National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day: The One Cookie Theory
There are foods that inspire endless debate. Burgers. Pizza. Barbecue. Then there are chocolate chip cookies. Nobody argues about whether they belong in the dessert hall of fame. The only real debate starts after the first one.
It always begins with the best of intentions. “I’ll just have one.”
One becomes two because the second one is obviously for comparison. Three is simply to confirm your findings. Somewhere around four or five, you’ve stopped conducting research and have entered a completely different phase of the experiment.
For photography, chocolate chip cookies are deceptively simple. Every crack, every chocolate chip, every highlight and shadow has to look just right. A cookie that tastes great isn’t always the one that photographs the best, and the one that photographs perfectly may not survive long enough to make it back to the kitchen.
Fortunately, these did.
Happy National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day.
You can see more of my photography, projects, motion, and my Blog on my website at https://www.secondfocus.com
Thank You!
McDonald’s Apple Pie on National Apple Pie Day
Today is National Apple Pie Day, a fitting time to feature one of the most enduring fast food desserts in America—McDonald’s Apple Pie.
First introduced in 1968, McDonald’s Apple Pie was the chain’s first-ever dessert item. Originally deep-fried, it quickly became a fan favorite for its crackling crust and piping-hot filling. In the early 1990s, most U.S. locations switched to a baked version, part of a broader push toward “healthier” options. Despite the change, the pie’s iconic rectangular shape, sugary glaze, and soft apple filling kept it popular across decades.
This photograph, part of my *From Bag to Background* series, captures the pies just as they came—unwrapped and stacked on a deep black background. Some are broken open, revealing the caramelized apple interior, while others remain whole, showcasing the crisp, golden lattice crust. No styling. No props. Just fast food as it really is.
McDonald’s still sells millions of apple pies each year, a testament to their lasting appeal. And while flavors have rotated in and out—cherry, pumpkin, and even taro in some countries—the classic apple pie remains a constant.
See more photos from the series on my website: http://SecondFocus.com
What’s Left Behind on the Parchment
Parchment paper tells its own story. The browned impressions, the outlines of where the food once rested—heat, placement, and process left behind. Nothing arranged here, just the baking sheet as it came out of the oven.
Cooking on parchment paper keeps things from sticking, makes cleanup easy, and sometimes leaves behind these quiet little records of what just happened. Any guesses what was baked on this tray?
Part of my From Bag to Background series. See more at http://SecondFocus.com Thanks!
The Greatest Thing Since Sliced Bread
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