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How to food boast without annoying your friends Also, while top-down stylised photos are on trend, the texture and shape of food is often lost on teeny Instagram photos. Images from the perspective of the eater work best, of if you are taking a photo of a tall dish such as a layered cake, take it from eye level for more impact.
Sarah McGrory – www.getforkedandfly.com
Love it or hate it, food boasting on social media is an epidemic. Sign into your Instagram or Facebook account and see for yourself – a deluge of food photos, many of questionable quality, proudly posted by your friends for your alleged viewing pleasure. There’s bound to be a photo of the grim green breakfast smoothie someone mortgaged their house for at a hipster location this morning or the quinoa and raw vegetable salad they diligently prepared for today’s lunch to prove that they really are healthy. There will be endless coffee photos too – overhead shots of coffee art or takeaway coffee cups at the beach. Other food boasters will post murky close-ups
Filters of dinner in a dimly lit ‘hatted’ restaurant where you can’t discern if they’re eating mains or dessert. I have a confession to make: As a food blogger, I am 100 per cent guilty of food boasting. However, I do have one simple rule: I only ever post good-looking food photos – there’s less chance of annoying those friends who don’t give a hoot about what I am eating.
Here are my Three Tips for Better Food Photos on Instagram.
Natural light If you’re going out to dinner think twice before you post a photo of your meal taken with your smartphone. Restaurant lighting at night is usually inadequate and using the flash creates reflections on cutlery, tableware and glass-
Tommy in his Elements Nicqui Yazdi whips out the mobile as Tommy Franklin water-wrestles an inflatable white swan at Elements’ lavish opening pool party.
ware. Plus, the white balance is always out. Stick to daytime photography outdoors or indoors near a window. If you’re outside, don’t put your food right out in the sun but find some softer, diffused light under a tree or umbrella. If the restaurant menu is printed on light paper or card you can even use this to reflect or ‘bounce’ the light around your dish to remove dark shadows.
Elements’ opening pool party on Monday was indeed ‘lavish’. Delta Kay and a troupe of Arakwal dancers performed on the ceremony space overlooking the beach, a helicopter rested in the grounds and women held horses as more than 200 mostly local guests wandered the grounds sipping the new Veuve Cliquot Rich. It was also an opportunity for Mullumbimby artist Suvira McDonald to see his steel-rod sculpture Chorus in place at the grand entrance. Executive chef Justin Dingle-Garciyya proved his worth, serving up a great range of delicacies around the infinity pool while a DJ played, spotlights raked the clouds and firetwirlers and drummers did their thing. Owner Peggy Flannery said that it was her ‘greatest wish to contribute positively to the Byron tourism experience’.
Composition Up until last year Instagram photos were square only. This meant your food looked better centred in the photo. Now you can post regular photo sized images to Instagram, which gives you even more room for creativity. Whichever aspect you choose, keep the rule of thirds in mind. Imagine your frame is divided into a ninepart grid. The rule of thirds says that your main subject should be placed either along those lines or at their intersections.
I beg you – please go easy on the Instagram filters! There’s nothing worse than a garden salad that looks like it has been irradiated. I rarely use Instagram’s filters but I am a fan of the tools – in particular I like to use the Sharpen tool if I feel my shaky hands have put the photo a little out of focus and the Vignette tool (used sparingly) to gently to make the food ‘pop’. I also dabble with Highlights, Shadows or Warmth while keeping it natural. Good luck! Q Follow Sarah on Instagram
@getforkedandfly
FRIDAY 29 January
AT BELONGIL BISTRO
BRAZILIAN MEATS GRILLED OVER CHARCOAL WITH ACCOMPANIMENTS RESERVATIONS REQUIRED e at@ BELONGILBISTRO.COM.AU
Ballina RSL Club Boadwalk Buffet Breakfast
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River St, Ballina Phone 6686 2544 www.ballinarsl.com.au Open 7 Days from 8am Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and Snacks
Australia Day, Tuesday 26 January and Sunday 7 February from 8am Adult $19.90 Child 12 Years and Under $9.90 Under 5 Years Free
Bangalow Dining Rooms
Enjoy our balcony restaurant, intimate dining room and generous bistro food in the pub. With reasonable prices our menu reflects the wonderful local and fresh produce of the region. SMH GOOD PUB Large groups welcome. FOOD GUIDE We also offer off-site catering. 2013 AND 2014 www.bangalowdining.com
Bangalow Hotel Open 7 days Lunch: 12 – 3pm Dinner 5.30 – 9pm All day bistro menu
BYRON BAY
6687 1144
Targa Cafe • Restaurant • Bar 11 Marvell Street
Byron Bay 6680 9960 targabyronbay.com targabyronbay@gmail.com
North Coast news daily: www.echonetdaily.net.au
Modern European Breakfast/Lunch: 7 days from 7am Dinner: 7 nights from 5.30pm Bar: From 10am, with or without food Coffee: Genovese, all day Venue: available for events up to 60 guests
Fishheads Open seven days 7:30am till late Coffee, breakfast, lunch, dinner, functions and weddings. Fully licensed. 1 Jonson St, Byron Bay 6680 7632
Muoi’s Feast Dinner: Mon-Sat 11 Fletcher St, Byron Bay Bookings Essential 6685 7557
The Green Bistro at Club Byron Lunch: 11.30am–2.30pm, Dinner: from 5.30pm, Tuesday to Sunday (closed Mondays) 18–20 Marvell Street 6685 6202
A range of menu packages for your SPECIAL EVENT Phone 6680 7632 functions@fishheadsbyron.com.au www.facebook.com/Fishheadsbyron.com www.fishheadsbyron.com.au
Muoi’s Feast has created a strong following since opening in 2003. Winning numerous awards for its international cuisine, the Asian section of the menu is the predominant favourite. Enjoy for dinner.
BYRON BAY CONTINUED
BANGALOW
BALLINA
Good Taste Eating Out Guide
TUESDAYS | 6pm MEAT & VOUCHER RAFFLE WEDNESDAYS | 5.30pm–close BYO VINYL THURSDAYS | 6pm MEAT & VOUCHER RAFFLE FRIDAYS | 4-6pm HAPPY HOUR SATURDAYS | from 6pm THE MONTHLY MUSO SUNDAYS | SUNDAY ROAST lunch & dinner
thegreenbistrobyronbay.com.au info@thegreenbistrobyronbay.com.au Functions and catering available
The Byron Shire Echo January 27, 2016 23