Life is funny. Up until now I hated cameras. I cringed when people insisted on taking pictures of me whether with family or at work functions.  When it comes to taking photos, I am not the world's greatest photographer. My excuse is that I'd rather live in the moment than try to capture it. Cameras just aren't my thing.

It just so happens that I will be visiting Greece this fall. It only seems right that I should take a decent camera with me rather than relying on the mediocre functionality of my mobile device to capture the sights of Greece. Thanks to bigoven.com, the point was driven home this past weekend when they rejected my first photo submission for a bruschetta recipe that I was very proud to develop. I have to admit, it was pretty obvious the photo came from my cell.

Fate stepped in last night when I was flipping through the channels and stopped on the Home Shopping Network. Guess what the special was. That's right -- cameras. They advertised a relatively inexpensive Olympus. What really got my attention were the various photography modes that supposedly make taking pictures goof proof. There's even a wizard for culinary photography. Enough said. Sign me up!

It's my hope that I'll be submitting many photos in the future that will be bigoven.com worthy. In turn, perhaps the exercise will sharpen my photography skills in time for Greece and resolve my aversion to all things photographic. Let's hope.

Don't give up, the more I study different users photos, the more I learn, you can join the Photography community, I have learned a lot from different users, I even won $100.00 for my flautas photo, shock of all shocks, i wasnt even taking pictures to win, just to post, so, of course now I strive to take much better pictures.

If you look at my photos, you can tell the first ones I took and the ones I took with much improved photo skills. I even email different users to ask for photo pointers and they are all so helpful in giving me pointers....so take advantage of the experience on this website, you will be a pro sooner then you think.

Welcome to the forum. There are a number of very good food photographers hanging out here. The neat thing with digital food photos is you can always delete (or eat) your "learning experiences".

When you see a food picture you like, try and envision where the camera was placed. Then look at the shadows to get an idea where the light was coming from. That will give you some good ideas how to start setting up your shots.

Thanks for the encouragement guitarmom. I've surprised myself. I am actually excited to be getting a new camera soon. I'll check out your page shortly.

Promfh, when I saw you posing with your camera, I automatically thought to myself that I was so far removed from your league that I should not take my pictures too seriously. So I am greatful for your words of wisdom. I did start reading up on food styling in preparation.

The tough part, I think, is going to be exercising patience. Who wants to take the time to set up pictures of good food when you can be eating it?!!!

I've often thougth about doing a picture of a nicely plated meal with a hand in the shot taking the dish away to be eaten. That has actually happened to me where I've turned away for a few moments to get something for the camera and turned back to find the food gone.

The culprit (my spouse) said, "I thought you were done. Let's eat !"

That is too funny, my husband just rolls his eyes with that, " do you have to take a picture of everything you make?" look. Once i put his plate on the floor because the light by my french doors was great, so he saw me on the floor taking this picture and put his foot down on that idea! But I did get a great shot.

Promfh, I really do think that is a great idea with the hand in the picture. Please let me know when you post that.

Guitarmom, I can definitely see why you won for the flautas photo. I am drooling. Flautas will be on my menu at least once this week. I think I'll make a guava and pepper jelly, reminiscent of the pepper jelly Chevy's serves with their flautas.

Wow, that sounds great, be sure to take a picture and post the recipe...ha ha...I would love to make that, I never made anything like that before, I make the same old salsa week after week, year after year. Can't wait to see it.

Well folks, to my surprise and utter amazement I am actually having fun with my new camera. As long as I am taking photos of food and my baby nephew, I'm cool with the camera. I purchased a low carb smoothie recipe book on the cheap recently. So that's been my latest subject of choice.

I'm still trying to work the whole lighting thing out. Fortunately my graphic design background is giving me some ideas about the actual composition (I guess that's the photography term). Thanks to this goof proof camera, my photos are coming out much better than I imagined. I still have a long way to go, but I am happy to practice in the comfort of the BigOven.

Food photos are just like that famous brand of potato chips. "You can't take just one!". You'll know you are really hooked when you decide to make a dish and plate it up just so you can take pictures of it.  That was about 2 years ago for me.

Promfh, You hit the nail on the head with that potato chip comment.

Thanks Promfh and Guitarmom!

Well there have been lots of potato chips for me in the past few days. So much so that I've gone through the first set of batteries. Who would've thunk it?!!! Me enjoying photography. It certainly boggles my mind.

I've been studying other photos as well in an effort to figure out techniques I'd like to mimic. I think I am going to have to really read up on lighting strategies though. How to adjust for that totally escapes me, but not for too long I hope.

I definitely need reminding of the advice to keep practicing right now. I have been studying lots of photos on this site and I am experiencing a moment of anxiety where I just had shouted, "Oh my God, my pictures suck!!!"

I must go read some photography books now. I had no idea that I, of all the people in the world, would want to discover the mysteries of photography. This is simply disconcerting.

One potato chip at a time!

Don't give up, it takes time and you WILL get better. I still look at others photots for inspiration, look at cookbooks and cooking magazines and try to imitate a cool picture then make it your own, don't forget to take them in good light and use your software to increase the saturation (like i know what that means) alls i know is that it brings out the colors. HAPPY SNAPPING!

FYI, Martha Stewart Living and Real Simple are two magazines with great food photography. They're also both pretty likely to be at your library for check out, or if you don't want to do that, they both have websites where you can browse.

Another tip, spend some time in thrift and dollar stores. You can find all kinds of plates, bowl and mugs for next to nothing. You wouldn't believe the collection of single plates and bowls that I own.

Thanks Angeal and Guitarmom!