National French Fry Day | The McDonald’s Fries Debate Never Ends
Today is National French Fry Day.
McDonald’s french fries may be the closest thing fast food has to a religion. Everyone has an opinion. Some insist they were better before 1990. Others swear no one has ever matched them. Entire internet debates have been devoted to trying to duplicate them.
I wasn’t trying to solve the mystery. I was just trying to buy enough of them.
Historians may debate the rise and fall of civilizations, but ask people when McDonald’s fries tasted best and everyone suddenly becomes an expert. Mention beef tallow, vegetable oil, or the “original recipe,” and you’re likely to start an argument that lasts longer than the fries themselves.
This photograph took several large orders of McDonald’s french fries for my Food From Bag To Background project. They went straight from the bags to a black background. No props, no styling, and, despite considerable temptation, none disappeared before the photograph was finished.
You can see more food photography, motion, projects, and my Blog on my website at https://www.secondfocus.com
National Fish & Chips Day and the Legacy of Haddon Salt
National Fish & Chips Day
Before there was H. Salt Fish & Chips, there was Haddon Salt.
In 1965, Salt opened the first H. Salt Esquire Fish & Chips in Sausalito, California, introducing a style of fish and chips inspired by the shops he had known in England. The idea proved popular, and what began as a single restaurant eventually grew into a chain that spread across the United States.
Today’s photograph features a serving of fish and chips from H. Salt for my FOOD FROM BAG TO BACKGROUND series.
Fish and chips has a history stretching back well over a century, with roots in England where fried fish and chipped potatoes became one of the country’s most recognizable meals. The combination eventually crossed the Atlantic and found a place in American fast-food culture as well.
For this photograph, the fish and chips were removed from their paper trays and photographed against a black background.
You can see more from my FOOD FROM BAG TO BACKGROUND series, along with collections and other projects at https://www.secondfocus.com
Vodka, Fries, and Famine: Thank the Potato
It doesn’t look like much — just a lump pulled from the dirt. Yet this humble potato has fueled empires, filled plates, and even caused catastrophe.
Today is National Potato Day, a nod to one of the world’s most enduring and versatile foods. First cultivated in the Andes thousands of years ago, the potato spread across the globe to become a kitchen staple. From French fries to vodka, it’s fed armies, inspired cuisines, and left its mark on history — the Irish potato famine of the 19th century reshaped migration and culture in ways still felt today.
My photograph marks the day with a simple pile of red and yellow potatoes, unstyled, against a black background. Before they’re mashed, fried, roasted, or turned into chips, they remain what they’ve always been: humble roots pulled from the earth.
More on my Commercial Food Gallery at https://www.secondfocus.com/index/G0000WFAqDJQOgKU Take a look it might make you hungry!
National McDonald’s Day: Big Macs, McNuggets, Fries, and Apple Pie — From Bag to Background
It is National McDonald’s Day! A moment to acknowledge the fast food giant that reshaped global eating habits.
My photograph features four of McDonald’s most iconic and historically significant menu items, photographed straight from the bag to the black background:
🍔 **Big Mac** – Introduced in 1967 in Pittsburgh, the Big Mac became a national item by 1968. Known for its triple bun and “special sauce,” it’s arguably the most famous fast food burger in the world.
🍗 **Chicken McNuggets** – Launched in 1983 after years of development, McNuggets brought uniform shapes and dipping sauces to the mainstream. Their popularity reshaped how fast food chains approached snacks and sides.
🍟 **French Fries** – A staple since the beginning. McDonald’s fries, once cooked in beef tallow, have long been a benchmark for fast food fries worldwide.
🥧 **Apple Pie** – First sold in 1968 as a deep-fried dessert, the pie was later baked for health-conscious appeal. Its rectangular form and hot filling remain a nostalgic favorite.
No styling, no alterations — just photographed as they came, part of my “From Bag to Background” series. See the full project to date on my website at http://SecondFocus.com
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