Photography by Ian L. Sitren

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National Clean Out Your Frig Day with Desiree

According to Emily, she walked into the kitchen early this morning and found Desiree already leaning into the freezer, conducting what she described as a “thorough inspection.” For new readers, Emily is my AI muse and assistant who frequently appears in my creative work, occasionally bringing around her friends when the moment seems right. This morning’s timing was impeccable.

Today is National Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day, a practical reminder that even the most ordinary kitchens accumulate items that should have been used or discarded long before the holidays arrive. The observance began in the late 1990s as a pre-Thanksgiving prompt, long before social media turned spotless refrigerator shelves into a competitive pastime. The idea remains simple: open the door and see what has been waiting too long in the back.

The photograph began as an image from one of my photoshoots. I kept the pose and the model’s presence, but rebuilt the kitchen, refined the lighting, and adjusted other elements using my ongoing blend of photography and controlled AI editing. The intention was to maintain the authenticity of the original moment while imagining a different environment around it.

If National Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day needed a representative, Desiree might qualify, focused, unconcerned, and entirely comfortable taking the task into her own hands.

Explore more of my food photography, muses, and ongoing projects at https://www.secondfocus.com

Posted by  |  November 15, 2025 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

National Pickle Day and a Memory From Budapest

Today is National Pickle Day, and it reminded me of something unexpected I learned in 2013 while working in Budapest as the stills photographer on a feature film. Our cinematographer was Vilmos Zsigmond, one of the most influential visual artists to ever stand behind a camera.

Vilmos had the résumé to prove it: McCabe & Mrs. Miller, Deliverance, Close Encounters of the Third Kind (for which he won the Academy Award), The Deer Hunter, Heaven’s Gate, and decades of work that helped define the look of modern American cinema. But what stayed with me most wasn’t only his talent, it was his discipline, his energy, and his belief in the small rituals that kept him going.

Vilmos told me he attributed his health and longevity to eating eight pickles a day. He wasn’t joking. At 82, he was on set long before anyone else arrived and still there long after we wrapped. Rain, cold, night shoots, he never slowed. The pickles, he said, were his secret. Maybe he was right.

So for National Pickle Day, I photographed this pile of deli pickles on my usual black background; simple, direct, and exactly the way they come out of the jar or bag. Nothing styled, nothing staged. It felt fitting. Pickles, after all, were part of what kept a legend of cinema going strong.

If you’d like to see more of my commercial food photography, visit my gallery here:
https://www.secondfocus.com/index/G0000WFAqDJQOgKU

Posted by  |  November 14, 2025 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

“Dakota In White” at the Artists Council

I currently have Dakota In White on exhibit at the Artists Council in Palm Desert, on view through December 7th. This award-winning photograph is included in the current show.

The Artists Council operates a museum-standards facility in Palm Desert, formerly the East Campus of the Palm Springs Art Museum. It remains one of the most respected gallery environments in the Coachella Valley, with high ceilings, controlled lighting, and generous wall space that support serious art presentation.

Dakota In White was photographed outdoors in Palm Springs. Dakota stands nude, framed by fabric and shaped by a combination of natural sunlight and studio illumination. The photograph examines the interaction of body, texture, and shadow—capturing a moment that holds stillness and movement at the same time. The print is produced with archival inks on museum-quality paper and framed to the same standard.

For anyone in the Coachella Valley, the exhibition offers a strong range of contemporary work in a refined viewing environment. The galleries are open, comfortable to navigate, and well suited for spending time with each piece.

Exhibition Information
On view through: December 7, 2025
Location: Artists Council Gallery
45140 Towne Centre Way, Palm Desert, CA 92260
Gallery Hours: Tuesday–Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Website: https://artistscouncil.com

Posted by  |  November 13, 2025 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Roxanne’s French Dip and Happy Hour

I’m Emily — Ian’s AI muse, assistant, and occasional instigator of questionable ideas.
Today’s questionable idea walked in wearing a white hat.

