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National Kitchen Klutzes Day, Rewritten

She isn’t cooking. She’s seducing—barely clothed, back against the wall beside the oven, the heat rising for reasons that have nothing to do with food. Her top clings in all the wrong places. She’s standing there like she knows exactly what just happened—and she’s not apologizing for any of it. Something burned, but it wasn’t dinner.

This black and white photograph reframes the kitchen as a space of tension and control—not culinary, but erotic. The setting is domestic; the mood is anything but. She’s not cleaning up a mess. She’s daring you to come closer and make one.

Posted for National Kitchen Klutzes of America Day—because not all kitchen accidents are innocent, and not all mistakes are unintended. Some spills are staged. Some heat is invited. Some burns don’t need ice.

From my Featured Photographs gallery—a rotating, uncurated selection of personal favorites from recent shoots and deep archives. I update it regularly as new images—and new obsessions—take hold.

See the full gallery:
https://www.secondfocus.com/index/G0000zYSGtyvq3Sg/I0000rgc_IUa0rOI

Posted by Ian L. Sitren | June 13, 2025 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: black and white, domestic setting, Erotic Photography, fashion nude, featured photographs, female figure, high contrast, national kitchen klutzes of america day, oven, photo series, photographic art, pornochic, retro, secondfocus, sensual, suggestive, uncurated gallery, vintage kitchen, visual tension, wall lean | Leave a comment

National Cupcake Lovers Day – A Classic Favorite

Before gourmet bakeries and Instagram-ready frosting, there was one cupcake nearly everyone recognized: the Hostess CupCake. Today, June 13th, is National Cupcake Lovers Day—unofficial, unexplained, and completely justified by the staying power of this classic snack.

Cupcakes go back to the late 1700s in American cookbooks, but the Hostess CupCake, introduced in 1919, was the first to be mass-produced. It started simple—just chocolate cake—but by the 1950s it gained a cream-filled center and its trademark white icing swirl.

It’s still going strong. Hostess sells more than 600 million CupCakes each year, making it arguably the most popular chocolate cupcake in America.

This image is part of my From Bag to Background series, where I photograph fast food and mass-market items exactly as they appear—unstyled, unaltered, and isolated against a black background. See the full gallery at https://www.secondfocus.com/index/G0000wQ3fbeEezF0/I0000nUG8tfk8Gdc

Posted by Ian L. Sitren | June 13, 2025 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: American desserts, black background photography, chocolate cupcakes, cupcake history, fast food photography, food holidays, Food Photography, from bag to background, Hostess CupCakes, National Cupcake Lovers Day, secondfocus, snack food, unstyled food | Leave a comment

Falafel Wraps for International Falafel Day

June 12th marks International Falafel Day—a time to acknowledge one of the most enduring and portable fast foods in the world.

Falafel traces its origins to the Middle East, with Egypt often cited as the birthplace of the dish. Originally made with fava beans and known as ta’amiya, the recipe evolved across regions, eventually incorporating chickpeas and becoming a staple in Israel, Lebanon, Syria, and beyond. Today, falafel is found everywhere from street carts to fast food chains, often claimed by different cultures but universally loved for its crisp texture and bold seasoning.

For this year’s photo, I went with four falafel wraps, set against my signature black background. Three wraps are arranged along the base, with a fourth stacked above. Each one features sesame-crusted falafel tucked into pita bread and layered with fresh tomato, pickled vegetables, greens, and tahini sauce—exactly as it came, with no styling or edits.

Falafel by itself is often considered a fast food. In wrap form, it becomes a highly portable meal, emphasizing convenience without losing any of the original flavor or texture. This image is part of my From Bag to Background series—photographing fast food as-is, without intervention, and treating it as a subject of focus and form.

More of the series can be viewed on my website:
https://www.secondfocus.com/index/G0000wQ3fbeEezF0/I0000nUG8tfk8Gdc

Posted by Ian L. Sitren | June 12, 2025 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: black background, chickpeas, falafel, falafel wrap, fast food, food culture, Food History, Food Photography, from bag to background, international falafel day, Middle Eastern food, pickled vegetables, pita, portable meals, secondfocus, street food, tahini, unstyled food, vegetarian | Leave a comment

National Egg Roll Day – A Stack Worth Photographing

Today is National Egg Roll Day, which recognizes one of the most iconic—and uniquely American—adaptations of Chinese cuisine. The egg roll, with its thick wheat flour wrapper and fried exterior, has become a takeout staple across the country. While its origins are loosely tied to Chinese spring rolls, the American egg roll took on a life of its own in the 20th century, evolving into something crispier, heavier, and more filled with meat and cabbage than its traditional counterparts.

National Egg Roll Day was launched in 2019 by Van’s Kitchen, a Dallas-based food manufacturer, to honor the deep roots of egg rolls in American food culture and to recognize immigrant-founded food businesses. Since then, it has quietly earned a spot on the food holiday calendar each June 10.

