How to avoid hot steam on lens in food photography ?

<p>In a family gathering dinner, I was shooting boiling pot of stewed beef with soup bubble coming up while my camera was pointing down. As a result, my lens was all fog up. I tried shooting from different angles, it's either unable to get rid of hot steam or didn't showcase the yummy boiling food. <br /> How can I fix this problem in shooting or there's something to do in editing ?<br /> Thanks.</p>

<p>A longer lens and to stand/position yourself farther away is the only solution I know.</p>

Warm up the front element under a hand/hair drier.

<p>You may have to install a small (computer type) mini fan in such way to keep the lens clear of steam.</p>

<p>Les</p>

<p>Telephoto lens ... or maybe a 200mm Micro (Macro) lens if you are shooting full frame or at least a 100mm Macro if you are shooting with a crop sensor. That will get you further away from the hot food.</p>

<p>Shoot from a lower angle so the camera lens is not in the direct path of the steam</p>

<p>This is why pro food photographers don't use real food!<br>

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_photography<br>

You will note in the above some ways to make food steam - OK as long as you don't have to eat it afterwards!</p>

<blockquote>

<p><em>"I was shooting boiling pot of stewed beef with soup bubble coming up while my camera was pointing down."</em></p>

</blockquote>

<p>I imagine the pot will need to be on the heating element in order to maintain full boil. <br>

<br>

To shoot in such a situation, I'd probably use a fan to disperse the steam and use a mirror angled at 45°. Even better if the pot can be placed on a single-element electric stove to make framing and shooting easier. </p>

<p>Combination of longer length lens so you are farther away from the steam and a light breeze to waft most of the steam away from the food...could be a small fan, even a small sheet of cardboard waved nearby.</p>

<p>Yes, I need to showcase the soup is boiling with more bubbles on the surface, faked food may not work. Properly, I need to practice more to control the steam, not too much or not too less.<br>

Anyway, thanks for all suggestions. </p>

 

<p>You could also use a PC lens (Perspective Control) with tilt set to keep the surface of the entire pot in focus while the camera is off to one side.</p>

<p>As others have mentioned, simply backing off out of the way of the steam is a good idea. Another important point is to use top or backlighting to highlight the steam - on-camera or frontal lighting is guaranteed to make food look revolting. I don't know where you live - here in the UK takeaway food shops (fish and chips, kebabs, etc.) often have pix of their wares taken with this type of lighting - this reflects off and heavily emphasises any grease.</p>

<p>I'm rather late to the thread, but another approach is to use a pyrex pot instead of metal and shoot through the sides.</p>