Chicagoist: Chicagoist Food Pr0n: Nacional 27

Chuck Sudo

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 12:05:24 -0600

I look at those Mundial shots and wonder how much better they could have been if I had the new camera in tow back then.

L. Stolpman

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 11:40:31 -0600

Dude - that looks awesome, Chuck. I'm lovin' Pilsen lately.

Chuck Sudo

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 11:31:53 -0600

See for yourself, LStolp.

L. Stolpman

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 11:24:26 -0600

Grandma - I understand. Something like that can just set your teeth on edge for a place. Mundial Cafe - I just looked it up and I've been eating just across Ashland on 18th at Los Komales! This is really close. I'll go try it. What do you like to order there?

grandma

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 11:01:06 -0600

Although everything had a good taste, the atmosphere was nice, and I liked the drink menu, I won't be going back. For food alone, I suggest Mundial Cafe in Pilsen.

L. Stolpman

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 10:51:12 -0600

Amy - We dine tonight! The Meteorologist - We should go get Korean and snap pictures. Grandma - Oy! Didn't go over well, huh? Would you go again to try something else? lshames - It really depends on what kind of camera you're using and I'm a novice, having only just bought my first SLR maybe 2 weeks ago. For a standard point and shoot, you'll want plenty of light because if you use your flash, it will white out the food. Put the camera in "macro" mode if you want to take a close up shot (I normally do). Get right up close to the food and snap away. With an SLR, I use a 55 mm lens and keep my f stop at a low number - meaning a small depth of field - all of which means that only a small amount is in focus and the rest is blurry. It's great for tight shots but a larger f stop is nice if you want to make sure the entire dish is in focus. You can use a mounted flash and bounce the light off of a ceiling instead of directly on the food. And if you take the pictures in RAW format, you can increase the exposure and change the camera settings right on your computer which helps A TON. I knew none of this until my buddy, Chris Lynch, AKA "LynchSeattle", filled me in on it.

lshames

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 10:35:32 -0600

Wow, these photos are amazing! I believe you posted it before, but do you mind going over your techniques and tips. My photos never -- ever! -- look like this.

grandma

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 10:35:24 -0600

Not to be a debbie downer, but the skirt steak there made me sick.

The Meteorologist

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 10:11:40 -0600

I need to go out to eat with you. My God.

Amy Mikel

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 09:44:56 -0600

oh for the love of - my stomach is moaning.