Food Photography · jarrod erbe ·

The Egg with Jarrod Erbe

The Concept

This image was built around the idea of capturing a clean, controlled reflection of a cracked egg and its yolk on a reflective surface. The goal was to create symmetry and visual weight, using the reflection to mirror the yolk's shape and color while maintaining separation from the background.

The Setup

The shot was taken with a Canon R6 and EF 100mm f/2.8 macro lens, positioned low to the surface to maximize the reflection's impact. The camera was mounted on a Platypod eXtreme paired with a Platyball Traveler, allowing surface-level positioning with flexible framing control.

The egg was positioned on a high gloss, black surface which allowed the yolk to produce a clean reflection without introducing texture or distraction. Camera position was adjusted so the reflection remained fully visible but not distorted.

Lighting Approach

Lighting was kept intentionally simple. A single LED source was positioned above and slightly to camera-right. The goal was to highlight the subject's textures without introducing background distractions. The light was mounted using a Platypod Elbow on a C-stand, allowing for very fine adjustments.ย 

Editing

The final RAW image was edited in Adobe Lightroom and ON1 Effects 2026 to further highlight the subject and drop the background to pure black.

Why Platypod

Particularly when working on a tabletop in a small studio area, a traditional tripod can make it difficult to get the camera low enough without introducing awkward working angles and consuming valuable space. The Platypod Extreme provided a solid, compact base, while the Platyball Traveler allowed for precise framing adjustments. The Elbow added flexibility on the lighting side, enabling exact placement without overbuilding the setup.
Back to Our Educational Hub