While I usually shoot at wider focal lengths (like 24mm or 35mm), there were space constraints that prevented this from happening. This is where a zoom lens comes in handy. With my FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM lens, I could easily track the shot by simply zooming in.

Alternatively, you could carry several prime lenses and use the one you need for each shot - but I find that a zoom lens saves me time, while giving me more creative freedom. It also means having less gear to carry around, which is always a nice bonus.

The trick to nailing a shot like this is to move at the same angle and focal plane as the object. In this case, as the onion was being rolled in a straight line, I tracked it in the same straight path it took - and the end result was a smooth shot.

Scene 2: Creating a stylistic transition (0:33)

The goal of this shot was to capture the transition ideally with my camera - which meant smoothly tracking the movement of the food being prepared, before dipping the shot below the counter. This also meant that the next shot would have to be a top-to-bottom reveal, so the transition would feel natural to viewers. In this case, it was fortunate that there were extra trays on the counter, which I used to create the "reveal".

This particular counter was fairly long, which made it necessary to zoom in after the shot had dipped below the counter. While it would have been doable with two prime lenses and a lens swop halfway, the FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM zoom lens allowed me to film the shot smoothly and easily.

Scene 3: Showcasing the surroundings with a wide shot (0:35)

What I love about this shot is that it shows more of the surroundings, giving viewers a better look and feel of this kitchen. When shooting cooking videos, it's easy to get carried away with close - up shots of everything - after all, ingredients and food always look delicious and fantastic up close. However, too many close - ups can give viewers a feeling of being "boxed in".

For this shot, I've used a pullback movement (done manually with my hands) and have deliberately used the objects in the foreground - the salt pot and steel beam - to enhance the sense of movement and wide space.

What about shakiness? Even with all that movement, the combination of the FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM lens and the Alpha 7C's SteadyShot feature kept everything nice and clear.

Scene 4: Blending and contrasting colours (0:35)

Here's a little "behind-the-scenes" secret that I'll share with you - there's more to this shot than meets the eye! If you look closely, you'll see that the colours of the spices not only complement the colours of the lights and chef's apron - they also contrast each other strikingly well.

This didn't happen by chance. We made a deliberate decision to choose spices that would create this effect. You may also have noticed how nicely the white light hits the chef's hands from the left, while a yellow light comes in front the top, creating a dynamic scene that's a showcase of contrasting colours - once again, this was a deliberate decision and set up.

The FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM lens creates very smooth bokeh at all focal ends - and at 70mm, you'll also get a shallow depth of field that can create a very interesting look and feel.

Scene 5: The climatic zoom (0:44)

This is probably my favourite shot in this entire video. This is the point of the video where the music climaxes, so for extra effect, I zoomed in the entire time to add more zest to an already exciting moment.

For this shot, using a constant aperture zoom lens like the FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM enables you to play around with your zoom, without the usual changes in exposure that you'd expect from other lenses. This translates into a more fluid and believable shot, all the way through.

Scene 6: Salt on the lens (0:52)

This scene was shot at an angle that was different from what viewers have become used to (by this point in the video), giving them a nice "break" in expectations and perhaps surprising them a little. This shot was made possible with the Sony Alpha 7C's flip screen, which made it easy to set up the shot and monitor it, even in the dark.

When setting up a potentially "messy" shot like this, be sure to place a glass or plastic cover over your lens to avoid accidentally damaging it. And if you're wondering why the transparent cover that I placed over the lens isn't noticeable by viewers, it's all thanks to the FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM's shallow depth of field when the aperture is set to F2.8.

Scene 7: Flaming chicken (0:53)

In this shot, I had some fun with fire! At first, there weren't enough flames coming out of the grill, so we "cheated" by mixing some oil and water, then putting the mixture on the chicken just before flipping it - causing it to flame dramatically and on cue!

Also, see how there's a blue light on the left side of the background, and a yellow light on the right side? Those were intentionally added to create more colour and contrast in the scene - making it even more dramatic and eye-catching.

Shooting at 24mm F2.8 on the FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM lens allowed me to get closer to the subject, before pulling away - creating dynamic movement in the shot. This is another advantage that the FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM zoom lens has over fixed 35mm or 50mm prime lenses.

Scene 8: Flipping out! (0:56)

Tracking a fast-moving object like a rotti flying through the air, can be very challenging - but it doesn't have to be. With good communication between you and the chef - and the patience to try the shot multiple times - you can get the perfect shot.Just ask the chef to toss the food up continuously, and at a constant rhythm, so it's easier for you to time your shot.

This was one of the few scenes I shot from the opposite direction. The background was a little dull, so I moved a yellow light to the back wall to "spice up" the background with some colour. When shooting a fast-moving shot like this, excellent autofocus speed is a must - and the FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM lens performed perfectly here!

Capturing the culinary arts, at its finest

I'm absolutely fascinated with cooking and want my videos to highlight the fun and energy that goes into the culinary arts. As you've seen from the examples above, sometimes this means "breaking the rules of the recipe" to create an eye-catching video. And if that's what's needed to make the dish preparation look fantastic, I say, "go for it"!

At the end of the day, my hope is for someone to be inspired by my videos and decide to pick up cooking - or even better, shoot a video of themselves whipping up a tasty dish!