Ian L. Sitren

Professional Photographer

[Ian L. Sitren @SecondFocus]

Meet Roxanne

Yesterday was World Tapas Day.

I was looking forward to photographing Roxanne with a table full of Spanish tapas. At least that was the plan.

Unfortunately, as anyone who spends much time working with AI knows, prompts occasionally get interpreted a little differently than intended.

Apparently Roxanne thought I had asked for topless instead of tapas.

By the time she arrived at the studio, the misunderstanding had become fairly obvious.

I explained that World Topless Day isn't until August, but by then everyone agreed there wasn't much point in changing anything.

Besides, it fit my Pornochic photography a lot better than a plate of olives and Manchego cheese.

The tapas can wait for another day.

In the meantime, I'd like you to meet Roxanne. She is one of Emily's ever growing circle of AI friends and muses, and I suspect you'll be seeing quite a bit more of her in the months ahead.

As always, you'll find more photography, my blog, and my growing Motion page at https://t.co/SCX5zrvlMS

#Roxanne #EmilyAndFriends #AIArt #AIPhotography #PromptEngineering #WorldTapasDay #Pornochic #StudioPhotography #Photography #SecondFocus

[Ian L. Sitren @SecondFocus]

A Kodachrome Moment with Tonisha Mills

One of the things I enjoy most about collecting photographs is finding original pieces that represent a particular moment in the history of photography. This Kodachrome transparency of model Tonisha Mills is one of those photographs.

Unlike many vintage photographs that circulate today as digital scans or magazine reproductions, this is the original 35mm color transparency. It still carries its Kodak processing marks along with the handwritten filing numbers that were added when it became part of a photographer's or studio's working archive.

Tonisha Mills was one of the best known models to appear in men's magazines during the 1990s, a period when this style of photography was changing. As magazines became more competitive, photographers gradually moved beyond the traditional pin up style that had dominated earlier decades.

That's what first caught my attention about this slide.

When I first looked at it, I immediately thought about where it fit in that progression. By the 1990s, photographs revealing what lay between a model's legs were becoming increasingly common, but they were still usually presented with some restraint. Looking back now, this transparency represents an interesting point in the evolution of men's magazine photography before completely explicit images became commonplace.

The Kodachrome film adds another layer of interest. By the time this photograph was made, digital photography was beginning to appear on the horizon, but professional photographers were still relying heavily on color transparencies for publication and reproduction. Looking at this original slide on a light table is much the same experience the photographer, editor, or magazine art director would have had when deciding whether it was the image they wanted.

That connection to the photographic process is one of the reasons I enjoy collecting original transparencies. They are more than just pictures. They are the original photographs that passed through the hands of the people who created and published them.

If you enjoy discovering unusual pieces of photographic history, take a look through my From My Collections gallery. While you're there, you'll also find my editorial, aviation, food, fashion, and fine art photography, my growing Motionpage, and regularly updated Blog. Everything is available at https://t.co/SCX5zrvlMS

#TonishaMills #Kodachrome #FilmPhotography #VintagePhotography #PhotographyHistory #NudePhotography #EroticPhotography #MensMagazines #35mm #FromMyCollections #SecondFocus

[Ian L. Sitren @SecondFocus]

The Photograph That Forgot Its Name

I bought this 35mm color slide simply because it interested me.

It came mounted in an ordinary cardboard slide carrier with absolutely no identifying information. There is no photographer's name, no date, no studio stamp, no model identification, and not even a handwritten note to suggest where it came from.

What remains is the photograph itself.

The image shows an unidentified blonde model seated on what appears to be a Louis XV-style stool in a carefully lit studio. The hairstyle, lighting, and the fact that it is a color transparency all suggest it was probably photographed sometime during the 1950s or early 1960s, although without any documentation that can only be an educated guess.

One of the things that attracted me is that it represents a period when glamour photography was changing. Earlier artistic nudes were often presented in black and white, while color transparency film was becoming practical enough for professional photographers and serious amateurs willing to invest in it. Every exposure had to count. There was no instant review, no deleting mistakes, and no Photoshop waiting at the end of the process.

