Photographing Downtown Toronto in Evening Light

On a Thursday evening, I came home from the gym to find this view from my apartment. The light washed over downtown Toronto just right, bouncing off apartment windows, catching the red tones in the street lights. I saw a beautiful image in the view and snapped a few shots quickly. A few minutes later, the light was gone. 

Good images is good light. Learning to recognize, create, capture, and wait for good light is the basic making of a photographer. 

Goa: Paradise Found

The following is a sponsored post from Thomas Cook.

Let’s face it - searching for paradise is a tough job, but someone's got to do it. Will you opt for the powder-soft sands and laid-back lifestyle of the Caribbean, the desert-island style beauty of the Maldives, or the jet-set lifestyle of Miami? All of these destinations are beautiful in their own right, and each can quite easily serve up their own version of paradise. But there's plenty more where they came from, and one magical destination that never fails to impress is Goa.

Located on India's south-west coast, Goa is a simply stunning place that's oozing with exotic appeal and fascinating culture. Coconut-laden palms, porcelain-white sands and bath-warm waters make up just some of the ingredients of this wonderful holiday destination, while others include its blend of cheerful resorts, high-octane watersports and its array of fascinating day trips. You could be sitting under the shade of a rustling palm, watching local fishermen bring in the catch of the day, before enjoying a refreshing sundowner at the end of the day and dining on fresh fish or hearty Goan cuisine in a quiet cosy restaurant. One thing's for sure, holidays in Goa are pretty special.

By travelling with a largescale tour operator - for instance if you book with Thomas Cook - you'll find lively resorts like Calangute Beach among the choices on offer. This is one of the most popular resorts, where you can try your hand at watersports and enjoy the exotic concoctions served up in thatched beach bars. And if you want to experience the lesser-known side of holidays in Goa, why not cruise the Mandovi River or join a local excursion to discover the lively, bustling city of Panjim?

Whatever you do and whichever experience tickles your fancy, a holiday in Goa is like a little slice of paradise...

Introduction to Food Photography for Travel Bloggers

Lately I’ve been photographing a lot of food stories, including my most recent visit to the Toronto Underground Market. Food is an important and integral aspect of traveling - it is a window into culture, it brings friends and family together, it can improve a bad travel day. To help travel bloggers capture great photos of food that looks just as great as the dishes taste, here is a beginner’s guide to food photography for travel bloggers.

Lighting: use natural light

The first rule of thumb in food photography is to avoid using your on-camera flash if at all possible. Unless you’re a pro with strobes, the best source of light for illuminating food is natural light. If you’re photographing outside during daylight, find some soft shade and you’re golden. If you’re visiting a restaurant, request a table by the window.

Styling: minimize clutter

Food styling is no easy feat considering it’s its own profession, but you can also manage some basic styling when photographing food on the road. First you want to make sure that the arrangement of the food itself looks appealing and appetizing. Then check everything else. Does the tablecloth look particularly drab? Can you put the food on a differently shaped plate? Should you add a spoon - or take one away? All of these details help set the mood of the photograph. Remember that keeping the image simple and clean is never a bad option, it helps the camera focus on the subject.

Angle: get moving

There are two basic angles that’s my go to: the bird’s eye view and the close up. For the bird’s eye view, I stand on a chair and shoot straight down onto the food. When that’s not possible, I get the shot by standing up and positioning myself directly over the food. For the close up, I get right into the details, focusing on a particular element of the food that I really want to highlight. In contrast to the bird’s eye, the close up requires you to get low and close to the food.

Flash: don’t do it

I already said this but let me underscore it once more: please please please do not use flash in your food pictures. This is one of the most repeated mistakes I see bloggers make. The harsh light from on-camera flash make the food look flat and lifeless. It almost never results in an appetizing image.