I watch a lot (A LOT) of terrible television, but every once in a while I hear something that sticks with me. One such nugget of information is the phrase “We eat with our eyes first. ”  So true, yet so many people choose to forget or ignore this fact. By the same token, it’s easy to focus on color and plating to the detriment of the food.

An aside – as I write this, Palladia is showing a concert of Elvis Costello and the Imposters. Costello has style and substance. Not conventionally handsome, but the man can rock a purple velvet blazer and Buddy Holly glasses like none other.

Here’s a theme song for this post. An obscure track but it mentions longing and cake:

A long time ago I read a piece on why the phrase “food pornography” as relates to photographs on cooking blogs should be banished… and it made me mad. Like, really, just excessively, irrationally angry. First of all, it’s a totally tongue in cheek phrase, so chill with the sanctimony. That apple pie is not being oppressed or exploited; it’s just doing it’s job, lookin’ delicious. Secondly, the term speaks to the very nature of why people indulge in porn in the first place – desire. All photography should make you feel something, and when food photography is done correctly,  that feeling should be overwhelmingly be desire. The synapses should start to fire, igniting the senses until you can taste the flavors on your tongue, feel the textures on your lips, smell the layers of spice and sweet surrounding you, reminding you of some long lost memory or begging you to create a new one.

In short, if it doesn’t look good, I don’t want it. (Yes, that rule applies equally for cookies and men.)  I don’t care how good you say it is for me, umpteen images of mush in a bowl is not making me hungry. Don’t tell me how good it tastes, show me.

One of my favorite blogs, Pioneer Woman, did an excellent post with hints and tips.  Taking Photos of Food – 8 Helpful Tips . Photographing food is not so different than photographing skin – warmth without washing out, and “detail in the highlights and shadows” (thanks Dad).

But I digress; as I was saying, style and substance are two halves of a whole. When you get what you want, it’s got to live up to what you’ve imagined.

Don’t be afraid to want, friends And when you get it, I hope you’re sated and satisfied.  I promise a steady stream of good music and food porny photos to help inspire.