I try to take DOES take time and effort…no shortcuts there with the propping and setups, etc!
That is an awesome book – I will have to get that!
My biggest photography issue…I need a new camera :)
Brooke Annessa
http://www.theannessafamily.blogspot.com
I absolutely LOVE Helene’s book! I ordered it pretty much as soon as it was available on Amazon, because I adore Helene’s work and her spirit and willingness to share her knowledge.
I have loved everything in Plate to Pixel, especially the food & prop styling. It’s inspiring to browse through all the photos that she has included in the book and to think about how I can improve my own photography.
and can you believe we missed her at F & L last year? My friend Marla said it was amazing to be with her but of course we have plenty of awesome teachers at F & L this year :)
Ugh! I know! I’m kicking myself because I didn’t know about F & L last year till registration was already closed. Taking a workshop with Helene is on my goal list to complete in the next year or two. *fingers crossed*
I am still crazy excited about F & L though, we will have some fantastic teachers!
There’s nothing like a REALLY great photo of food. I am amazed at some of the pictures I’ve seen on different blogs – they’re so inspirational.
Averie, you’ve taken some great ones as well and I look forward to seeing more (I know that great camera bag will help, too)!
aww…thanks!
Im SO glad you wrote this review because this very book has been sitting in my amazon cart for a while now, as I’ve been researching different food photography books and trying to come to a decision. I kept coming back to this one though as it’s had some awesome reviews, and your review just finalized my decision! I can’t wait until it arrives, it looks like an amazing and informative read.
enjoy it as i know you will!
I just wanted to say hi! I’m new to the blogging world and I just came across your blog, and I will definitely be reading from now on :).
thanks :)
I’ve been looking at foodgawker and tastespotter a lot lately and drooling over everyone’s photography compositions…I’m inspired to include other things in my photos besides the actual food I’m writing about. This post came at the right time — I opened it up when i was thinking about how to photograph my next recipe!
food photography, when well done, will always make me swoon.
I guess I don’t have a practiced eye. I just checked out Tartelette, and I can’t see that her photography is any better than yours.
Ok well I think it’s 1 million times better than mine, but thanks for the boost of confidence :)
I’ve had my eye on that book for a while, but it’s always nice to read a positive review. I think I’ll have to take the plunge and buy it soon.
I would love to take nicer pictures of my food, because I often feel proud of my “chef” skills. However, I am often up late at night, which doesn’t allow for great natural light. I also don’t have a fancy camera to take pictures!
Maybe if I someday get my own apartment I could at least have a nice setup to take pictures, with a nice plate or something!
This looks like a great book– I keep meaning to buy a food photography book…and I need to put a little more effort into my pictures sometimes!