Taking Pictures Of Street Food

As observed from inside the hatch.

We have all probably got one of those friends on Facebook who has Instagram, the accepted way to take pictures of all types food. In certain parts of society it is now the only permissible way to communicate lunch choices. It is worth noting, however, that in the case of street food you are trying to encapsulate the entire experience of dining from a van, rather than just the meal. I have watched many pictures being taken of our van, and now consider myself an expert on what it is you need to preserve for your photo feed.

Start your photographic experience with a long shot. Best taken at ground level.

You then have a few options, which I’ll tackle in detail later: Whatever you do, a picture of the menu is important. Then: The A-Board nearby is perfect for posing your mates next to. Peace signs at the ready folks, that board won’t upload itself onto the internet.

Finally, if you have exhausted all the exterior options you might want to consider buying some food. This means you can then photograph the cooking process, and subsequent end product. Both of these are best done at an angle, and with that 70s filter. Nice.

I should hasten to add that I love you, dearest photo app user, and I do not want you to stop. Each time you snap a corner of the Jabberwocky’s soul and cast it into the web you are giving us some free publicity, and we are actually probably much more grateful for this than you can imagine, and certainly more grateful than I’m giving you credit for. It doesn’t change my bemusement at the way you will take a picture of the menu, but then don’t try anything from it.

At least half of the people who take pictures of the menu don’t try the food. After much deliberation I have come to the conclusion that said fine people actually think our menu is worth capturing for prosperity. I’m hugely flattered. Baffled, but flattered.

Dat picture. How could anyone not want it?

My other favourite shot is the crowded-round-the-A-board-pointing picture. I have several theories on this, and I think it may be because I have chosen, on said board, to liken eating toasties to “sticking it to the man”, because in eating from an independent vendor you’re not posting money off to corporate off-shore accounts but keeping it local. There are probably more forceful ways of sticking it to the man than either eating toasties or taking group shots around our signage, but heck, we all have to start somewhere.

Feel free to take pictures of your friends gathered round the computer doing peace signs if it helps.

Please continue to take pictures of our van and food, you’re doing us a huge favour and we really appreciate it. Purely by coincidence we have lowered the presses to a more camera friendly height, got more pictures in the new gallery to give everybody some ideas and I am working on additional amusing things for you to photograph. Soon we will be such irresistible subjects not even the most jaded of hipsters will be able to resist the soft focus angled wide shot.