Initial Exploration-Baking

Mood boards on the topic Baking;

Starting point photographs;

Home Baking experimentation- Ingredients and Process- Making Rock cakes.

As a starting point, I baked some Rock Cakes within the holidays. I decided to photograph the process, from photographing the ingredients, to the outcome of what I had made. I did not have access to lighting equipment to aid my lighting, therefore I had to use natural lighting. I used some black card to place the ingredients on so that I could replicate professional food photographs. Once I had taken the photographs, I used Photoshop to edit out some of the lines and creases that the card created on the black surface. I also experimented with the contrast and brightness to enhance the appearance of the ingredients to make them look more appealing.
I also experimented with capturing movement whilst baking.
Overall, I felt that these photographs were not the best quality. The lighting that was used possibly effected this. As I came to edit my photographs, the outcomes look slightly artificial, and appear quite clear that these are edited.

Moving forward with my experiments, I aim to develop my lighting skills further.

Home Baking- Experimentation- Lighting & Ingredients

After my first attempts, I started to experiment with using natural lighting as an advantage within my home. I took some ingredients out of the kitchen and to an area within my house that lets in the most natural light. This time, I used a more lighter background and chose contrasting items to make the ingredients stand out.
In Photoshop, I changed the contrast and saturation.

Rex's Bakery-

I had the opportunity to visit a man called Rex. He has been a baker for over 60 years and has worked in many bakeries in Nottingham/Derby. He is currently in his 80's and now a retired baker. Although retired, he transformed his shed into a bakery. This is where he bakes goods for various people, using it for personal use, and for others. He kindly allowed me to visit on a day that he was baking, for me to photograph.
My photographs document the morning that I spent there.
Along with this, a photograph of a diary containing all the bakeries that have been and gone or are current in the east midlands- a unique book over 70 years old. This came with many stories of where Rex had worked and when.
These photographs document a very experienced baker at work!

G Kemp&Sons Butchers/Bakery-

Taken at my local Butchers/Bakery based in Beechdale.
They kindly allowed me to take photographs for a 'behind the scenes' and allowed me to enter behind the counter to photograph the goods they produce.