We'll probably never know whether this was made by a commercial glamour photographer, a camera club member, or simply someone who enjoyed creating carefully crafted studio photographs.

Photography has produced millions, perhaps even billions, of images over the years, but surprisingly few remain connected to the people who created them. Slides become separated from their boxes, handwritten notes disappear, studios close, and estates are dispersed. Eventually an image survives while everything that once explained it is gone.

This transparency is one of those survivors.

If you enjoy discovering unusual pieces of photographic history, take a look through my From My Collections gallery. While you're there, you'll also find my editorial, aviation, food, fashion, and fine art photography, my growing Motion page, and regularly updated Blog. Everything is available at https://t.co/SCX5zrvlMS

#Photography #VintagePhotography #FilmPhotography #ColorSlide #35mm #GlamourPhotography #PhotographyCollection #PhotoHistory #VintageCollectibles #FromMyCollections #SecondFocus

[Ian L. Sitren @SecondFocus]

Yesterday was National Bourbon Day.

I had every intention of posting this last night. However I was… celebrating.

Fortunately, someone remembered to keep the camera rolling.

The scene looked something like this. A long chrome-and-glass bar, glasses of bourbon lined up from one end to the other, and what appeared to be an endless row of identical redheads in little black dresses. They all seemed perfectly content to sit there, sip their bourbon, and look directly at the camera.

I have no explanation for why they all looked exactly alike.
It may have been the bourbon.

The video is only about twelve seconds long, but I thought it deserved a little extra time, so I looped it a few times. If you’re going to celebrate National Bourbon Day, you might as well do it properly.

Emily and her ever-growing circle of AI Muses have once again demonstrated that reality is optional.

If you’d like to see more of my photography, explore my Motion page, and read the stories behind many of these projects, you’ll find it all at https://t.co/SCX5zrvlMS

#NationalBourbonDay #Bourbon #Whiskey #BourbonBar #CocktailBar #Nightlife #AIArt #AIVideo #Cinematic #Motion #Redheads #LuxuryBar #Satire #Humor #SecondFocus #IanLSitren

[Ian L. Sitren @SecondFocus]

Today is National Big Boy Day.

Long before fast food chains covered every freeway exit, Bob's Big Boy helped define what the American family restaurant could be. When Bob Wian introduced the original double-decker Big Boy hamburger in Glendale, California, in 1937, it became one of the first signature burgers that people would travel specifically to eat. The combination of car culture, diners, drive-ins, and roadside architecture made Big Boy an icon of postwar America.

The smiling Big Boy statue carrying his oversized hamburger became just as recognizable as the restaurant itself. Today, original fiberglass statues have become highly sought-after collectibles, with surviving examples often selling for thousands of dollars. They represent much more than a restaurant chain. They remind people of family dinners, road trips, classic cars, and an era when the neighborhood diner was often the center of the community.

I photographed this statue in the window of an antique store in Julian, California. Between the reflections in the glass and the familiar smile, it seemed to capture exactly what nostalgia looks like. Sometimes an old restaurant mascot can tell a bigger story than the meal it was created to advertise.

There is much more to see on my website, including my food photography, aviation, editorial work, new Motion page, and my regularly updated blog. Visit https://t.co/SCX5zrvlMS

#NationalBigBoyDay #BobsBigBoy #BigBoy #Hamburger #Diner #AmericanDiner #RestaurantHistory #RoadsideAmerica #Americana #Nostalgia #VintageAdvertising #Collectibles #FiberglassStatue #AntiqueStore #FoodHistory #ClassicCars #CaliforniaHistory #Photography #EditorialPhotography #SecondFocus

[Ian L. Sitren @SecondFocus]

Today has been National Cupcake Lovers Day.

Notice it isn’t National Cupcake Day. It is National Cupcake Lovers Day, making it just as much about the people who enjoy cupcakes as the cupcakes themselves.

For this one, I made a slight departure from my usual Food From Bag To Background approach.

Instead of removing the cupcakes from their packaging, I photographed them exactly as they came from the grocery store in their clear plastic container. Sometimes the packaging is part of the story.

