Photographing Ingredients for Burritos and Southwestern Food

by dav.d

Yep, I wrote another blog post to support the Burrito! cookbook I photographed recently. These are some of my favorite “ingredient” photographs. One of the requirements from the publisher was to include at least 5 photos of ingredients. These are similar to lifestyle images to support the main photos of burritos. They can be a bit of a behind the scenes of how to make burritos.

Sliced limes with water drops

Sliced limes with water drops

For the mole ingredients I actually did photograph this show with a studio light. All the other photographs were natural light where I used mirrors and reflectors to create and control light. But for the mole I used one studio light and then some mirrors and foam core to feature the ingredients. Great light is great light no matter the source.

Mole Ingredients

Mole Ingredients

I was getting artistic with the habanero. It is a simple habanero in an Asian spoon and it is on a placemat that has bit of an eastern feel. It is much more fusion and I like it. Minimalist with center focus.

Habenero

Habenero

Rolled burritos

Rolled burritos

This is a pure behind the scenes photo. The difficulty is the kitchen had warm tungsten light… I hate tungsten colored lighting. Perhaps that is one reason I like flash… I make my own color of light.

Grilling a Burrito

Grilling a Burrito

Shrimp ready for entree

Shrimp ready for entree

A Variety of Peppers

A Variety of Peppers

Photographing peppers and salsa… keeping the overall appearance similar to the burrito photographs themselves. While the authors were busy cooking I would photograph the ingredients between shots.

Salsa and peppers. Pico de gallo.

Salsa and peppers. Pico de gallo.

Spicy peppers

Hot Peppers

Perhaps I should call my photos still life. Painters are always painting fruit… avocado is a fruit.

Avocado

Avocado

Cilantro and onions

Cilantro and onions

Sliced Avocado

Sliced Avocado

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dav.d photo
dav.d is a portrait photographer based in Utah.