Food

I found this photographer.

She is called Anna Williams and is a NY based photographer. I like her work.

Her work is really simple. She adds detail by food crumbs and table decorations. The messiness of the food makes it look

appetising and real. Its not styled to appears perfect and untouchable but rather the imperfect appearance of her photographs help the viewer connect to her images creating a feeling of homemade goodness.

As soon as I saw her work I was reminded of the work of Irving Penn.

Penn also photographed food, but created a different atmosphere with his images. He made the viewer uncomfortable at the imperfections of the food.

William's photography draws on the senses of smell and taste as well as visual appreciation. By photographing the texture of the food the viewer automatically reference similar food that they have experienced. Thus automatically the viewer can image the feel, smell and taste of the food. The styling of the image also creates the feeling of warmth and homeliness. The background and table decorations are neutral enough for most people to connect with and unimposing so they don't distract the eye.

Rather with Penn's images he manages to make the food look unappetising. He also create imperfect images by dusting spices and leaving crumbs on the table top. But instead of inspiring in the viewer memories of smell and taste it makes the table look dirty. Penn also photographs flies on the food. Making the food in the image look disgusting. The viewer becomes repulsed by the food. The colours are also dull and slightly grubby in appearance, making it seem old. Where as in Williams photo's she captures the bright and shiny colours which look fresh.

I think both these photographers demonstrate that with only a few changes to the way something is photographed, it can dramatically change how the audience see it. This is probably most prominent in food photography as it draws on so many other senses but can be applied to all type of photographs.