Consumed

Today on the New York Times photo blog, "Lens", the photographer Susana Raab is profiled, along with her newest project, "Consumed." Of course this piqued my interest as it pertains to food AND photography. In searching for a new way to portray fast food, beyond the obvious (gluttony and obesity), she captured an honest slice of American culture. Below the horrific health and environmental impacts lie whimsy, fantasy, imagination and pure ingenuity. Don't worry, my stance on these issues hasn't budged, but it is quite remarkable how the fast food industry evoloved.

Among her comments, she discusses a theme repeated often on this page:

"As a Peace Corps volunteer in Outer Mongolia from 1995 to 1996, Ms. Raab watched as the cow she was about to eat was killed right in front of her. She believes Americans are at too great a remove from their food, how it is created and how it is processed. “That’s unhealthy,” she said."

Whimsy, fantasy, imagination, and ingenuity have quickly been overshadowed by the ugly, irresponsible, unhealthy, dishonest truth.

On a separate note, I think I'll get back on my "Fresh Direct " photoproject.