Main Street News

In honor of Photographer Appreciation Month in October, we’re highlighting some of our local photographers. Get to know more about Christopher Hodson of @cookedinconnecticut below. 

Your name and type of camera you use / prefer?

Christopher Hodson. I use canon products because they are what I know and prefer. I currently use a Rebel T7i with a pretty standard 50mm Panasonic lens. The camera has an NFC chip allowing my to wirelessly upload photos to my cell phone instantly so I can get them to social media on the fly when I need to. Over the past few years, I’ve been taking photos side by side with my iPhone 14Pro Max and in certain conditions I can barely tell which photo came from which. I’m excited to finally upgrade to the 17Pro max… it might be the end of my hardbody camera choice…which I’m not sure how I feel about.

What type of photography do you most often do or prefer (subject matter)?

I really prefer to concentrate on photographing food in its final presentation, or position on the plate, as it would be presented to the person about to eat it. Plating food is a form of art and expression by the person doing so and I really hope to showcase that and capture it in way that is both enticing and intriguing for the viewer. This has also led me down the path of ‘food styling’ and collaborating with chefs to get the best possible images of their dish.

How did you get into photography?

Completely by accident. I decided to start an food/blog Instagram page of food at ‘higher end’ fine dining style restaurants that at the time not many people in CT seemed to be doing. I wanted to showcase chefs that I felt weren’t getting enough representation. I bought a camera, with a small 24mm pancake lens to try and still remain inconspicuous while trying not to ruin other peoples dining experience and still stay under the radar.

What’s your most favorite photo you’ve ever taken and why?

It’s undoubtedly the picture I took of a signature dish by Jean-Georges Vongerichten at the one of his restaurants in Pound Ridge, NY, The Inn at Pound Ridge. It was already a stunning dish to begin with and I had selected the table we sat at because it was right next to a window on an overcast day, so the light was absolutely perfect. I only needed to take a couple photos to get it right, and in that moment, I finally felt that I had a decent understanding of how light interacts with food. The photo did subsequently well and his media company asked me if they could have/use the photo for their media. It was a huge sense of pride and became the catalyst for me wanting to do better and get better.

 What inspires you and your photography?

I sift though A LOT of social media pages and culinary magazines that seem to focus of high detail photography of food. I look to these things for inspiration in my own photos and try to learn from them and even recreate some of them, almost as a practice session to better help my skills evolve. I really love beautiful flatware, plate-ware and, table surfaces that are often muted in color as to help accentuate the food in the picture. I am a BIG FAN of Plate Magazine and Arte Culinaire Magazine.

What is your background – did you study photography or are you self-taught?

I have a degree in English literature with a minor and concentration in education administration. I got sucked into the restaurant industry while in college and never left. It was what led me into the world of fine dining, and subsequently photographing food in it. I have often thought of taking a photography class but never committed to it. I should.

How has technology impacted your artistry and photos? 

That’s a great question! I think technology has made it quicker in some aspects, but more frustrating because I sometimes feel that if I spend more money on gear, my photos will be better. I’ve luckily learned that is not true. It is more about understanding lighting and angles and how to properly use your camera equipment to get the most out if it. I used to be terrified of taking photos with fake light, but I recently invested in a lighting system that mimics daylight, and with the use of a soft box and some practice, I’ve been able to fool some people into thinking that the photo was taken during the daytime. It was a major        hurdle and step for me to overcome.

Where do you photograph? What are your most common locations? Do you have a favorite place to photograph either as a subject matter or as a background?

It depends on the specifics of the location and mainly the light source. If it’s daytime, I pray it’s not sunny out because direct sunlight ruins food photos in my opinion. If it’s overcast and cloudy, I’m very excited and try to position my subject matter near a window with a light angle of 45-60 degrees. In terms of background, I like to keep it simple, minimalistic, and minimal colors, so that I don’t take away from the food in the shot.

How do you market yourself – do you have a website or social media that you use to promote your photography?

I work in the restaurant industry, so I make a lot of connections that way. I also love to dine out too, which helps me to make connections with people. I am not really shy about using my camera anymore, and it usually makes for a great conversations starter. I have a website that I need to spend more time on building, cookedinconnecticut.com, but I primarily use my social media handle and account on Instagram, @cookedinconnecticut to showcase my stuff and connect with people that way.

 How do people find you and your photos – do you sell your photos or are you more “to hire” / commission-based?

You can find them primarily on my Instagram account or my website. I do sell them when it requires me to do so, but I often give them away as long as I’m being given proper credit for the photo. I am definitely for hire, but have sort of pigeon-holed myself into a niche focusing on fine dining style plating and restaurants. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE photographing sandwiches and pizza, and would definitely love to do more of it.

Have you (your photos) won any awards?

Not yet.

To learn more about Christopher Hodson and his work, visit his website here and keep up with him on Instagram @cookedinconnecticut.