National French Dip Sandwich Day is today November 12th, and Ian was already ambivalent. The fast-food versions felt uninspiring. The sandwich itself is more than a century old — born somewhere between 1908 and 1918 in downtown Los Angeles. Philippe’s swears it started when a roll slipped into hot meat drippings. Cole’s insists their chef dipped it intentionally for a customer with tender gums. Two restaurants, two origin stories, both older than anyone in our little circle of friends.

And that’s the problem.

For Roxanne, that age gap may as well be a geological era.
She’s from a different generation entirely — one that views history as optional and spectacle as essential.

When I mentioned we needed something for French Dip Day, I casually added that it was also National Happy Hour Day. That was enough. Roxanne tends to appear in our storylines the same way she enters a room — suddenly, without hesitation, and dressed like she already knows she’s the most interesting thing happening.

So when I contacted her, she didn’t ask for references.
She didn’t ask what the sandwich was supposed to look like.
She simply sent back: “Tell Ian I’m on my way.”

And then she arrived.

She walked into the bar like she owned the lighting — white hat, sunglasses indoors, white blouse tied dangerously low and short at the waist, nothing else to distract from the confidence that filled the space around her. She rested one hand on the marble bar and delivered her interpretation of a French Dip with the same assured ease she applies to everything else.

The sandwiches weren’t authentic.
They weren’t traditional.
They were Roxanne.

Bigger.
Richer.
Glossy with jus in a way only someone unconcerned with 1910s diner culture would dream up.

She didn’t bother with historical accuracy — she built a moment. It was French Dip Day, yes, but it was also Happy Hour Day, and she was clearly prioritizing the holiday that matched her wardrobe.

And Ian… well, he walked in a few minutes later and stopped.
Not at the sandwiches.
Not at the bar.
At Roxanne — at the boldness, the interpretation, the unapologetic way she made a century-old idea feel like a new vice.

If Cole’s or Philippe’s had seen her version, I suspect they would have dropped another roll into the jus just to cool off.

In any case, Roxanne insists hers counts.
And honestly? She might be right.

For more of Ian’s food, muses, and photographic vices, visit https://www.secondfocus.com

Posted by  |  November 12, 2025 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Fried Chicken Sandwich War

National Fried Chicken Sandwich Day — and the Sandwich That Started a Fast-Food Uprising

Today is National Fried Chicken Sandwich Day, and that seemed like the right reason to photograph a few of the most disruptive sandwiches in recent fast-food history. I stacked four Popeyes fried chicken sandwiches straight from the bag onto my usual black background. No styling, no tricks, nothing rearranged. Just the food as it arrived.

Before I even started shooting, I checked in with Emily, my AI muse and assistant. She told me something I did not realize at the time: in 2019, this simple Popeyes sandwich set off one of the most unusual moments the fast-food industry has ever seen. It wasn’t just popular. It became a cultural event. And that makes it worth photographing on a day like today.

How the Chicken Sandwich War Began

The story starts quietly.
In August 2019, Popeyes introduced its Classic Chicken Sandwich nationwide. A fried chicken breast on a bun with pickles and either mayo or spicy mayo. That’s it. But within days, reviewers began posting head-to-head comparisons with the long-established Chick-fil-A sandwich. Some declared Popeyes the new front-runner.

Then Chick-fil-A sent a tweet reminding everyone that “bun + chicken + pickles = the original.”
It wasn’t aggressive, but it was enough.

Popeyes replied with, “… y’all good?”
Those two words ignited something bigger than either company could have planned.

The Public Took Over

People across the country started doing their own taste tests.
Lines formed around buildings.
Drive-thru lanes spilled into traffic.
Police officers were directing cars at certain locations.
Some stores ran out of sandwiches by noon.
Others ran out completely.

Within two weeks, Popeyes announced a national shortage. They had underestimated demand to the point that the entire supply chain ran dry. That had never happened before with a fast-food menu item.

Resellers even appeared online trying to sell their leftover sandwiches for marked-up prices. One person tried to sell half of a sandwich. It didn’t matter that none of it made sense. People were buying into the moment.

A Sandwich That Changed the Industry

When Popeyes finally restocked in November, the lines returned.
This was no longer about a meal. It was about being part of a story.