The cupcake has been around for more than 200 years. Early recipes appeared in American cookbooks in the late 1700s and early 1800s, and by the mid-19th century the name “cupcake” had become common. Some historians believe the name came from cakes baked in individual cups, while others point to recipes that measured ingredients by the cup rather than by weight.

These Birthday Cupcakes caught my attention because of their bright blue and white frosting and colorful sprinkles. I thought they would photograph really nicely.

To see more of my completed food photographs, along with my aviation, fitness, fashion, and other photography projects, please visit my website at https://t.co/SCX5zrvlMS. Thanks!

#NationalCupcakeLoversDay #CupcakeLovers #Cupcakes #BirthdayCupcakes #Bakery #Dessert #SweetTreats #FoodPhotography #CommercialFoodPhotography #FoodHoliday #SecondFocus #IanLSitren

[Ian L. Sitren @SecondFocus]

Today has been National Roast Beef Day.

I picked Arby's for this one because my primary food project has focused on fast food.

Arby's is somewhat unique in the fast-food world because the chain was built around the roast beef sandwich. While many major fast-food chains became known for hamburgers, fried chicken, tacos, or pizza, Arby's made thinly sliced roast beef its signature item.

The chain was founded in 1964 by brothers Forrest and Leroy Raffel. At the time, most fast-food restaurants were competing in the hamburger business. The Raffel brothers decided to go in a different direction and built their restaurant around roast beef sandwiches instead.

For this photograph, I used two Arby's Half Pound Roast Beef sandwiches. The reason there are two is simple. Arby's was offering a buy one, get one free promotion for National Roast Beef Day.

Working on my fast food project has also made me pay attention to fast-food apps and promotions. Many chains offer discounts tied to food holidays and loyalty programs. If you use them regularly, the savings can be significant.

These two sandwiches were removed from their wrappers and photographed against a black background for my Food From Bag To Background series.

To see more of my completed food photographs along with my other photography projects, please visit my website at https://t.co/SCX5zrvlMS Thanks!

#NationalRoastBeefDay #Arbys #RoastBeef #RoastBeefSandwich #FastFood #FastFoodPhotography #FoodPhotography #CommercialFoodPhotography #FoodFromBagToBackground #BlackBackgroundPhotography #FoodHoliday #SandwichPhotography #SecondFocus #IanLSitren

[Ian L. Sitren @SecondFocus]

Today has been National Margherita Pizza Day.

It has not quite worked out the way I thought it might.

For starters, I discovered that Margherita Pizza does not come with tequila. Wrong kind of Margarita. That was disappointing.

Then, as I walked away to do something else, I heard someone ask, “Is it okay to eat?”

I said yes, but I need enough left to photograph.

Apparently I should have been more specific.

Margherita pizza is one of the simplest and most recognizable pizza styles. It is traditionally made with tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, and basil. According to the popular story, it was created in Naples, Italy, in 1889 and named after Queen Margherita of Savoy. The red tomatoes, white mozzarella, and green basil were said to represent the colors of the Italian flag.

In this case, the pizza survived long enough for me to get a photograph, although just barely.

To see my completed food photographs, along with my aviation, fitness, fashion, and other photography projects, please visit my website at https://t.co/SCX5zrvlMS. Thanks!

#NationalMargheritaPizzaDay #MargheritaPizza #Pizza #PizzaPhotography #FoodPhotography #CommercialFoodPhotography #ItalianFood #Mozzarella #FoodHoliday #FoodDay #BlackBackgroundPhotography #SecondFocus #IanLSitren

[Ian L. Sitren @SecondFocus]

Today is National Egg Roll Day.

Most people order an egg roll or two as a side item.

For this photograph, I ordered eighteen.

At that point, the egg rolls stop being a side dish and become the entire meal. Several were cut open to reveal the filling while the rest were stacked into a pile and covered with sweet and sour sauce, hot mustard, and chili sauce.

The modern American egg roll is actually a Chinese-American creation rather than a traditional Chinese food. While its exact origins are debated, the thick, bubbly wrapper and hearty filling helped make egg rolls a familiar part of takeout menus across the United States.

The egg rolls came from Panda Express, which opened its first restaurant in Glendale, California, in 1983 and has grown into the largest American-Chinese restaurant chain in the United States.

