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Why do we take photos of our food? To feel fulfilled
The act of taking one’s meal photos is a display of emotions than just the contents of the plate
“You make these excellent meals and then post pictures of them on Instagram, but never bring them to the office,” my manager joked with me earlier today. He was saying that after having seen my photo upload of coconut Thai curry and coriander rice. Unsure of an answer, I said it was too little to bring to work. “Well then make more,” he persisted. I smiled to take time for response, finally conceding, “I’ll make dessert for the office next time.”
Later this afternoon, I watched a man take photos of his lunch that consisted of a regular meal of french fries and burger, at a hawker centre. He spent a couple of minutes holding the phone at a ninety-degree angle, enough to get the full spread and no shadows. As I left, he had finished the meal, with a few lonely fries sunk in mayonnaise and ketchup, like dead fish onto the plate.
Tonight, my dinner was the most basic meal reminiscent of my home in winters— plain parantha cooked in ghee with a sprinkle of salt, along with a hot cup of milk tea. As I sat by myself for dinner, I observed how each bite of the parantha tasted just like it does at home, the saltiness surprise in every bite to a rather…
