12 August 2010

ATFT Photography Workshop @ MUMU Grill, Crows Nest


It's been almost a year now since I've started using a DSLR for my photography and although it's been a steep learning curve, I still have a long long way to go to get my photos looking as good as I'd like. I can only dream that one day my photography will be as awesome as Billy's from A Table for Two but in the mean time there is much to learn. And who better to learn from than Billy himself at his ATFT food photography workshops held at MUMU Grill.

Olive selection and Cherry tomato and feta salad

18 month Jamon Serrano and Catalan bread


The workshop was a 3 hour crash course on food photography, ranging from learning about white balance, composition and lighting to learning the secrets of photo-editing. It was great to see some familiar faces as well as meet some new ones! And don't worry, you don't have to own a chunky SLR or be a food blogger to attend - the workshop is open to everyone who has the slightest interest in food photography.

Chorizo braised in red ale topped with parmesan

Szechwan pepper prawns

Although the first part of the workshop was Billy explaining and showing us how to use our camera settings while giving examples on the projector, it wouldn't be much of a food photography workshop if there was no food, right? At the halfway point of the workshop, we stopped for lunch, and almost at once plates and plates of food started arriving on the long table. We practised our newly-acquired photography skills by taking plenty of photos of the mouth-watering food provided by MUMU Grill.

Riverina Grass-Fed T-Bone "Tagliata" seared, sliced and finished with rosemary and garlic, served with green beans

Roasted new potatoes

After pigging out on lunch, Billy demonstrated photo editing using both Lightroom and Photoshop with the photos that we'd just taken. Even though I've been using Lightroom and Photoshop to edit my photos for a while, I realised there were so many intricacies in both programs that I didn't know about. I found that I learnt the most in this section of the workshop and there were lots of "ohhh, so that's how you do it!" moments for me when Billy was demonstrating how to make the food photos look extra delicious.

Half organic chicken marinated in rosemary and lemon, served with roasted vegetables and spinach

Dessert platter (top-bottom): Chocolate, sour cherry and almond mole tart with hazelnut gelato; Gingerbread and marscapone sandwich with poached rhubarb, mandarins and cumquats; Brown sugar pavlova topped with fresh pineapple and passionfruit sauce

Thanks to Billy for holding an awesome workshop and telling us all your secrets! I learnt so much from your workshop and it really was worth every penny. And thanks to MUMU Grill for providing heaps of tasty food for us to eat and shoot. If you haven't gone to try their brown sugar pavlova... go now, it's amazingly good!

The ATFT Food Photography Workshop is $85pp including lunch and drinks at MUMU Grill. Click here for updates on future ATFT Food Photography Workshops.

MUMU Grill
70 Alexander Street
Crows Nest NSW 2065
Ph: +61 2 9461 6877
Lunch: Wednesday to Sunday, 12-3pm
Dinner: 7 days, 5.30-10.30pm


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7 comments:

  1. Great to see you again, although being at different ends of the table made it difficult to catch up!

    AFTF? ;-)

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  2. All his secrets? My guess is that this is just the tip of the iceberg :)

    There's some interesting stuff in the class, no? Love that it comes catered, as well as provides photographic subjects.

    Love how you composed some of the shots. Nice work!

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  3. ;) Nice photos Jacq! Mmm that brown sugar pavlova is definitely fav of the desserts, so yummy!

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  4. The images you've captured are great..., really brought the food alive. I must be hungry, the Riverina grass fed TBone & green beans look amazing.
    Cheers
    Anna

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  5. Hi Richard - Yeah haha it was a bit difficult to speak to you but I'm sure I'll be seeing you around sometime soon!

    Hi Simon - You're probably right, Billy has way more secrets stashed away! The class was great, I learned so much. Thanks for the photo compliments :)

    Hi Stephcookie - Thank you! Now that I'm thinking about the brown sugar pavlova I have a serious craving for it!

    Hi Anna - Thanks :) The t-bone was amazingly tender, you must go and try it! It's one of MUMU's signature dishes I believe

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  6. OMG ive been to MUMU before too. but i didnt get to try all those beautiful food that u had!! i really like their steak tho. a place that will def. go back again =)

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  7. Hi Jamie - Yeah their steaks are fantastic but I think the brown sugar pavlova is a must order, make sure you get when you go back!

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