JPG

Notes: The kids LOVED this photo shoot - the reason is that over the two day shoot they both got to have banana splits for lunch:-)

Second photo shoot I set the freezer to the max setting to really freeze the ice cream. Used a plastic cookie boat cut from the containers that hold oreo cookies to elevate the three scoops of ice cream higher. Spent the night trying to build up a good thick layer of chocolate syrup - opening the freezer every 30 minutes to pour on another layer. Did not really work well so I used the sprinkles to cover some of the thin spots. First shoot proved that whipped cream just doesn't work well with food photography - add lights and heat and that sucker is gonna melt in 15 seconds flat. So I admit a little fudging by using white cake icing. The icing topping I also froze. The banana I sliced and carefully inserted 10 minutes before the final shoot (a banana frozen for over an hour gets a slight yellow tint). I utilized the natural lighting, two spotlights placed on either side, and the camera flash (covered with tissue paper to minimize shadows). The background is wrapping paper - it makes me think of the classic game Twister. Learning from my first attempt, before bringing out the 3 scoop twister banana split out onto the porch I fired off some test shots to get the focus, white balance, lighting, aperture setting and shutter speed just right. Once the Banana Split was brought out I managed 20 pictures. Three minutes later it was all over when it started to melt.