“My portfolio reflects the fluid integration of light, shadow, color and depth – with each frame bringing to life a new and unique perspective to the output.
However, my photography is a blend of my interest in seasonal fresh ingredients, as well as my interest in people, interiors, etc. I have captured a diverse body of work and my profile includes many appetising menus, shooting for star hotels, as well pictures of gorgeous models at exotic loca-tions. This is possible because I believe that my concepts are both unconventional and striking, bringing to light a new element to each composition”, emphasised the Bengaluru based professional photographer, Manoj Masand.
What Manoj loves about food and macro photography is that it allows people to see an entire different world that is filled with an abundance of detail usually missed by the naked eye. Nonetheless, he believes the challenge in food photography is to present the food as simple, clean and natural as possible and with minimum props, often using effects such as selective focus, tilted plates, and extreme close-ups. This complements the trends in professional cooking to make the food more visually interesting. For instance, the height of dishes tends to increase and their elements are often layered which lends itself to a more narrow-angled shot.
His love for food is quite evident. He says, “I am a foodie myself, and since food is deeply intertwined with our emotions, especially with nostalgia, capturing it becomes interesting. With images that are ripe and vibrant, rich in colour and texture, it makes the viewer wonder what the dishes would taste like.”
In tandem with his penchant for technology, he owns a 50 mega pixel digital back on a Hasselblad H4D camera. Manoj’s clientèle, to name a few are predominantly related to fashion, people, hospitality, real estate and jewellery.
Mathew Thottungal
His favourite image
This particular shot is photographed and styled by me as the agency’s representative wanted to print this on gold paper for the conceptualised menu of a restaurant called ‘Ginseng at Royal Orchid’, in Bangalore. She trusted me with the look and feel. What I really liked about the frame is the simplicity of the shot, the soft light, and importantly, the moulding of the light on the prawn, which adds to the picturisation of the image.
Deliciously Yours |
 Bon Apetite |
With the whites and grays so subtle, the colour of the prawn, the dimension, etc is greatly accentuated. The sauce in the background is deliberately kept out-of-focus to complement the frame. But the grey was going to become gold as the menu was supposed to be printed on Gold paper. The challenge here was to keep the background in tones which would look as if the shots were done on a gold sheet. In fact, as it was a single piece of prawn, I had to go close and bring out the texture of the prawn giving it an appetising feel. Moreover, it was not purely a food shot as the brief was to make it look like a piece of art.
 Pretty and Delicious |
 Succulent Prawns |
 I ‘sea’ food |
 For the sweet tooth |
 The light eater |
 Whipping it up! |
 Frame and Prawn |