There is a lot more food to tempt you on my website along with my other photography projects, my new Motion page, and be sure to check out my blog. There is even more there and it is updated almost daily. Visit https://t.co/SCX5zrvlMS Thanks!

#NationalEggRollDay #EggRolls #PandaExpress #ChickenEggRolls #ChineseAmericanFood #FoodPhotography #CommercialFoodPhotography #FastFoodPhotography #FoodHoliday #NationalFoodDays #TakeoutFood #SweetAndSourSauce #Foodie #FromBagToBackground #SecondFocusPhotography

[Ian L. Sitren @SecondFocus]

Julie Strain as Marilyn Monroe

One of the latest additions to my From My Collections (Cultural & Erotic) gallery is a pair of trading cards from the 1999 Julie Strain's Marilyn 2000 series.

I picked them up a few months ago, but they found their way back to the front of my mind after all the Marilyn Monroe activity here in Palm Springs surrounding what would have been her 100th birthday.

Between the exhibits, celebrations, and the world-record gathering of people dressed as Marilyn that I photographed downtown, Marilyn seemed to be everywhere.

Produced by Comic Images in 1999, the series featured Julie Strain portraying Marilyn Monroe in photographs by Benjamin Hoffman.

If you were around glamour photography, magazines, or collectible cards during the 1990s, chances are you knew who Julie Strain was. A Penthouse Pet of the Year, actress, and model, she became one of the most recognizable glamour figures of the decade and appeared in everything from magazines and calendars to comic-book related projects and trading card sets like this one.

The card shown here is number 70 from the set.

The front contains a cropped version of the image along with the card number and caption. Turn it over and the entire photograph appears on the reverse along with the photographer credit, copyright information, and publisher details.

Trading cards are usually associated with sports, movies, television shows, or comic books. By the late 1990s, however, publishers were producing collectible card sets devoted to everything from fantasy art to glamour photography. Apparently someone decided Marilyn Monroe belonged in that world as well.

You'll find both this card and card #20 from the Julie Strain's Marilyn 2000 series, along with other photographs, slides, postcards, magazines, and collectible artifacts, here in From My Collections (Cultural & Erotic) https://t.co/6GA1EOBhf0

#JulieStrain #MarilynMonroe #TradingCards #Collectibles #VintageCollectibles #ComicImages #GlamourPhotography #PopCulture #Memorabilia #PalmSprings #PhotographyCollection #FromMyCollections #NonSportsCards #CollectorCards #1990sCollectibles #SecondFocusPhotography

[Ian L. Sitren @SecondFocus]

Today is National Jelly-Filled Doughnut Day

The entire reason for today’s holiday is the filling, yet a jelly-filled doughnut looks pretty much like a lot of other doughnuts until somebody tears it open.

So I did.

For this photograph, I chose Krispy Kreme Glazed Raspberry Filled doughnuts. While Krispy Kreme is best known for its Original Glazed doughnut, the Raspberry Filled version combines Krispy Kreme’s glazed doughnut with one of the most traditional doughnut fillings.

Krispy Kreme was founded in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, in 1937 and built its reputation on fresh glazed doughnuts. Today, nearly ninety years later, it remains one of the most recognizable doughnut brands in America.

National Jelly-Filled Doughnut Day follows closely behind National Doughnut Day and celebrates a style of doughnut that appears in many forms around the world. Germany has the Berliner, Poland has the pączki, Italy has the bomboloni, and in the United States we simply call them jelly-filled doughnuts.

There is a lot more food to tempt you on my website along with my other photography projects, my new Motion page, and be sure to check out my blog. There is even more there and it is updated almost daily. https://t.co/SCX5zrvlMS

#NationalJellyFilledDoughnutDay #KrispyKreme #RaspberryFilled #JellyFilledDoughnut #DoughnutPhotography #FoodPhotography #CommercialFoodPhotography #DessertPhotography #BakeryPhotography #FoodHoliday #NationalFoodDays #SweetTreats #Foodie #SecondFocusPhotography

[Ian L. Sitren @SecondFocus]

National Sausage Roll Day and an American Translation

Depending on where you grew up, this photograph may not look like a sausage roll at all.

