Food:

Filming food correctly is an art. The goal is to make the viewer hungry by making it look delicious.

It takes several talented people with their own secret bags of tricks, a studio and a lot of time to do it right. The director of photography needs to bring together the lighting director, the food stylist, the client, the ad agency and their assistants to capture a food product that will last for only a few moments under the hot lights.

Tim Nixon at Baughan Productions achieved this look for Black Jack Pizza with a Sony Cine Alta camera set at 24fps and a Weaver-Steadman head with a third axis.
Lighting was done by Colorado's own legendary George Tague.

 

The production team starts with a "stunt double" and fine tunes the lighting, practices camera moves and experiments with tricks like lazy susan's, gold foil, steam, mists and oils. The stylist has his or her own army, perfecting "the talent" or "hero" with secret techniques that makes the food look great, but may make you sick if you eat it, especially after being under hot lights.

The main ingredients for shooting food involves a film or HD camera adjusted for capturing subtle shadows and warm colors. An under slug camera crane with 3 axis' so the camera can float directly above the food. Strong diffused back lighting to create a hallo effect with short shadows. Then being ready when the "hero" is ready, aware when the food needs makeup and when it has to be replaced.