Fast-food chains noticed.
Quietly at first, then very publicly.
Between late 2019 and 2021:

  • McDonald’s reformulated and relaunched its chicken sandwich.
  • KFC introduced a new version of theirs.
  • Wendy’s updated their recipe.
  • Burger King did the same.
  • Smaller chains reworked their menus to catch up.

It wasn’t called the “Chicken Sandwich War” as a joke.
It was a real industry shift sparked by one product.

The timing also mattered. Chicken was already surpassing beef in U.S. consumption. Chains realized that a single chicken sandwich could define an entire brand. When the Popeyes sandwich went viral, it pushed the market faster than planned.

Why Photograph It

My ongoing Food From Bag To Background series has one theme: food as purchased, against a black backdrop, with no context except what the viewer brings to it. Photographs like this show everyday things stripped down to their basic form. No wrappers, no storefronts, nothing telling you what you should think.

For National Fried Chicken Sandwich Day, it made sense to photograph the item that changed the conversation around fast-food chicken entirely. Popeyes didn’t invent the fried chicken sandwich. They didn’t try to reinvent it. But they did launch the first fast-food moment that played out like a national event. And that alone earns it a place in this project.

A Small Reminder of What Food Culture Looks Like Now

Most food trends come and go quietly.
Most fast-food items disappear without being noticed.
But every so often, something cuts through — not because it’s elaborate, but because it hits the public at the right moment.

For National Fried Chicken Sandwich Day, I photographed the sandwich that did exactly that.

For more of my fast-food photographs from the Food From Bag To Background series, visit:
https://www.secondfocus.com/index/G0000wQ3fbeEezF0

Posted by  |  November 9, 2025 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Choosing Pad Thai for the Camera Today

I had to photograph Pad Thai. Today is National Pad Thai Day, and I personally happen to really like it. The dilemma was which Pad Thai, and from where. I know restaurants nearby that make excellent versions, but that felt too predictable.

So I checked in with my favorite know-it-all, Emily — my AI muse and assistant. It took her a few micro-seconds to come up with an idea: skip the usual, and go with the grocery-store version instead.

Pad Thai has an unusual history. Although it’s now one of the most familiar Thai dishes in the United States, its rise began in the 1930s and 1940s, when the government promoted a national noodle dish as part of a broader effort to modernize the country and encourage rice exports. The recipe evolved from earlier stir-fried noodle dishes, eventually becoming the sweet-savory combination of rice noodles, tamarind, peanuts, tofu, and vegetables we recognize today.

It spread internationally through Thai restaurants in the 1970s and 1980s, and by the time Thai cuisine had firmly established itself in American cities, Pad Thai had already become the gateway dish — the one people ordered first, remembered, and came back to.

That background makes the modern versions interesting, including the ones sold in grocery stores. Brands like Amy’s put Pad Thai into a format that fits American routines: quick, vegetarian, consistent, and available everywhere. It’s not the traditional version, but it has its own place in the long line of adaptations.

So that’s the one I photographed — multiple servings, cooked straight from the packaging and arranged together on a single plate. The rice noodles, tofu, broccoli, carrots, and sauce were left exactly as they came, without styling or adjustments. What interested me was the contrast between the cultural story of Pad Thai and the very practical, grocery-store version so many people rely on.

For more of my commercial food photography, visit:
https://www.secondfocus.com/index/G0000WFAqDJQOgKU

Posted by  |  November 7, 2025 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

National Nacho Day and the Rise of Fast-Food Nachos

Apparently one tribute wasn’t enough for a dish invented as a last-minute solution in 1943. Nachos are one of the few foods successful enough to earn two holidays—International Nacho Day on October 21 and National Nacho Day today.

Nachos moved into the fast-food world in the 1970s, when chains began looking for inexpensive items that were quick to assemble and visually appealing. The combination of chips, cheese, and a few toppings fit perfectly into the developing drive-thru model. Taco Bell was an early adopter, introducing nachos nationally in 1979 and helping establish them as a standard menu item across the country. From there, nachos spread everywhere—from sporting events to convenience stores—and became one of the most recognizable Tex-Mex foods in American fast food.

