food photography

Star chef David Chang is causing a stir in the food-blog world. If you manage to get a reservation at his new restaurant Momofuku Ko, be prepared to leave your camera at home. According to Chang's new no-photography rule, diners will no longer be able to snap pics of luscious pork products or tasty eats (although the rule is not enforced at his larger sister restaurants).

As an avid foodie photographer — my friends know to let me take photos before we dig in — I find this disappointing. I take pictures of food so I can relive it later and share it with you. I make sure to turn the flash off, never interrupt other diners, and work as quickly as possible. Hearing that it's banned in a place where so few folks can dine really bums me out. If I can't eat there, I want to live vicariously through someone else.

What do you guys think? Do you think Chang, who says, "It's just food. Eat it," is on the right path, or should diners be able to take photos at restaurants?

If the thought of Tom Colicchio's "Braised Monkfish with Pork Belly, Leeks and Cabbage" gets you all hot and steamy — and no "braised monkfish" is not a euphemism for anything — then you may be interested in this online auction. The show is called "Photography for Philanthropy" and it features photographs of food from star chefs such as Tom Colicchio, Eric Ripert, Daniel Boulud, Jean Georges Vongerichten, and Lidia Bastianich. They've all worked with famed photographer Diana DeLucia, who has captured their masterpieces with her lens.

If you'd like to have one these bow-chicka-bow-wow food photos on your wall, all you have to do is bid. The minimum bid is $250, or you could it buy it immediately for $950. Oh and the best part is that the proceeds are going to City Harvest.

Bea takes us behind the scenes of a styled food photo shoot. I wish I had taken this class! — La Tartine Gourmande

The folks behind Ratatouille spill the beans on how to create beautiful food photography. I couldn't tell you what they were though, I couldn't get past the actual gorgeous food photography... - Becks & Posh

I consider myself an ok food photographer, one whose photos get better with every shot, but one who still has much to learn. Looks like I shouldn't just be taking tips from other food photographers, but from fashion photographers as well! Yesterday FabSugar introduced me to my new favorite fashion photographer, Miles Aldridge, who took these lush, delicious snapshots for a recent edition of the New York Times Magazine. Colorful, vibrant, and lux, I love how the photos feature luscious foods juxtaposed by the bored, trancelike model. It's almost as if he wanted the food to stand out more than the clothing, and it's interesting how he combines two normally distinct and separate subjects - food and fashion - to create art.

Clearly a foodie, Aldridge is spot on with the food trends in his images - many of which we have discussed here on YumSugar - ice cream sandwiches, non-plastic bags, sodas for adults, etc. I think one of these images would look amazing in a sleek kitchen and I will definitely keep my eyes peeled for his pics in upcoming issues of Vogue.

What do you guys think? Do these pictures highlight the food or the fashion or both?

To check out more of his fashionable food images browse his online gallery.

Source: Live Journal

Even though I've actually thought I could OD on gummi bears, the phrase "death by gummi bears" sounds a bit ridiculous. However artist Daniela Edburg has made it look amazing, don't you think? In her series Drop Dead Gorgeous, Edburg features beautiful girls (all of whom are her friends, not professional models) dying from food related obsessions. There's a girl getting attacked by flying bananas, one smothered in oreos and another being chased down by a tornado of pink cotton candy. When asked about why food has such a sinister effect on the women in her photos, Edburg replied:

I guess I am pretty compulsive. That which gives me pleasure one minute, causes guilt the next. I am surprised at how much I like the products I consume, but, if you stop for one second to think about it, it’s absurd. Yet, you can’t stop.

The rest of the pictures are absolutely gorgeous (we love the M&M one and the banana one too), plus be sure to read the interview with the artist. Also if you live in the Miami area, you can actually go see the photos at the Kunsthaus Miami.