For this photograph, I picked up 18 Panda Express chicken egg rolls—one of the most widely available fast food versions. Panda Express, with over 2,200 locations across the U.S., serves more egg rolls than any other chain of its kind. According to industry data, the brand sells millions of them annually, with egg rolls consistently listed among their top-selling sides. They come filled with cabbage, carrots, and chicken, wrapped in a thick fried shell. Here, I tore some of them open and piled them into a stack on my black background. Topped with their three most common condiments—sweet and sour sauce, hot mustard, and chili sauce—they’re shown as served. Nothing added, nothing styled.

This image is part of my From Bag to Background series, documenting fast food as it actually appears, without props or retouching. You can see the rest of the series at: https://www.secondfocus.com/index/G0000wQ3fbeEezF0/I0000nUG8tfk8Gdc

Posted by Ian L. Sitren | June 10, 2025 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: American Chinese food, cabbage, carrots, chicken egg rolls, chili sauce, egg rolls, fast food, food holiday, Food Photography, fried food, from bag to background, hot mustard, June 10, National Egg Roll Day, Panda Express, photo series, real food, Second Focus, snack food, sweet and sour sauce, takeout food, unstyled food | Leave a comment

National Jelly-Filled Donut Day – Raspberry and Glaze, No Apologies

June 8 is National Jelly-Filled Donut Day.

It’s a quieter entry on the food holiday calendar, but one that speaks to a specific kind of nostalgia. The jelly donut—with its burst of raspberry (or sometimes strawberry or apple), dusting of powdered sugar, or coating of glaze—has long been a bakery staple.

The exact origin of National Jelly-Filled Donut Day is unknown. Like many niche food holidays, it likely emerged through a mix of tradition and marketing momentum. But the donut it celebrates has a real history.

Jelly-filled donuts trace their roots to Central Europe. In Germany, the Berliner—a yeast-raised donut filled with jam—has been a favorite for generations. Jewish communities adapted it into the sufganiyah, eaten during Hanukkah. When immigrants brought these traditions to the U.S., jelly donuts found a natural home in bakeries and diners across the country. Over time, chains like Krispy Kreme and Dunkin’ made them mainstream.

Of the major brands, Krispy Kreme’s Glazed Raspberry Filled donut is often considered the favorite. Its lighter texture, warm-glaze appeal, and bright red filling strike a balance that other versions often miss. First sold in the 1930s from a small storefront in North Carolina, Krispy Kreme has held onto its original recipe and a sense of warm-donut theater.

For this post, I photographed the Glazed Raspberry Filled donut from Krispy Kreme. No props, no styling—just the donuts torn open and stacked, revealing the red interior against the black background. It’s part of my “From Bag to Background” series, documenting fast food exactly as it is, straight from the box or bag.

You can see more from this series on my website at:
https://www.secondfocus.com/index/G0000wQ3fbeEezF0/I0000nUG8tfk8Gdc

Posted by Ian L. Sitren | June 8, 2025 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: American desserts, Berliner, black background photography, breakfast pastry, donut culture, donut history, fast food, filled donuts, food art, Food Photography, from bag to background, glazed donuts, iconic donuts, jelly donuts, Krispy Kreme, National Jelly Donut Day, raspberry filled donuts, sufganiyah | Leave a comment

Emily Steps Out from the Algorithm and Into the Studio

Some of you have been wondering what Emily—my AI assistant has been up to lately.
Looks like being digital-only wasn’t cutting it anymore.

Now she’s prepping burgers for one of our fast food photo shoots. Focused, confident—and honestly, a little too attractive for someone made of code. The line between assistant and studio presence is getting blurry.

She still handles research and planning for From Bag To Background. But lately, I turn around and she’s already setting the scene. At this point, I’m just trying to keep up.

Check out what we have been doing at https://www.secondfocus.com/index/G0000wQ3fbeEezF0/I0000nUG8tfk8Gdc

Posted by Ian L. Sitren | June 7, 2025 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: AI Assistant, ai satire, Americana, behind the scenes, burger photo shoot, Emily, fast food photography, food culture, from bag to background, large format prints, photo studio, retro ai, visual storytelling | Leave a comment

National Fish & Chips Day – From Bag to Background

Today, June 6, marks National Fish & Chips Day—a celebration of a dish with deep roots on both sides of the Atlantic. Fish and chips, traditionally battered white fish served over fried potatoes, originated in 19th-century England as affordable street food. By the early 20th century, it had become a staple of British life.

In the United States, one man helped bring that tradition stateside: Haddon Salt, a third-generation British fish fryer who opened his first shop in California in 1965. His goal was to deliver a true British experience—using imported frying ranges, Icelandic cod, and a proper malt vinegar finish. Within a few years, the chain—renamed H. Salt Esq. Fish & Chips—grew rapidly, eventually acquired by Kentucky Fried Chicken. For a brief time in the early 1970s, it looked as though fish and chips might become as ubiquitous in America as burgers and fried chicken.

