Anyone who owns a smartphone (i.e. most Americans), and even most who do not, are aware of the recent trend of photographing one's food to post on social media. You log onto Instagram only to find the most recent photos in your feed are of summer barbeques, homemade pies and decadent brunches. Some call it bragging, some think of it as irreverent, while others consider it a necessary byproduct of the foodie movement, with craft this and gluten free that. With the proliferation of smartphones equipped with digital cameras, ready to upload a photographs at a moments notice, it makes sense that the online social-sphere would be inundated with photographs. In a recent New York Times article by Pete Wells looks to explore the sweeping trend that is "camera cuisine".
"Camera Cuisine", as Wells calls it, is food that is better suited for photographing than for taste or substance. The collision of smartphone cameras, always-on internet connections, photo-only social networks (such as Instagram) and a growing number of craft-focused-foodies, has come together to create an entirely new genre of food, and a culture in which "We're eating with our eyes first". While this may clog up your social news feeds, for restauranteurs, it is a dream come true. Not only are patrons spending money on your foot, but they are providing you with free advertising.
What do you think about "camera cuisine"? Let us know what you think via Facebook, Google+ and Twitter, and be sure to check out the New York Times article by clicking the source link below.
Source: New York Times, Image Credit (Flickr)
