Ida Skiveness Norwegian photographer who posts her creative food shots on Instagram Country: Norway

1. Ida Skjærvenes: The Art of Norwegian Food Photography
2. Humble Beginnings
3. Creative Inspiration
4. The Technicalities of Food Art
5. Beyond Visual Appeal
6. Unexpected Success

Ida Skjærvenes: The Art of Norwegian Food Photography

Ida Skjærvenes is a Norwegian photographer who uses food as her canvas, creating visually stunning compositions that evoke both hunger and awe. Her vibrant and playful approach to food has earned her a dedicated Instagram following of over 226,000.

Humble Beginnings

Skjærvenes's journey into food photography began in 2012 when she discovered a food art post on social media. Intrigued, she decided to experiment with the idea, drawing whimsical designs into her vegetarian meals. Her first public foray into the genre was a playful image titled "The Battle of the Evil Stapler and the Licorice Animals."

Creative Inspiration

Skjærvenes draws inspiration from a diverse range of sources, including classical art. Her "Art Toast" series, for example, features recreated self-portraits of renowned artists such as Frida Kahlo, using toast as a canvas. "Art is not an easy thing to do, and it takes a lot of time," says Skjærvenes. "I try to stick to the rules of art, especially with colors."

The Technicalities of Food Art

Creating beautiful food art requires a keen eye for composition and a deep understanding of which ingredients work best together. Solid textures are generally easier to work with than liquids, and Skjærvenes has discovered that Greek yogurt performs better than regular yogurt in her compositions. "Cucumbers and carrots can be cut very thinly and give nice color variations," she adds.

Beyond Visual Appeal

While visual appeal is paramount, Skjærvenes also places great importance on taste. "I don't want to waste food," she says, "so I try to think in terms of how [the ingredients] would work together on a plate."

Unexpected Success

Skjærvenes never anticipated her Instagram page to gain such popularity. After receiving a feature from Instagram's official team in January 2013, she gained over 25,000 new followers in a single day, propelling her into the ranks of the most influential food accounts on the platform.