photographing a restaurant

[lopp]

ok so this isn't most interesting subject, or set of images, but the feedback i got from my previous 'food photography' thread was really helpful, so....

i photographed a restaurant for an editorial peice today. i was pretty lost as to how to create some interesting images of this subject. said restaurant was small, empty at time of shoot and not very well lit. i shot with 800 iso film, without a flash.

i'm not that impressed with the results - they are fine to sit with some text in a magazine, but they aren't interesting, or exciting.

i'm keen to see what people think, and how others would approach a similar shoot.

http://www.juxprose.com/photo_box/restaurant/

thanks a lot

[jkn]

First shot is definitely the best - it has a more golden hue and conveys a sense of warmth - which I would consider a good thing in showing a restaurant. You want to convey a sense of warm coziness - a place where someone wants to go and spend some time eating. The shot also shows depth showing the other room - and gives a sense of the decor and feel of the restaurant (fireplace, table setting in the forefront) etc... I like this shot quite a bit overall. My personal opinion is you got the right shot with this one.

Third shot would be my other choice for the article - although I don't like the bright windows and the overall color as much. The photo is fine - the items in the shot just aren't as inviting to me... the door, the three menu cards, the blinds on the windows... The first shot is clearly the better shot both as more of an art piece and as a selling point for the restaurant.

Second shot - it's kind of fun - but doesn't show any of the restaurant in any clear way. If the article is about coffee - hey - that might be a nice abstract thought image to go with it...

Fourth shot... it's ok, but my least favorite of the four. I think the thing that jumps out to be as undesirable is the window reflections that are so prominent on the wine glasses... If this were a night shot - it might be great with the room reflections in the glass (you can get a hint of it in your shot).

Fun stuff!

[coleko]

yes, i definitely like the first shot more. i would've cut out the chair in the foreground and used a little more dof, maybe even a soft filter?

[blinking8s+]

people, it needs people...restraunts should have an atmosphere to them...not be empty

[lopp]

thanks for the comments jkn and others. very useful.

Originally Posted by jkn

Fourth shot... it's ok, but my least favorite of the four. I think the thing that jumps out to be as undesirable is the window reflections that are so prominent on the wine glasses... If this were a night shot - it might be great with the room reflections in the glass (you can get a hint of it in your shot).

that's a really good idea to get room reflections in the glasses. cool.

Originally Posted by colekoyes

i definitely like the first shot more. i would've cut out the chair in the foreground and used a little more dof, maybe even a soft filter?

yeah looking again the chair could be removed. more dof you say? excuse my ignorance of such things, do you mean more detail for the objects towards the back of the room?

Originally Posted by blinking8s

people, it needs people...restraunts should have an atmosphere to them...not be empty

yep, i agree. trouble is, these restaurants are often new, hence needing the publicity by organising magazine features etc. so, they are often empty, or have just one person there. i reckon an empty restaurant shot is better than a shot with one or two people surrounded by empty tables. ideally, it would be full, but it's not as easy as that.

[coleko]

sorry, i meant to blur the background more and maintaining focus on the table/glasses.