I first got my Canon 400D during my travel writing days when I made the realisation that I needed something more capable than a compact Canon IXUS. It’s a good camera, but it wasn’t producing the photos that I needed for my trips away. So I saved up and bought an entry level SLR that was going to get me through assignments without weighing me down. So the thing travelled with me around the world and clocked up some serious mileage treking from sleepy towns in provincial Thailand to snowfields in Hokkaido and crowded sidewalks in New York.

Grilled chorizo, jamon Serrano on Catalan bread and Sicilian green olives

Back then, food photography was the last thing I thought I’d use the camera for. But since starting the blog, I’ve learned so much about photography and the lengthy post processing involved in achieving a good photo. Still, there is only so much you can learn on your own without a little guidance from a professional. So when I found out that Billy Law from A Table For Two was running food photography workshops, the opportunity was simply too good to pass up.

I have always been a big fan of Billy’s work, even before I started blogging. His photos have a distinct style that demand your attention and tell a story that’s more effective than words. This, I believe, is the true mark of a great photographer.

The food photography workshop at Mumu Grill ran for around three hours. Billy started with a short introduction on the basics of photography – ISO, white balance, metering – before indepth discussion about composition, editing and publishing.

Without giving away all of Billy’s secrets, here are the tips I found most useful:

* Custom White Balance – Adjusting the white balance on your camera makes an enormous difference to your photos and saves you loads of time in post processing. I didn’t realise how easy it was to use. Simply take a photo of a white surface (cardboard, tablecloth, plate), change your white balance to custom and set that photo as the template. All your photos will then automatically adjust to compensate whatever lighting condition you’re in. I’ve lessened the use of my flash gun since discovering this simple trick.

* Rule of Thirds – When you’re taking your photos, be mindful that the important compositional elements should fall into the imaginary intersections created by two equally-spaced horizontal lines and two equally-spaced vertical lines. Keeping to this rule will give you more interesting photos. See here for more information on the rule.

* Noise Reduction – As most of you will know, taking photos without a flash in a dimly lit restaurant is a recipe for disaster. You either end up with photos that are too dark or too grainy to use. A nifty little program called Neat Image is a quick and easy way of reducing noise in photos without the undesirable pixelation.

* Square Plates – Fancy to look at, but incredibly hard to photograph. As Billy puts it, “square plates are evil”. As a rule of thumb, avoid lining up the sides of a square plate with the frame of the camera. This produces uneven, disoriented photos that are not easy on the eyes.

Chorizo braised in red ale with parmesan

As the group broke lunch, we each whipped out our cameras and snapped away at the plates on our tables. The food at Mumu Grill was beautifully simple, where natural wholesome flavours are the highlight. It comes as no surprise that only organic and sustainable ingredients feature on the menu. The dish that intrigued me the most was the pancetta ice cream, which tasted deceptively like chocolate honeycomb with its salty caramel flavours. Let’s hope Craig puts this clever little creation on the menu as a permanent fixture!

Game bird empanadas with Mumu BBQ Sauce

T-bone tagliatta

Duck fat potatoes

Dessert platter - gingerbread and mascarpone sandwich, chocolate raspberry tart, brown sugar pavlova and salted caramel ice cream with pancetta

For more information about A Table For Two’s food photography workshops, please visit www.atablefortwo.com.au. Billy has just released new dates for his July and August workshops, get in quick because they book out fast!

Mumu Grill
70-76 Alexander Street
Crows Nest
# 02 9460 6877
www.mumugrill.com.au