Make Your Own Light Box

Suddenly I am struck with an urge to dig into food photography.  I have always been obsessed with food, so why not with taking beautiful photos of it?

Stir fry is one of those things I am still trying to master photographing.  This is a picture of crock pot orange chicken that I made a few weeks ago.  It was pretty tasty, but I am not sure if you get that for this shot.  The point is, the light box made this photo look a thousand times better.

Here is a sample of what my photos used to look like.  Lots of clutter, weird lighting, and unappetizing photos of delicious food.  ENTER: light box 

Instant improvement.  I wish I would have started using one of these the day I bought my DSLR.  Bummer.  Not to dwell on the past though, we have a bright future together, the light box and me.

Here is a completely un-edited shot to give you an idea of what it looks like.  If you use your camera's manual mode to adjust the shot to your liking, you really only have to crop.  Which makes for quick work and simple photography.  I am in love.  Of course you can bust out an awesome program like Lightroom and do some minor adjustments, but we can talk about that another time.  Right now we are talking about the simple, cheap fix called a light box.

Want to make one?

COST: Under $5

TIME: 20 minutes

SUPPLIES NEEDED:

Large cardboard box ( I used a diaper box)

Box cutter

Tape

Tissue Paper

Poster board

Cut 3 large windows out of 3 sides out of your cardboard box.  Next, cover them in tissue paper, this will diffuse the light and create soft lighting for your photos.  Then tape a piece of poster board into the bottom and up the back of the box.  This creates a seamless backdrop.  DONE.  Super easy and quick.  Now place your box in front of a window and angle it to get nice soft light for your food or product photography.

Want to know more? Here is a great article  that breaks it down really well and also has lots of tips on lighting and photography.

Summer Cherries

 Circa 2006:  I arrived in Annecy so tired I only spoke broken English, forget about French, after an almost 24 hour travel day.  This day included an 8 hour layover, a cancelled flight, a missed connection, and a missed bus from Geneva.  I was spent and ready for the longest nap of my life.  My new host "mother" Anne rescued me at the train station and led me to my new "home." 

The next morning I awoke, still emotionally and physically exhausted, when Anne offered an exquisite idea.  "Why don't you lie down under the cherry tree and take a little nap."  I can still see the mountains behind their home, their spacious yard, and the shady cherry tree.  I took a 4 hour nap under the cherry tree and awoke to a country meal full of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Anne encouraged my frequent naps in her yard and loved watching me eat piles of fruits and vegetables at dinner.  They nicknamed me the disposal.  What can I say?  I LOVED her cooking.  Whenever I eat cherries I remember her little tree and the summer I spent in her home becoming her friend. 

I wish I had kept in better contact with Anne over the years, but somehow in the past 7 years we seem to have lost touch.  I often think of the weekends she spent showing me the French countryside, proudly reciting bits of French history as we drove along in her little "voiture". 

I loved her pride of the most beautiful cows just North of her home.  They had the longest black lashes and were quite pretty if you are into "les vaches".  I enjoyed keeping her company in the kitchen and sipping on local Rose.  We ate ripe local apricots, baskets of her own cherries, and fresh cream.  Everything was local and fresh.  

Lately I have been eating less fresh and more processed.  The other day I realized my whole house is full of junk.  Well, junk food no more.  It's time to eat fresh!  These summer cherries are a start.  They were deliciously crisp and sweet.