Studies in Vagueness: Don’t Play With Your Food

I grew up with parents scarred by World War II, so you can imagine the [deserved] admonitions we got with respect to wasting food. I used to cringe when Letterman dropped watermelons off New York city rooftops. Frozen turkey bowling . . . well that one completely busted my little paradigm.

But food, in all of its glorious colors, textures and consistencies, lends itself to creative and twisted interpretations. In fact, one of the most twisted food performances I’ve ever seen was Bossy Burger by artist Paul McCarthy. Bossy Burger was, essentially, a kitchen set with Paul McCarthy — in chef’s hat, apron and Alfred E. Newman mask — parading around the kitchen, squirting ketchup and mustard on himself and everything else, smearing liquids into furniture, and painting the floor with condiments. It was perverse, but that’s Paul McCarthy.

My own form of food manipulation isn’t as bossy — or disgusting. I still can’t waste food, but I’m not above constructing mini scenarios on restaurant tables . . . and forcing Hugh to eat right-handed (he eats as a lefty), out of frame, plastered against the wall so that his shadow doesn’t interfere with the shot. Unless, that is, I can use his shadow. I’m inflicting needless pain on him for the frivolous gain of a grainy and poorly-exposed snapshot.

Clouds in My Coffee - ©ingridtaylar

Mysteries at Saul's Deli - ©ingridtaylar

Forked - ©ingridtaylar

Not Abstract, Just Out of Focus - ©ingridtaylar

Water Filtered Sun - ©ingridtaylar

Always With the Coffee - ©ingridtaylar

Soup Shadows - ©ingridtaylar

Plenty O' Water - ©ingridtaylar

Mama's Royal - ©ingridtaylar

Tagged as: don't play with your food, Food, macros, Photography, Studies in Vagueness