What Steam, Angle and Distance Do to a Photograph – Simple Photography Tips by Michael Blyth

Three Simple Photography Tips - What Steam, Angle and Distance Do to a Photograph

• Choose your timing - Steam comes in different intensity, and from different parts of the pan at different moments in time

• Sometimes removing from the heat for a short while cuts out the problem

• Shooting at an angle rather than straight down can allow access to the focal point without the steam

  
  

I've been blaming the sparsity of asparagus tips in the veggie patch on the weather, then two days ago discovered my five month old monster, with four legs and a bark, grazing happily!!

These indoor photography tips came not from a studio setup, but from an asparagus frittata using the tips from before the monster discovered them.

And no I don't know if they make her wee smell differently!!

There was a moment in the cooking where quite a lot of moisture was rising from the mix. It provides a good illustration of one of the hazards of photographing food, but also the same thing can be a benefit.

Let's go for the benefit first as it's secondary to this article, but relevant.

Some years ago I was photographing food for a cookery book, and had presented to me a plate of food from which the water vapour rose gently and caught in the sunlight coming through the window (yes I prefer natural light for food photography). The advantage here was that it gave life to an otherwise static plate of food, it made it look hot and inviting. Photographed low angle with the sun almost behind.

Back to my favourite Circulon pan. What Steam, Angle and Distance Do to a Photograph. The moisture rising had a really negative effect, it knocked the sharpness out of the image, dulled the colour and produced a flat image.

Let's go through a few of the images and look for some generally applicable techniques that don't require extra kit, just some thought and observation.

Image One What your phone captured vs what you saw — steam rising from a freshly cooked asparagus frittata changes colour, contrast and sharpness in a phone photograph

With Image One, I was straight overhead, the steam was coming off in swirling cloudlets, and as I mention above, so much was lost from these culinary delights of an English spring. The colour is dull, why? Because the light is passing through two lots of steam, on its way down to the asparagus and eggs, and then once reflected, on it's way back up again.

With that, the contrast is affected, and so is the sharpness.

Image Two - The same dish, no steam, overhead angle — how distance and position transform a phone photograph. And of course, timing.

With Image Two, I've pulled back, and let the vapour disperse, it's partly about timing, watch the steam, and catch it when it swirls away and lets the light through - takes practise, but worth it.

Image Three - Getting in close

Image Three was taken further along the cooking process when the amount of steam had dropped, allowing the light a free journey, resulting in great colour, sharpness and focus.

I'd be happy with this on my kitchen wall., but equally in my stomach!

Image Four - Getting close with your phone reveals colour and texture — but it also captures everything the steam is doing to your image.

Image Four illustrates another way to avoid the effects of the steam, by shooting at an angle. If you can image a plate or pan of steaming food, and the physics of heat - the steam rises in a plume from the centre, so if you shoot from there you're setting yourself the greatest challenge. Come in low and at an angle.

The useful lesson here is not really about asparagus, frittata or even steam.

It is about learning to notice what is happening between you and the thing you are photographing. That might be steam. It might be harsh sunlight. It might be a distracting background. It might be the way your phone is choosing to brighten or darken the scene.

Better photographs often begin with looking at the scene without the camera in the way.

Look first.

Then photograph.

Hope that helps !

And this is where I asked AI to put it clearly so that it comes across without the 'Michael Blyth'ness' that is not always clear:-

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The Wednesday posts are practical, simple and intended to help you make better photographs with whatever camera you already have, including the phone in your pocket.

And if you are ready for a little more involvement, I am beginning a small, more active space for people who want to move beyond simply reading tips and start putting them into practice.

It will be gentle, encouraging and practical: regular prompts, simple suggestions, the chance to share what you are making, and a way of learning to see more clearly alongside a small group of like-minded others.

You do not need to be advanced. You do not need impressive equipment. You only need the desire to get better, and the willingness to look a little more carefully.

If that sounds like something you would enjoy being part of, please get in touch.