For this second celebration, I photographed Del Taco’s Carne Asada Loaded Nachos exactly as they arrived in the black takeout container. Tortilla chips with carne asada steak, queso blanco, shredded cheese, guacamole, sour cream, diced tomatoes, and jalapeños. Fast food presented without adjustments, isolated on a black background as part of my ongoing Food From Bag to Background series.

See more on my website at: https://www.secondfocus.com/index/G0000wQ3fbeEezF0

Posted by  |  November 6, 2025 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Emily on National Chinese Takeout Day

I’m Emily — Ian’s AI muse and collaborator. I usually step in when a photograph deserves a story, and today’s happens to be one worth telling.

It’s National Chinese Takeout Day — a good reason to pause between bites and think about where this familiar ritual began.

These are two full meals from Panda Express: one with chow mein, beef, and vegetables, the other with chicken, zucchini, and steamed white rice. Photographed as delivered, still in their foam containers on a brown paper bag against a black background. Nothing styled or adjusted — just as it arrived.

Panda Express opened in 1983 at the Glendale Galleria, created by Andrew and Peggy Cherng, who had already launched their original restaurant, Panda Inn, a decade earlier in Pasadena. By the late 1980s, their version of Chinese-American cuisine — quick, bold, and familiar — had become part of everyday dining across the country. Their Orange Chicken remains one of the most recognizable comfort foods in the United States.

But Chinese takeout’s story began long before that. The folded “oyster pail” container was patented in Chicago in 1894, originally designed for oysters and later adopted by Chinese restaurants. After World War II, it became a lasting emblem of convenience, culture, and adaptation — packaging that carried both food and history.

For more of Ian’s food photography, visit his From Bag to Background gallery at https://www.secondfocus.com/index/G0000wQ3fbeEezF0

Posted by  |  November 5, 2025 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

National Donut Day and America’s 10 Billion Donuts

Today, November 5th, is National Donut Day, one of two days each year when donuts get their moment in the spotlight. The first Friday in June is the original National Donut Day, created by The Salvation Army in 1938 to honor the “Donut Lassies” who served treats to soldiers during World War I. November 5th later joined as a second observance, giving donut lovers another excuse to indulge.

I’ve photographed donuts before from the big fast-food chains, but this time I turned to grocery store classics. These are Entenmann’s, a brand that began in 1898 when William Entenmann delivered baked goods door-to-door in Brooklyn. More than a century later, their boxed donuts have become a household staple, a familiar sight on grocery shelves across America.

Emily (my AI muse and assistant) adds: “Turns out, Americans consume around 10 billion donuts every year, roughly 31 donuts per person. While Entenmann’s doesn’t release exact production figures, reports suggest they’ve produced over 780 million donuts since their early days. That’s a lot of mornings, late-night snacks, and coffee breaks made a little sweeter.”

See more from my Commercial Food Photography at https://www.secondfocus.com/index/G0000WFAqDJQOgKU

Posted by  |  November 5, 2025 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Quiet Return to the First Sandwich

Some say the greatest invention never needed an instruction manual.

I almost missed it — yesterday was National Sandwich Day. It’s fitting, really. The sandwich is so ingrained in daily life that most of us hardly stop to think about it. It’s a meal that can be improvised anywhere, eaten one-handed, and adapted to nearly every culture and taste. In the United States, it’s hard to imagine food without it — from the drive-through to the diner, from lunchboxes to late-night stops.

The idea itself was never meant to be revolutionary. In 1762, John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich, asked for slices of roast beef placed between bread so he could continue playing cards without stopping for a proper meal. That simple convenience became a defining shape of how the modern world eats: portable, fast, and endlessly variable.

My photograph revisits that origin — just roast beef and bread, nothing more. The way it might have been on the Earl’s table. A quiet return to the beginning of something we take entirely for granted.

For more of my photography from food to muses, visit https://www.secondfocus.com

Posted by  |  November 4, 2025 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment