Keeping Apples and Pears Camera-Ready

In the wild world of food photography, immortalising the crunch and juiciness of apples and pears can feel like trying to catch a greased pig at a county fair. The twist? These little devils love to turn brown faster than a sunbathing vampire. Determined to find a cure for this photographic fruit affliction, I embarked on an experiment, testing outlandish methods to keep apples and pears looking fresh throughout a photo shoot.

The Procedure:

1. I scoured the markets for the crispest apples and the most curvaceous pears.

2. I gathered the fruits and divided them into groups, each destined for a different treatment.

3. Our treatment contenders included:

   • Glucose

   • Lemon juice

   • Hairspray

   • Lemon juice and glucose together

   • Vinegar

   • Control group - no treatment

Each slice of fruit got its special treatment, while the control group kept it real.

4. I took high-resolution photos at six-time intervals:

• Beginning

• 15 minutes

• 30 minutes

• 1 hour

• 90 minutes

• 2 hours

5. The only thing that should have stayed consistent? The light. Did it? No. My mistake. I relied on daylight which changed a bit and messed up with the colour balance.

Key Observations

Hair Spray: Unconventional and Ineffective

I tested hair spray as a treatment, but it proved ineffective and made me uncomfortable and disrespectful using it. Fortunately, the results did not warrant a repeat experiment.

Pears vs. Apples: A Freshness Battle

A noteworthy discovery was that pears exhibited a longer-lasting fresh appearance than apples, regardless of the treatment.

Untreated Fruits: A Quick Decline

The untreated fruits showed signs of drying and losing their freshness right from the beginning. This observation emphasized the need for some form of preservation in a photo shoot.

Vinegar: A Little Too Moist

While vinegar had some preserving effects, it seemed to impart an excess of moisture to the fruits, potentially altering their texture and visual appeal.

Lemon Juice: The Winner

Among the treatments, lemon juice emerged as the most effective in preserving the fresh look of both apples and pears. Its natural acidity appeared to slow down oxidation and maintain the fruits' vibrant appearance.

Conclusion

In the pursuit of capturing the perfect fruit photograph, I ventured into an experiment to preserve the fresh look of apples and pears over an extended photo shoot. While daylight fluctuations and unconventional treatments presented their challenges, the results shed light on effective preservation methods.

For those looking to maintain the freshness of these fruits during extended photo sessions, lemon juice proved to be the best solution. It not only effectively delayed oxidation but also enhanced the overall visual appeal. Additionally, the experiment highlighted the advantage of using pears over apples for longer-lasting freshness.

Take a look at the tables below to see the results and make your own choice of the winner. Do you have a different winner than the lemon? Leave a comment!