Photography by Ian L. Sitren

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The Evolution of Meatballs: Celebrating National Meatball Day

My photograph of Meatballs for today,  National Meatball Day! 

While the exact origins of National Meatball Day are unclear, it’s believed to have started in the United States as a way for restaurants and meatball enthusiasts to celebrate this comfort food. Over the years, the holiday has grown in popularity, with eateries offering specials and home cooks sharing their favorite recipes.

In Italy, meatballs—known as polpette—are typically small, made from a blend of pork, beef, or veal mixed with breadcrumbs, garlic, and Parmesan. Unlike the American tradition, they’re rarely served with pasta, instead enjoyed on their own or in broths.

When Italian immigrants arrived in the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, they adapted their recipes to the abundance of meat available, creating larger meatballs paired with spaghetti and marinara sauce—an entirely American invention. The meatball sub soon followed, packed with marinara and melted cheese, becoming a deli staple.

See more of my Food Photography and intriguing photo shoots on my website at http://SecondFocus.com Thanks!

McDonald’s Hash Browns: A Fast-Food Icon

Happy National Hash Brown Day! McDonald’s hash browns have been a breakfast favorite since their introduction in 1977. These golden, crispy patties are made from grated russet potatoes, offering a satisfying crunch on the outside and a fluffy interior. Each hash brown contains 140 calories, making it a popular choice to complement breakfast sandwiches or enjoy on its own.

Over the years, McDonald’s has played a significant role in shaping the fast-food breakfast landscape. As of 2024, McDonald’s holds approximately 34.8% of the U.S. breakfast market share, leading the industry ahead of competitors like Starbucks (16%) and Dunkin’ Donuts (14.3%).

However, recent price increases have sparked customer feedback. In some locations, the price of a single hash brown has risen to over $3, leading to discussions about affordability. McDonald’s CEO has acknowledged these concerns, emphasizing the company’s commitment to maintaining value for customers. I will say that by using the McDonald’s app to order, I personally saved $16 buying this stack of 20 to photograph.

McDonald’s hash browns remain an iconic breakfast item, symbolizing the brand’s influence on morning routines nationwide. Visit my website for more of my delicious Food Photographs and other intriguing photography. Thanks! http://SecondFocus.com

Celebrating National Oreo Cookie Day: A Look at the World’s Best-Selling Cookie Through My Lens

It’s National Oreo Cookie Day! Since their debut in 1912, Oreo cookies have become the world’s best-selling cookie, with over 34 billion consumed annually across more than 100 countries. Originally created by the National Biscuit Company (now Nabisco), the first Oreos sold for just 25 cents a pound. From the classic chocolate and creme combo to countless limited-edition flavors, Oreos have cemented their place as a global snack icon.

My photograph captures a pile of these beloved cookies, showcasing their signature design and creamy filling against a deep black background. Explore more of my food photographs and other intriguing projects on my website at http://SecondFocus.com Thanks!

SpaceX Launch: ZUMA Press Photo of the Month

I’m honored to have my photograph of the SpaceX Falcon 9 launch included in ZUMA Press’s Pictures of the Month for February. This image captures the dramatic ascent of Falcon 9 as it carried 23 Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

ZUMA Press is the world’s largest independent press agency and wire service. ZUMA’s top-of-the-class photographers have won every major award—from the prestigious Pulitzer to the World Press Awards, along with multiple Best of Photojournalism (BOP) and Pictures of the Year (POYi) awards. With over 12,000 new images posted daily, ZUMA’s state-of-the-art online archive has grown to an incredible 20 million images, making it the largest purely editorial library on the web.

I’m proud to be part of such a distinguished selection of images and invite you to explore the full gallery of this month’s stunning photographs. Check out the video of February’s featured images at https://thepicturesofthemonth.com

You can also view more of my work, from fast food to aviation and many more intriguing projects on my website at https://www.secondfocus.com Thanks!

“Forever Marilyn” Featured in The Times London and ZUMA Press

One of my photos syndicated by ZUMA Press from last week’s relocation of the “Forever Marilyn” statue in Palm Springs was licensed and featured in “The Times” of London, and other publications around the world, as well as selected as a Picture of the Day by ZUMA Press. I’m pleased to have been selected and featured for capturing this 26-foot icon being lifted and moved to it’s new location resolving a long-standing legal dispute.

The Original: 50 Years of the Egg McMuffin




March 2nd, National Egg McMuffin Day, McDonald’s iconic breakfast sandwich, has a rich history that revolutionized fast-food breakfast. It was conceived in 1971 by Herb Peterson, a McDonald’s franchisee in Santa Barbara, California. Inspired by Eggs Benedict, Peterson wanted to create a portable, handheld version that could be eaten on the go. He developed a sandwich featuring a freshly cracked egg cooked in a Teflon ring, Canadian bacon, and melted cheese, all served on a toasted English muffin.

