Food Photographer | Light and Shadow with Brussels Sprouts

Food Photographer

As a food photographer, I love playing with light and shadow while looking closely at the details of an interesting subject. For example, Brussels sprouts. I feel like Brussels sprouts are a very polarizing vegetable–you either love them or you hate them, right? There’s really no in-between. I had never tasted Brussels sprouts until a few years ago. My mom didn’t like Brussels sprout, and my dad isn’t known to be adventurous with new vegetables. Therefore, Brussels sprouts just weren’t a dish we ate as I was growing up. Once grown, I assumed they were probably gross and never had the inclination to try them. However, a couple years ago I tasted Brussels sprouts at a potluck, and I loved them! Brussels sprouts definitely have a unique and somewhat bitter taste, but when roasted with just the right seasonings, they’re delicious.

Light and Shadow

Brussels sprouts also have such an interesting shape, they remind me a little bit of the golden spiral that can be found throughout nature. That’s why I thought they would make a fascinating subject to photograph and experiment with the way light touches them. In the left image above, I turned the bowl of Brussels sprouts away from the bright window light. This positioning lit the Brussels sprouts from the back and right side. I really like the way the light wraps around the curve of the bowl in the left image above. Despite being a direct light source, positioning it behind the bowl of Brussels sprouts gives it a certain element of softness that makes this image feel calm and peaceful, yet interesting.

After shooting with the light behind the bowl of Brussels sprouts, I turned the bowl and faced it directly towards the light. I like the way the harsh light illuminates the minute details of the veins on the Brussels sprouts, though it creates a starkness in the right photo in contrast to the softness in the previous photo.

Food Photographer | Light and Shadow with Brussels Sprouts | Hannah Israelsen Photography