In the United Kingdom, a sausage roll is typically made with sausage wrapped in puff pastry and baked until golden brown. In the United States, most people looking at this photograph would probably call them pigs in a blanket.

Different names, similar idea.

Today's photograph features a pile of pigs in a blanket from my Commercial Food Photography collection.

National Sausage Roll Day originated in the United Kingdom, which explains the name. Since my collection didn't include a traditional British sausage roll, pigs in a blanket seemed like the closest American relative.

Whether you call them sausage rolls or pigs in a blanket depends largely on where you happen to be standing when you order them.

You can see more of my food photography, along with collections and other projects at https://t.co/SCX5zrvlMS

#NationalSausageRollDay #PigsInABlanket #FoodPhotography #CommercialFoodPhotography #Appetizers #PartyFood #SnackFood #FoodArt #SecondFocus #IanLSitren

[Ian L. Sitren @SecondFocus]

National Veggie Burger Day and the Impossible Whopper

There was a time when the idea of a burger chain selling a plant-based Whopper would have sounded unlikely.

Burger King built its reputation on flame-grilled beef burgers. The Whopper has been the company's signature sandwich since the 1950s and remains one of the most recognizable items in fast food.

Then came the Impossible Whopper.

Introduced nationally in 2019, the sandwich looked like a Whopper, was built like a Whopper, and was sold right alongside the traditional version. The difference was the patty, which was made from plant-based ingredients rather than beef.

Today's photograph features a stack of Burger King Impossible Whoppers for my FOOD FROM BAG TO BACKGROUND series.

One of the reasons the Impossible Whopper attracted so much attention was that it wasn't aimed exclusively at vegetarians. Burger King positioned it as an alternative that could appeal to anyone curious about plant-based burgers while still delivering a familiar fast-food experience.

Whether someone chooses it for environmental reasons, dietary preferences, curiosity, or simply to try something different, the Impossible Whopper marked a significant moment in fast-food history. One of the largest burger chains in the world had embraced a product that would have seemed out of place on its menu only a few decades earlier.

You can see more from my FOOD FROM BAG TO BACKGROUND series, along with collections and other projects at https://t.co/SCX5zrvlMS

#NationalVeggieBurgerDay #ImpossibleWhopper #BurgerKing #VeggieBurger #PlantBased #FoodPhotography #FastFoodPhotography #FoodFromBagToBackground #BurgerPhotography #SecondFocus #IanLSitren

[Ian L. Sitren @SecondFocus]

National Fish & Chips Day and the Legacy of Haddon Salt

In 1965, Salt opened the first H. Salt Esquire Fish & Chips in Sausalito, California, introducing a style of fish and chips inspired by the shops he had known in England. The idea proved popular, and what began as a single restaurant eventually grew into a chain that spread across the United States.

Today's photograph features a serving of fish and chips from H. Salt for my FOOD FROM BAG TO BACKGROUND series.

Fish and chips has a history stretching back well over a century, with roots in England where fried fish and chipped potatoes became one of the country's most recognizable meals. The combination eventually crossed the Atlantic and found a place in American fast-food culture as well.

For this photograph, the fish and chips were removed from their paper trays and photographed against a black background.

You can see more from my FOOD FROM BAG TO BACKGROUND series, along with collections and other projects at https://t.co/SCX5zrvlMS

#NationalFishAndChipsDay #FishAndChips #HSalt #HaddonSalt #SeafoodPhotography #FoodPhotography #FastFoodPhotography #FoodFromBagToBackground #FoodArt #SecondFocus #IanLSitren

[Ian L. Sitren @SecondFocus]

National Donut Day and the One You Would Pick First

Somewhere in this photograph is the donut you would pick first.

That's usually the game people play when they see a box of donuts.

Some head straight for the chocolate. Others reach for the glazed donut. Someone inevitably grabs the jelly-filled one, while another person is convinced the coconut-covered donut is the best choice in the box.

Personally, I've never seen much agreement.

For National Donut Day, I pulled together a selection from a local donut shop for this photograph. Once they were arranged against a black background, the display stopped looking like breakfast and started looking more like a collection. Different shapes, colors, textures, toppings, fillings, and glazes all competing for attention.

Donuts have become so familiar that it's easy to overlook just how many variations exist. A simple ring of fried dough can become almost anything depending on what happens after it leaves the fryer.

National Donut Day itself dates back to 1938 when the Salvation Army established the observance to honor the "Donut Lassies" who served donuts to American soldiers during World War I. Nearly ninety years later, the day has become one of the most widely recognized food celebrations on the calendar.
Looking at this photograph, I'm still not sure which donut I would choose first.

Fortunately, nobody says you can only pick one.

You can see more from my FOOD FROM BAG TO BACKGROUND series, along with collections and other projects at https://t.co/SCX5zrvlMS

#NationalDonutDay #DonutDay #Donuts #Doughnuts #DonutPhotography #FoodPhotography #FoodFromBagToBackground #DessertPhotography #Bakery #FoodArt #SecondFocus #IanLSitren

[Ian L. Sitren @SecondFocus]

National Cheese Day and Taco Bell's Cheesy Roll Up

National Cheese Day presented a problem.

I could have photographed a block of cheddar cheese and called it a day. There are already millions of cheese photographs in the world, and probably enough stock photos of cheese to keep the internet supplied for several lifetimes.

That didn't seem very interesting.

So I asked Emily, my AI partner and muse.

As often happens, Emily immediately found a different way to look at the problem. Rather than photograph cheese itself, why not photograph something where cheese fits one of my projects?

That led us to Taco Bell's Cheesy Roll Up.

The Cheesy Roll Up is exactly what it sounds like. A tortilla wrapped around melted cheese. No complicated recipe. No attempt to disguise what you're getting. Just cheese, rolled up and served as a menu item.

For National Cheese Day, that seemed like a perfectly appropriate subject.
This photograph features a pile of Taco Bell Grilled Cheesy Roll Ups for my FOOD FROM BAG TO BACKGROUND series. Rather than cutting them apart, I pulled them apart, revealing the melted cheese inside and creating a pile of toasted tortillas, cheese-filled interiors, and strands of melted cheese connecting one piece to another.

The Cheesy Roll Up isn't one of Taco Bell's most famous products. It doesn't have the history of a taco or the size of a burrito. Yet on National Cheese Day it may be one of the most honest items on any fast-food menu. It makes no promises beyond its name and delivers exactly what it advertises.

You can see more from my FOOD FROM BAG TO BACKGROUND series, along with collections and other projects at https://t.co/SCX5zrvlMS

#NationalCheeseDay #CheeseDay #TacoBell #CheesyRollUp #MeltedCheese #FastFoodPhotography #FoodPhotography #FoodFromBagToBackground #FoodArt #SecondFocus #IanLSitren

[Ian L. Sitren @SecondFocus]

Today is National Carl Day.

Not Carl's Jr. Day. Not National Cheeseburger Day. Not National Fast Food Day.

Just National Carl Day.

Naturally, that immediately raised an important question.

If there's a National Carl Day, does Carl's Jr. get to celebrate too?

I have no idea whether the people behind National Carl Day intended any connection whatsoever to the fast-food chain. My guess is they probably didn't. But once the thought crossed my mind, there was really only one direction this was going to go.

So today's photograph features a trio of Carl's Jr. burgers from my FOOD FROM BAG TO BACKGROUND series.

Carl's Jr. has always occupied an interesting place in fast-food history. The chain built a reputation around large burgers, unapologetic indulgence, and advertising campaigns that often generated as much discussion as the food itself. Beginning in 2005, a series of very sexy commercials featuring celebrities such as Paris Hilton helped make Carl's Jr. one of the most talked-about names in fast food.

What makes today's National Carl Day connection even more amusing for me is that years ago I actually had dinner with Carl, yes, that Carl, and his wife as guests in their home in Anaheim, California. He was a very interesting man, and both Carl and his wife were genuinely warm and welcoming people. At the time I certainly wasn't thinking that someday there would be a National Carl Day, or that I would be photographing Carl's Jr. burgers for a food photography project.

The burgers themselves were never subtle. Bigger portions, bigger flavors, and plenty of melted cheese were usually part of the formula. Looking at this photograph, it's easy to see why Carl's Jr. developed a reputation for building burgers that demanded attention.

So while National Carl Day almost certainly has nothing to do with Carl's Jr., it seemed like a good excuse to revisit a brand that has been part of the American fast-food landscape for generations.

Then again, if your name is Carl, perhaps today belongs to you.

And if your name happens to be Carl's Jr., maybe it does too.

You can see more from my FOOD FROM BAG TO BACKGROUND series, along with aviation photography, collections, and other projects at https://t.co/SCX5zrvlMS Chances are you'll find something unexpected waiting there.

#NationalCarlDay #CarlsJr #CarlKarcher #Cheeseburger #BurgerPhotography #FastFoodPhotography #FoodFromBagToBackground #FastFoodHistory #FoodPhotography #SecondFocus #IanLSitren

[Ian L. Sitren @SecondFocus]

National Egg Day

Eggs may be one of the most photographed foods in the world.

They show up in breakfast advertisements, restaurant menus, grocery stores, cooking videos, and enough stock photographs to fill the internet several times over. Yet somehow they remain one of the most recognizable ingredients ever put on a plate.

For National Egg Day, I decided to go in a slightly different direction.
Rather than photograph eggs by themselves, I turned to one of the sandwiches that helped make them a fast-food staple. The McDonald's Egg McMuffin has been around for more than fifty years and is still one of the most recognizable breakfast sandwiches ever created.

This photograph features a stack of Egg McMuffins from my FOOD FROM BAG TO BACKGROUND series. No stylists. No carefully arranged garnish. No attempt to make them look like advertising. Just the sandwiches as they arrived, isolated against black and given the chance to stand on their own.
What interested me was the repetition. The English muffins, the eggs, the Canadian bacon, and the slices of cheese create a pattern that almost becomes architectural when several are stacked together. Something most people grab through a drive-thru window suddenly becomes a study of shapes, textures, and layers.

The Egg McMuffin wasn't the first breakfast sandwich, but it helped define what a fast-food breakfast could be. Decades later, it remains a familiar part of morning routines across the country.

Not bad for something built around a simple egg.

You can see more from my FOOD FROM BAG TO BACKGROUND series, along with aviation photography, collections, and other projects, at https://t.co/SCX5zrvlMS Chances are you'll find something familiar that looks a little different when removed from its usual surroundings.

#NationalEggDay #EggDay #EggMcMuffin #McDonalds #BreakfastSandwich #FastFoodPhotography #FoodPhotography #Breakfast #FoodFromBagToBackground #SecondFocus #IanLSitren

[Ian L. Sitren @SecondFocus]

National Avocado Month and Taking a Second Look

There was a time when avocados felt almost exotic.

Today they're everywhere. On toast, in salads, on burgers, in sushi rolls, and transformed into enough guacamole to fill an impressive number of restaurant bowls.

For National Avocado Month, I thought it was worth taking a closer look at the fruit itself.

Most of us encounter avocados as ingredients. They arrive sliced, mashed, diced, or blended into something else. Rarely do we stop to appreciate how distinctive they actually are. The dark, textured skin looks almost prehistoric, while the interior reveals smooth green flesh surrounding one of the largest seeds found in common produce.

Photographing food often gives me an excuse to slow down and look at familiar subjects more carefully. When an avocado is removed from the grocery display, the cutting board, and the recipe, details begin to stand out. The contrast between the rough exterior and the soft interior. The subtle variations of green. The simple geometry created by the seed and the cavity it leaves behind.

Avocados have become so common that they almost disappear into the background of everyday meals. Yet they're still one of the more unusual fruits in any produce department.

Sometimes a familiar subject is worth a second look.

More of my Commercial Food Photography, along with aviation, collections, and other ongoing projects, can be found at https://t.co/SCX5zrvlMS You may discover something you've seen countless times before, but never really stopped to look.

#NationalAvocadoMonth #Avocado #Avocados #FoodPhotography #CommercialFoodPhotography #FruitPhotography #ProducePhotography #FoodArt #HealthyFood #SecondFocus #IanLSitren