Monday, December 22, 2014

Don't get yourself confused....

Styling or preparing a food for 3 dimensional presentation is different compare to style a food for a camera which should be appreciated in 2 dimensional perspective. A Chef, styled a food in a flamboyant and attractive way to be appreciated in 3 dimensional perspective. However a real Food Stylist may styled a simple food to make it look 'good' in front of a camera. So....student don't let yourself get confused. Style the food from the Food Stylist perspective.........remember the 'Angle of Shot'....'what message that need to be communicated?'.....'what impact you want the viewer to have?' Your food may not look flamboyant but it managed to portray what it is intended for. Okay.............let see your food from both the culinary and a photography point of view in order to become a good Food Stylist. Explore the tricks and techniques from a simple tricks on how to make fresh food looked fresh in front a camera to a more delicate tricks and techniques eg. to make a grilled fish look like it is still cooking..................

It is just an ordinary glass of orange juice but with proper technique and trick it can look refreshing in a photograph.

A Creamy Lemon Meringue Pie with Blueberry - off course if you bake the whole pie the blueberry may not looked that 'good'...so this is where a trick and technique needed. 
Vegetables should not be cooked as it should be. Slightly underdone to give 'life' to the food in front of a camera. It is for your eyes not your tummy.


Sunday, November 23, 2014

A Food Stylist VS a Chef

A Food Stylist VS A Chef
I often asked what is the difference between a Food Stylist and a Chef? And I always answered them by saying that “A Food Stylist might not be a Chef but a Chef makes a good Food Stylist.” Some might takes it but other asked for further clarification what does that means. So I guess the best thing is to write down these differences. I really hope that it will clear up some air.
Let see what the differences between them both are:
FOOD STYLIST:
1.     Prepares food for people to eat with their eyes through camera (photography) to feeds the imagination.
2.     The food might not be ‘real’ but it must look good.
3.     The food can be cold but must look hot.
4.     Prepare food based on the recipe given for how it will appear visually.
5.     Very concern on the visual aspect of the food.
6.     Might engage beyond ordinary ‘material’ to make sure the visual result fit the intention / purpose.
CHEF:
1.     Prepares food to feed the eyes and the ‘tummy’ of the people and present it ‘real’ .
2.     The food must be real and delicious.
3.     Cold food chill, hot food hot and delicious.
4.     Prepare food as per recipe and it must look and taste as it intended to be.
5.     Very concern on it appearance as well as taste.
6.     Used original and authentic ingredients to ensure the dish prepare taste the way it should be.


Okay, the list above might give you guys some important ‘clues’ the differences between food stylist and a chef. To understand further the differences, I think it would be better if I could spell out clearly the job of a food stylist. One of the obvious thing is that a food stylist has changed the role of the photographer. Good quality food stylists work with a unique palette that most other artists don’t even think about it. Food stylist need to know and understand the ins and outs of photography or even videography because in that way he/she’ll how a particular food item might appear it is final stage. Food stylist does not just arrange or present food artfully, he/she need to make the food look tastefully good as well.

Sunday, July 20, 2014

TVC and Still Photography ------The Chef behind the scene

On 17th and 18th July 2014 I was assigned to do a food styling work for TVC, YouTube and Still Photography by Double Vision Sdn Bhd for Amor Margarine. It was a very challengging task since it fall on the month of Ramadhan. Alhamdulillah things have worked out as planned and thanks to the team....Chef Zain, Arina, Atika, Ida and Asfahani for working hard to complete the assignment.....and..not to forget....Ain the programmer. And I should also take this opportunity to thank Linda Ziegler for giving me a chance to share my talent on food styling....although it was a very tiring 2 long days work but it fun.
(Sorry about the quality of the photo)
 Chef Zain and Me with the Murtabak Ayam in the making
 Chef Zain with Nasi Bukhara
 Styled large prawn for the Nasi Bukhara Udang
 Preparing the hero.........Kuey Teow Gulung Lasagna.....a fusion version
 "Hand Talent" scooping the margarine from the tub
 Ready for action
 ...on stand by........
 Browning the lasagna
 Choosing the perfect hero...

 ....and action
 Another hero
 Composing the hero














Chef Wan with my Food Styling Team

Tuesday, April 15, 2014