Foodie with a Camera

A few weeks ago, when my sister visited from out of town, we went out for brunch at Le Chatelaine. When the waiter brought our food, my husband sat patiently, warning my sister not to touch her plate until I was finished taking pictures.

Yesterday, my friend Sharon shared a story from the New York Times on this growing trend of food photography. And food blogging. And flickr groups based on food photography. The article mentions several groups I have heard of, and I count seven food photography groups of which I am a member, if you count farmer’s markets among them (I do). I've been following Jen at SimplyBreakfast for years now. I swap photos of food with friends on Facebook; it’s like sharing a virtual meal, bonding over a common appreciation of flavor. I photograph food because I really, really like it.

The article suggests that this trend can be taken to unhealthy heights, not unlike compulsive calorie-counting. While I admit I get a little pang of regret every time I find myself in front of a beautiful plate of food and cannot (mostly for social reasons) take a picture, I like to think that most food photographers and bloggers are practicing aesthetic skills and celebrating our most primal and rewarding sensory experience; flavors.

As Javier Garcia notes in the NYT article, “the French philosopher and gourmand Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin wrote, “Tell me what you eat, and I will tell you what you are.”

What I like about food photography is that you have a visual reminder of a meal enjoyed with friends and family. Looking at it conjures not only the flavors and textures, but also the conversation and laughter shared in the moment. My favorite thing about shooting food? It doesn’t squirm or complain.

The Food Issue

Well, my friends, I've been shooting a lot of food this week. You'd think I wouldn't be hungry anymore, right? Wrong. Here are some of the contenders for my final project.*

*Pie curtesy of my talented mother-in-law.

More Food

Today is my sister Marie's birthday. An adventurer with an open mind and an open heart, she is also my friend. Marie, I made you a brownie. Happy birthday!

I'm also still getting ready for my final photography project. I had intended to shoot a lot of food over the weekend, starting with the brownies. I tried a "guilt-free" recipe, and when they emerged from the oven, I decided that the words guilt-free and brownies just don't belong in the same sentence. Rather than brownies, I made chocolate crackers. A second (very guilty) batch proved much more sanguine.

In any case, you can see my weekend diet was interesting.

Food Photography

I'm getting ready for my pre-final project in my photography class, which is a promotion piece for my portfolio. This could be either a postcard (which I love, because you can stick it on your refrigerator with a magnet) or a website slideshow (which is quite easy in the newest PhotoShop). I've been looking at my photos and trying to determine which could best exemplify my "style." But I'm also still working on getting the best shots possible for my final project, which is five big prints. My focus has been food, and while I eat every day, not everything I eat makes a beautiful image.

So I'm looking for some ideas again. What do you consider the beautiful foods? When you look at food magazines, what catches your eye? Is it the food itself, or the way it is styled? While I tend to prefer the more natural look (I don't plan on using motor oil for syrup), I'm open to ideas.

Food Photography

While it's still a few weeks away, I'm preparing for my final photography class project. I have to create a portfolio that reflects what would become my discipline ... and when I grow up, I want to be a food photographer. While I don't yet have the skills of this guy, or this gal, you can understand why they are both my inspiration, and sought-after by the big food publications.

I went to one of my favorite places (the North Market) yesterday to gather my subjects. I love that you can eat them after you've shot them. As I prepare, I'd love your input on the images that best display food. What makes you hungry? What image would you use in a cook book or magazine article? What's missing?

Your input throughout this class has been extremely helpful in my progress. Feel free to offer me your input here or on my photostream here. And thank you!

Egg on my face

Hi friends, I've been a bad blogger lately; I've had, um, other eggs to fry. As you can see, the photo project for this week is "egg". I've photographed, and eaten, more eggs today than I ever thought possible. Even learned my cat loves them. So tell me, which picture do you think works best compositionally, chromatically, texturally ... and captures the spirit of "egg"?

The Beautiful Foods

I'm crazy about the photos by this guy, and felt inspired to take a few foody photos of my own. Look what you can find when you go to market looking for beautiful foods.