After a successful test run, the Egg McMuffin made its national debut in 1975, becoming the foundation of McDonald’s breakfast menu. Its success led McDonald’s to expand its breakfast offerings, introducing items like **hotcakes, scrambled eggs, sausage, hash browns, and pastries. Among these additions was the Sausage McMuffin, which replaced the Canadian bacon with a seasoned pork sausage patty, offering a heartier, more indulgent alternative. The Sausage McMuffin with Egg soon followed, combining the best elements of both sandwiches.

The success of the Egg McMuffin didn’t just transform McDonald’s—it redefined fast-food breakfast entirely. Competing chains took notice, with Burger King launching the Croissan’wich in 1983, swapping the English muffin for a flaky croissant. Wendy’s, Jack in the Box, and Dunkin’ also expanded their morning menus, introducing similar breakfast sandwiches with eggs, cheese, and a choice of bacon, sausage, or ham. Even convenience stores and frozen food brands capitalized on the trend, offering ready-to-heat versions in grocery aisles.

2025 marks the sandwich’s 50th anniversary, celebrating half a century of mornings with McDonald’s first-ever breakfast item. The Egg McMuffin’s enduring popularity not only helped cement fast-food breakfast as a daily routine but also influenced an entire industry, proving that a simple idea—an egg on an English muffin—could change the way America starts its day.

Visit my website to see my Food Photography and other intriguing photo projects. Thanks! http://SecondFocus.com

Last Day Please Visit!

Friends in the area—tomorrow is the last day to see my largest exhibited photograph, nearly 5 feet high.

“A WET SEXUALITY OF MUSCLE” is on display at the Artists Center at the Galen, a museum-standard facility, as part of an exhibit featuring 118 artworks. If you haven’t seen it yet, I’d love for you to check it out before the show closes.

This piece is all about power, resilience, and vulnerability. A sculpted figure stands under a cascade of water, droplets highlighting every muscle. The stark black background makes the play of light and shadow even more dramatic, while the water enhances her presence with an undeniable sexual energy. Dumbbells at her feet tie it all back to discipline and transformation.

If you go, let me know what you think. Thanks!

📍 **Artists Center at the Galen**
72567 Hwy 111, Palm Desert, CA
📅 **Last day: March 1**

Hope you get a chance to see it!

“Forever Marilyn” on the Move – Time-Lapse of Palm Springs Statue Relocation

For this video, I mounted a GoPro to the hot shoe of my camera while photographing the move of the Forever Marilyn statue in Palm Springs for syndication through ZUMA Press. The footage captures the entire process as the 26-foot-tall sculpture was lifted and repositioned just 30 feet away—fast-tracked to 300% speed, condensing the move into a quick, unedited, 2-minute, 10-second clip.

This shift marks the resolution of a long-running legal dispute over the statue’s placement near the Palm Springs Art Museum. Despite the controversy, Forever Marilyn, created by sculptor Seward Johnson, remains an undeniable landmark in the city. Here’s a high-speed look at the relocation.

“Forever Marilyn” Moves—Palm Springs Icon Shifted 30 Feet to Settle Legal Dispute

The 26-foot-tall *Forever Marilyn* statue, created by sculptor Seward Johnson, was hoisted by crane early this morning in downtown Palm Springs. This larger-than-life tribute to Marilyn Monroe’s iconic pose from *The Seven Year Itch* was shifted roughly 30 feet to resolve ongoing legal disputes over its placement. Installed in 2021 near the Palm Springs Art Museum, the statue faced criticism and legal challenges regarding public access and aesthetic concerns. This morning’s relocation—just a short distance—marks the conclusion of the legal battles.

For those of you in the community who were upset with being able to see under her skirt and calling this misogynistic, I again looked closely and see only white painted aluminum. Not a vagina in sight. So you all must have a much better imagination than I do.

Vapor Trail Falcon 9

The condensation cloud rising in the sky after a launch. When SpaceX’s rocket engines burn fuel—typically a mix of RP-1 (a refined kerosene) and liquid oxygen—the combustion produces water vapor (along with carbon dioxide). As this hot vapor exits the engine and meets the very cold, high-altitude air, it rapidly cools and condenses into tiny droplets or ice crystals, creating the white, wispy trail. This phenomenon is similar to the contrails seen behind high-flying aircraft.

Last night, the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch was hidden by the mountains for me. However the remaining vapor trail rose slowly in the sky above them. The colors photographed nicely and made me happy I just stayed outside instead of just going back in the house.