Get an image!
Although we’ve already covered photo editing in the previous section, we’re going back to basics, as an important rule of thumb is that if a photo isn’t a success, filters won’t help, while a well-captured moment will still look great without any post-processing.
As I belong only to the camp of enthusiastic amateurs, I asked Zsófia Pályi, head of the Studio of Young Photographers and winner of several competitions, to help me give some useful advice to wine makers. Zsófi already has experience in this field as she has personally experienced one of the most important moments in the birth of wine having photographed the Szekszárd wine region during the harvest period as the professional leader of the Szekszárd Photographic Camp.
„It’s a great theme to show your vineyards, the rows, the stocks and how they change and show different characters as the seasons go round. It can be spectacular when covered with freshly fallen snow, or when the leaves turn deep red. It may not be a very exciting subject for a winemaker, but it makes wine lovers feel even closer to the producer, because they are there with him in the vineyard, even if just virtually. Look out for unusual light and the fast-vanishing times of day! Scattered light at dawn or the sidelighting at sunset can give a special atmosphere to the landscape and the vines.
Once the wine has been bottled and you go for a still life, it’s worth creating a mood around it with a glass, a snack or two, and a matching accessory. Personally, I’m very partial to a top-down or butterfly perspective, but if you’re thinking in other terms, don’t forget to think in terms of the whole field of view. Even though we always focus on the wine, the choice of a striking background can add a lot to the composition. Overall, avoid clutter and aim for a clean composition. But leave some room for discovery!
I think that Facebook and Instagram are exactly the platforms where you can show a little bit more about the winery beyond the “official” pictures. It’s when the outsider likes to get a glimpse of everyday life: how family life is around the vineyard, the mood among the harvesters, or who’s doing the punching down. Ultimately, these images bring the wine closer to the glass of the observer.”
Once you have the managed to capture the mood at its best, then it’s time to share it on the winery’s social media platforms. We’ll talk about the tricks of these later, but in the meantime keep your eyes open, and don’t forget that what is considered a commonplace by you as a winemaker might in fact be the most exciting theme for outsiders.
László Burai