Photo&Food: Giorgio Cravero (part IV)

2017-06-16 We round off our interview with noted photographer Giorgio Cravero with some more technical questions: how does he use light, how does he prepare his sets, what role do they play in creating an image, and what is his favourite type of shot.
How do you use light, Giorgio?
“The word “photography” actually means writing with light, and light is the most important factor of all. Striving for the very best means having full control over the light, the photographer’s main tool in telling a different story every time (apart from the subjects and set, of course). I always use light in different ways. Every time we finish a job, I always make sure we take down the set so I’m forced to start all over again. With shots that need a particular setting, getting the colour or the colour contrast just right is also very important. Choosing the dominant colour for an image helps take the audience to a particular world… Colours are narrative tools, and they should never be used at random. Nothing should be left to chance in photography, not even a crumb: everything must be chosen carefully. I might provide the initial creative input, but I always discuss ideas with my whole team.”
How important is the set when you’re shooting products or food?
“It depends on the job. If it’s a documentary-style shoot, it’s not really relevant at all. But other times it’s absolutely essential. An art director friend of mine says: What’s the story? What’s happening? Who are the protagonists? If we follow the 5 “W’s” of journalism, everything around the subject becomes important.”
What’s your favourite type of shot?
“If I can, I like to stay as low as possible because I love observing things from an unusual viewpoint, the viewpoint of the dish itself. I don’t like shooting food from above, because it’s an outlook we never have. I think of food like I think of architecture: so many parts make up the whole, like volume, texture… Photographing food from above makes it difficult to work with the light, because it l’makes it look… flat. It gives you much less room for bringing out the depth.”
Food photography tells us stories. What is your favourite type of story?
“The story which reflects food photography the closest is all about conviviality and the pleasure of sharing a meal. Food is linked to our relationships with other people. I might hang out in fancy restaurants, but dinner at home with friends is unbeatable. The food might not be so good, but it’s all about emotions. Loves, fights and deals have always developed around a table. It’s a place where the history of families and entire nations has been written. Humanity has turned a primary need, eating in order to survive, into a social activity which is common to all peoples. After all, every country and every occasion has its own special foods….”

Mariagrazia Villa

Photography: Giorgio Cravero