NYTimes Article - People Who Photograph Food

Epicurean Exploits - Food and Recipes
#1

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/07/dining/07camera.html?pagewanted=2&hpw" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Thought this was funny. BTW, I have never done this…ever. [wink.gif]

#2

I do it a lot. It’s nice to know I’m not alone.

#3

I do it all the time, unapologetically.

#4

I’ve been doing it for a while, too.
My wife always thought I was nuts. She thought I was the only one, and said it embarrassed her.
So one night, we’re dining at Fish, in Paris, and the couple at the next table get served their food.
Out comes the guy’s camera, and a nice one, too, and he starts snapping pictures from every angle. He even takes the wine bottle label, just like I always did. It turns out he was a pro, and he had a website - we visited it later and found that his work was very well regarded, and was published.
My wife never bothered me about it again, after that.

#5

+1

I love doing it.

#6

I tend to do it when either out for a special meal or when cooking something special. Great way to remember great experiences.

#7

I do it whenever I have meal worth bragging about!

#8

“food equals love” [welldone.gif]

#9

“food equals love”

You photograph that, too???

-Al

#10

I try!

#11

My wife sent me this email yesterday:

From Grant Achatz (Alinea)

Documenting …well me. When photo and videography becomes a bit much.

I appreciate that people are so into food, and excited about eating at Alinea, to the point where it drives them to record it. Obviously these “foodies” are a large segment of our cliental, and the very people that help propel the awareness of food and dining. I certainly admit that the popularity of web based reviews and information has helped Alinea achieve a certain level of popularity, and ultimately some level of success has to be attributed to this. In fact, since the beginning we have embraced the web, often contributing to food blogs with things like the egullet project before the restaurant was even open. With the proliferation of food blogs and the almost competitive nature of the posters to delve further into detail with their reporting, coupled with the ease of capturing images and video with our phones, we have seen a very high rise in photo and videography in the restaurant.

Documenting the food is one thing. I understand taking a photo in the kitchen with the chef after the meal to frame and hang in your office, perhaps of a particular course that you want to remember because it was so amazing, so you can remember the presentation, or even the manipulation of an ingredient in way you have never seen before. Taking it to the next level many people take pictures of every course and some even take photos of the wines as well. I don’t necessarily mind this, but I wonder why people so passionate about food would sacrifice the integrity of the courses, instead prioritizing the documentation. Courses get cold, or melt while the images are taken, and in extreme cases the intended effect of the dish is completely lost. A month ago a front of the house team member served the Hot Potato –Cold Potato to a blogger that was taking photos with a camera resting on a tripod. The server did their normal spiel, telling the guest the dish was intended to be consumed right away so the sensation of temperature contrast could be experienced. Instead they took a few minutes to move the course around on the table to find the right light, snapped several images, and then undoubtedly enjoyed….Warm Potato –Warm Potato. Not to mention the time that is added to the experience. Three extra minutes to take a photo is not much, but if you are eating 30 courses, you just added an hour and a half to your dinner.

And what about the people in the restaurant that are there to –- eat? Or enjoy an evening out with a significant other, or even having a business dinner? Often we have guest request to move tables in the restaurant because they feel the sound of the shutter, the light produced by the auto focus assist, or the person’s actions are ruining their own experience.

But recently the trend has been to video myself or the front of the house team. This is where I feel the documentation crosses the line. Now that I spend a good amount of time in the dining room with the table-plating concept we are doing guests will often stick the camera in my face as I walk up to the table. I never say no to guests when they ask to take a photo with me, but I always suggest we do it in the kitchen after their meal is finished. This is happening with the servers as well. Voice recorders are being held in front of them while they describe a course or a wine, or video is shot. It is uncomfortable… and frankly rude to do so without asking. This activity seems strange to me, I can’t imagine how celebrities feel. No wonder they punch the paparazzi out when they get the chance.

#12

Anything can be taken to an extreme. I leave my camera next to my chair. When the food comes, if I want a photo, I pick up the camera snap one or two, then put down the camera and eat. I’m sure it takes less time than the time to bring the food out from the kitchen.

#13

Not all food shots are created equal. My blog would be so much better if Padma helped…

#14

I think that better illustrates “food equals lust”! [welldone.gif]