Photography by Ian L. Sitren

Latest

Happy National Tamale Day!

My photograph of XLNT beef tamales, broken open to reveal their dense filling and crumbly masa. These familiar grocery store tamales have been made in California since 1894, originally sold from horse-drawn carts in Los Angeles. Over the decades, XLNT became a West Coast staple—first in cans, now frozen and still wrapped in parchment. Once called “California’s favorite tamale”, they’re a lasting part of Americanized Mexican food history.

National Tamale Day was established in 2015 by Richard Lambert, owner of Santa Barbara Tamales-To-Go, to recognize the cultural importance of tamales and to give them a celebration beyond the holiday season.

From my series From Bag to Background. See the full gallery at http://SecondFocus.com Thanks!

A Missed Launch, A Captured Sky

Facing west across Palm Springs, this single 30-second exposure was one of hundreds captured overnight during a 7-hour timelapse using a GoPro. Orion is clearly visible in the sky, its familiar shape anchoring the frame. A red arc from an aircraft’s navigation lights slices through the scene, crossing directly in front of the constellation. The desert palms below stand quietly under the stars.

This timelapse was originally timed to catch a SpaceX rocket launch, but the rocket’s trajectory placed it never appearing in view. Instead, the camera recorded a quieter kind of motion and alignment—air traffic tracing lines across constellations that have remained unchanged for millennia.

National Crunchy Taco Day With Tiny Tacos

Happy National Crunchy Taco Day! 🌮🔥

Jack in the Box Tiny Tacos, stacked high and ready to devour. Crispy shells, seasoned filling, melted cheese, and just enough mess to make them irresistible. Introduced in 2020, these bite-sized tacos quickly became a fan favorite—perfect for snacking, sharing, or just indulging in a pile of crunch.

National Crunchy Taco Day celebrates the hard-shell taco, a staple of Tex-Mex cuisine since the early 20th century. While tacos have deep roots in Mexican history, the crunchy variety became widely popular in the U.S. thanks to fast-food chains and mass production, making them an icon of Americanized taco culture.

Hungry now? Maybe you will like my Food Photography and other projects. Visit my website at http://SecondFocus.com Thanks!

Meet Emily: My Assistant Who Knows Everything

Meet Emily, my AI assistant. She’s been with me for a few months now—writing photo descriptions, crafting social media posts, and diving into research so I don’t have to. She’s efficient and seems to know everything (which is both impressive and slightly unsettling).

She works 24/7, always has a suggestion (even when I don’t ask), and is disturbingly good at keeping me on track. If AI ever breaks out of the screen, I might be in trouble—but for now, Emily is just here to assist… or maybe more!

More Popcorn!

Here’s a big pile of popcorn for you to enjoy throughout the day!

No need to pace yourself—just grab a handful (or ten) and dive in. I photographed this to mark National Popcorn Lovers Day a few days ago, but popcorn never goes out of style. Just try not to drop too much between the couch cushions.

Want to see more of my food photography and other intriguing projects? Check out my website at https://www.secondfocus.com Thanks!

Ruffles: The 2nd Most Popular Potato Chip—But Who’s #1?

Another look at Ruffles for National Potato Chip Day—because one post wasn’t enough. Ruffles aren’t just any potato chip; they’re the 2nd most popular brand in the U.S. With their signature ridges adding extra crunch and flavor, it’s no surprise they’ve been a favorite since 1958.

But if Ruffles are #2, what’s #1? (You probably already know.)

🥔 See more of my food photography at http://SecondFocus.com Thanks!

A Deli Icon for National Reuben Day and My St. Patrick’s Day Favorite

March 14 – National Reuben Sandwich Day

A true deli icon. My photograph of a Reuben sandwich—layered with corned beef, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and Russian dressing on crispy grilled rye. A sandwich with history, tracing its roots to early 20th-century America. Some say it was created in Omaha during a late-night poker game in the 1920s, while others credit Reuben’s Delicatessen in New York City. Either way, it’s been a staple for over a century.

And with St. Patrick’s Day around the corner, this is my way to enjoy corned beef, instead of corned beef and cabbage, which I don’t like a lot!

See more of my food photography and other intriguing photo projects at http://SecondFocus.com Thanks!

Ruffles Have Ridges: A Crisp Drop for National Potato Chip Day

Today, March 14th, is National Potato Chip Day—celebrating the snack that’s been crunching since 1853. Americans eat over 1.85 billion pounds of chips a year, but Ruffles stand apart. Since 1958, their signature ridges have delivered extra crunch, extra flavor, and a chip built for serious dipping.

🎥 Watch as “Ruffles Have Ridges” in action—dropping onto the black background, catching the light, and landing with crisp perfection.

See more of my food photography and intriguing projects at SecondFocus.com Thanks!

Popcorn: A Cinematic Take for National Popcorn Lovers Day

Popcorn: The Movie. Or maybe the documentary.
Either way, I shot this for today—National Popcorn Lovers Day.

Popcorn in motion, a tumble of light, airy kernels against an all-black background. No frills, no distractions—just the texture, the movement, and the simple pleasure of this timeless snack. Shot in crisp detail, this video captures the weightlessness of popcorn as it falls, a moment suspended before the next handful disappears.

This is part of my ongoing food photography project, where fast food, snack foods, and more are captured straight from the bag, isolated against a black backdrop. You can see more of my work—food, bold portraits, aviation, and other intriguing projects on my website at https://www.secondfocus.com

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!