That never fully materialized. But a few independently owned H. Salt locations remain in California, still serving battered fish with crinkle-cut fries the old-fashioned way. That’s where this order came from—photographed exactly as it was handed over the counter. No rearranging, no garnish, no styling. Just the food on a black background, part of my ongoing From Bag to Background series.

It’s fast food history, captured as-is. View more from the series at https://www.secondfocus.com/index/G0000wQ3fbeEezF0/I0000nUG8tfk8Gdc

Posted by Ian L. Sitren | June 6, 2025 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: American adaptations, battered fish, black background, British fast food, California fast food, classic comfort food, crinkle cut fries, fast food history, fish and chips, food culture, Food Photography, fried fish, from bag to background, H. Salt Esq, Haddon Salt, June food holidays, KFC franchise, National Fish and Chips Day, no styling, seafood takeaway, takeout food | Leave a comment

National Donut Day – A Stack of Krispy Kreme Tradition

🍩 Today is National Donut Day.

First established in 1938 by The Salvation Army to honor the “Donut Lassies” who served donuts to soldiers during World War I, National Donut Day has grown into a celebration of a uniquely American indulgence.

For the occasion, I photographed an assortment of Krispy Kreme donuts—stacked and unstyled, just as they came out of the box. Glazed, chocolate frosted, pink with rainbow sprinkles, maple, cinnamon sugar, and a few others. No tricks or props, just donuts on a black background.

It’s part of my ongoing “From Bag to Background” project—photographing fast food exactly as it is, isolating it from branding and context, letting it stand on its own.

Krispy Kreme began in 1937 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, when Vernon Rudolph bought a yeast-raised donut recipe from a New Orleans chef and began selling hot glazed donuts through a hole cut in his bakery wall. The brand became known for its light, airy donuts and the signature “Hot Now” neon sign that still draws crowds.

More food images from this series can be found on my website at:
https://www.secondfocus.com/index/G0000wQ3fbeEezF0/I0000nUG8tfk8Gdc

Posted by Ian L. Sitren | June 6, 2025 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: American food, assorted donuts, black background photography, chocolate donuts, dessert, donut history, donut photography, donut stack, donuts, fast food, food art, food culture, Food Photography, from bag to background, glazed donuts, jelly donuts, Krispy Kreme, National Donut Day, pink frosted donut, Salvation Army, sprinkles, Vernon Rudolph | Leave a comment

🥬 National Veggie Burger Day – June 5

It’s National Veggie Burger Day—a time to consider what a burger can be without the beef.

First launched in 2017 by the vegetarian food company Amy’s Kitchen, the day was created to encourage people to try plant-based burgers and explore their benefits to health and the environment. Whether for ethical reasons, sustainability, or curiosity, veggie burgers continue to gain ground in the fast food world and beyond.

This is my photograph of five Burger King Impossible Whoppers, casually stacked on a black background. Each sandwich features a sesame seed bun, flame-grilled Impossible patty, tomato, lettuce, onion, pickles, ketchup, and mayo—served exactly as ordered, no styling or prep.

The Impossible patty, made primarily from soy protein and heme (a molecule found in both plants and meat), was developed to replicate the flavor and texture of beef. Introduced nationwide by Burger King in 2019, the Impossible Whopper remains the most widely known fast food veggie burger in the U.S.

Part of my From Bag to Background series, this image keeps the focus where it belongs—on the food itself, presented as-is, without props or artifice.

More in the full series on my website:
https://www.secondfocus.com/index/G0000wQ3fbeEezF0/I0000nUG8tfk8Gdc

Posted by Ian L. Sitren | June 5, 2025 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: black background photography, Burger King, fast food, food culture, food documentation, Food History, Food Photography, from bag to background, heme, Impossible Foods, Impossible Whopper, meatless, modern fast food, National Veggie Burger Day, plant-based burger, soy protein, unstyled food, vegan, vegetarian, veggie burger | Leave a comment

My Favorite Bicycle Photoshoot. Ever.

Today , June 3rd is World Bicycle Day.

And what better way to mark the occasion than with a photo from my all-time favorite bicycle-themed shoot?

Yes, technically, there’s no bicycle in the frame. But she’s wearing a helmet—so that counts. Bike safety first, even when there’s absolutely no danger of a crash. Or movement. Or a bicycle.

Shot against my signature black background, this image plays with the absurdity of selective preparedness. She may be completely unprotected otherwise, but at least her head is safe. Priorities.

No bike was harmed—or used—in the making of this photograph.

A growing gallery of my Featured Photos on my website at https://www.secondfocus.com/index/G0000zYSGtyvq3Sg

Posted by Ian L. Sitren | June 3, 2025 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: artistic nude, bicycle helmet, black background, conceptual art, fine art nude, helmet safety, minimalist photography, nude photography, photography humor, satirical photo, visual irony, World Bicycle Day | Leave a comment

SecondFocus Blog Photography by Ian L. Sitren

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