I have been drooling over Canon macro lenses online for over a year. I wanted the 100 mm macro lens with image stabilization and true 1:1 capability on my Canon 5D Mark III camera. I thought this lens was the one until I took an online food photography class from Craftsy.
Food Photography, From Plate to Photo, taught by NY Times food photographer Andrew Scrivani, was a great class. From lighting to plating, this covered a lot of ground and was enjoyable to boot! If your knife skills aren’t up to par, Andrew can show you how to dice it and slice it. I enjoyed every lesson but the one that really interested me the most was Finding Your Style. I struggle with that because it seems like everyone who does food photography well has a personal style. As a beginner I am all over the map. I think my style is dark and rustic, but then I light up every shot and pick every last crumb off the plate with tweezers. So I am on a journey to improve my photography skills while finding my true style.
Along the way came the notion that I needed a macro lens. (translation: needed = wanted) I wanted the Canon 100 mm really bad. But then I took Andrew’s class. He kept talking about the 50 mm macro lens more than the 100 mm. So I asked him if he could have only one of the two for food photography, which would it be. He said, “The 50mm is more versatile. If I had to only own one lens it would be my 50mm macro.” Well, that’s a game changer! The 50 mm is 1/3 the price of the 100mm I wanted, so I ordered it!
The lens arrived on Saturday and I have been having fun with it since then. I love it so far, especially for food. I have annoyed everything that stood still, and some that didn’t over the last couple of days trying out the lens. These are all handheld, SOOC without editing.
My breakfast.
Michael and Tucker enjoying recliner time.
Autumn leaves from a lilac in the garden.
Old letters through the glass front of an antique secretary.
Geraniums on the front porch.
Our sweet boy waiting to bark at the postal carrier.
A rusty welcome sign on the porch.
A chicken chalkboard.
One last rose of summer.
Flowers Michael sent me today!
And bees on the rosemary bushes.
This is going to be fun!
