Food photography is undeniably trending all over the Internet.
Dwayne Brown, founder of the loveOttawa photography project, said the art of taking photos of your food on such a regular basis is new.
“People never used to go to restaurants and photograph their food,” he laughed. “That’d be weird. That’d be odd.”
Don Chow, creator of Ottawa blog foodieprints.com, said the concept of food photography is not entirely new.
“For years—even before social media—they all took pictures of their food,” he said. “I have a friend who’s taken food photography for about three to four decades in Ottawa.”
Why food?
People may take photos of their food, Chow said, as a way to brag.
According to Chow, expensive cuisine, comfort food, and home-cooked meals are frequent types of food photographed. He explained home-cooked meals show a sense of achievement.
“The cooking traditions are dying because most people are busy,” he said. “Making your own meal is an accomplishment.”
Sharing online
Brown said food is the ideal subject for people looking for something to share online.
“It’s something in front of them, captive. It’s easy to shoot, it doesn’t move,” he said.
Food photography is a popular thing to share online, Chow added, because food is common ground for people, and therefore easy to relate to.
“It’s a very common and easy way to break the ice. It’s very familiar. It’s something everyone craves. It’s what everyone eats,” he said.
Specialized photography
At School of the Photographic Arts: Ottawa, the school brings in photographers who specialize in different areas in order to offer special workshops, said executive director Michael Tardioli.
“We get to look at photography from a niche point of view,” he said. “We think very highly of food photography because it’s such an applied art.”
