Bread Art (Photographing Bread)

For the purpose of illustrating a theme, I was recently offered the task of photographing bread.

Final image (digitally modified using photoshop)
Final image (digitally modified using photoshop)

Here are the steps in making this image.

Although I originally thought this shoot might require actually baking my own bread, I quickly discarded that thought and went to my local market.  The market sells specialty loaves that are far more attractive than anything I can make.  So I purchased two different loaves of bread.

Initially, I photographed the unbroken/unsliced loaves.  Then I thought to slice the bread, but instead chose to tear it in half for a more natural look.  Good call.

Original bread photo unmodified
Original bread photo unmodified

After photographing for a half hour, this is the image I chose as the best.
Compare this original to the final image (shown before it).  For a larger view, click on either image.

In Photoshop, I copied the image onto two new layers and applied a different filter to each layer.  The first is a stylized using a plugin by Topaz Labs. But the effect is largely obscured by the next layer above it.

The next layer applies an artistic painting look using a plugin filter called Snap Art by Alien Skin.   Through the use of a layer mask, the effect is not applied to the inside of the bread loaf.  See the layers panel snapshot below.  Where the mask is dark, you see the underlying layer.

Finally, to highlight the bread, I created a darkened vignette using a curves layer.  The final image is shown at the beginning of this blog post.

U9A3235_bread_art-layersHere is a look at my layers in Photoshop.

 

Photography promo card

Here’s a marketing/promotional item I created recently.

Accordion card
Accordion card

 

This accordion card has 5 pages front & back, for a total of 10 faces.  The five images you can see on this side are scenic photos.  The other side has four event photos, two sporting events, and two non-sport.  The last panel has info about me, including my contact info.

The quality of the piece is excellent.  I am very pleased with how it printed.  It was printed by Miller’s Lab on “classic felt” paper, 130# / 325 GSM.  Each folded card is 3.5 x 5″. In retrospect, I am very happy with the size; small enough to fit in any pocket, yet large enough that the photo quality is clearly evident.  Although Millers does offer an optional coating on the felt paper, I had their paper samples in hand and judged that a coating wasn’t necessary; I am glad for that decision. Unfortunately, the lab does not fold them, as you can see the flattened cards in the background of the photo here.  I had to fold them all.  Envelopes are provided.

Here are a few vendors that provide accordion cards.
# of pages / # of panel faces / dimensions

Apollo      …     4  /  8  /  4.25×5.5″
Miller’s    …     5  /  10  /  3.5×5.5″
Miller’s    …     3  /  6  /  4.25×5.5″
Miller’s    …     3   / 6  /  5×5″
H+H        …     4  /  8  /  4×5.5″
Bay Photo  …  3  /  6  /  5×7