SPAM Meets the Big Mac
Last week gave us National SPAM Day. Then, just a couple of days later, came National Big Mac Day.
While thinking about National Big Mac Day, I remembered something that people on the mainland may not know.
SPAM is a huge part of the food culture in Hawaii, and McDonald’s restaurants throughout the Islands have embraced it for years. You’ll find SPAM on breakfast platters with eggs and rice, and at many locations it can also be substituted on selected breakfast sandwiches. So while McDonald’s has never offered a SPAM Big Mac, SPAM has had a place on the McDonald’s menu in Hawaii for many years.
Flying to Hawaii just to pick up breakfast from McDonald’s didn’t seem especially practical.
So I decided to bring a little Hawaii into my own kitchen.
Instead of changing the Big Mac, I wondered what would happen if I simply added SPAM to it. Not replacing the famous beef patties. Just adding two slices of pan-fried SPAM to each burger.
I started with three regular Big Macs. Then I pan-fried six slices of SPAM and added two slices to each burger, leaving the original Big Mac exactly as McDonald’s intended while adding a little Hawaiian inspiration.
Then it was time for the part I know best.
The three burgers moved in front of my camera and became the latest addition to my Food From Bag To Backgroundfast food photography project. Against my very black black background, the sesame seed buns, melted cheese, lettuce, beef patties, and SPAM came together exactly as I had envisioned.
The SPAM story isn’t over yet. There is one more stop on this journey through Hawaii’s favorite canned meat.
Next… SPAM Musubi.
You can see more of my photography, projects, motion, and my Blog on my website at https://www.secondfocus.com
Thank You!
National Big Mac Day and a Hawaiian Question
Today is National Big Mac Day, a celebration of one of the most recognizable hamburgers ever created. Introduced by McDonald’s in 1968, the Big Mac has become far more than just another menu item. With its two all-beef patties, three-piece sesame seed bun, shredded lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, and signature Big Mac Sauce, it has become an icon of American fast food.
For this photograph, I wanted to show what makes a Big Mac unique. Opening the top bun reveals the middle layer of bread and the familiar ingredients that have made the sandwich instantly recognizable for generations. Against my very black black background, the attention stays exactly where I wanted it, on one of the world’s most famous hamburgers.
While researching today’s post, I stumbled onto something I hadn’t expected. Hawaii has one of the highest rates of SPAM consumption in the world, and McDonald’s restaurants there even serve SPAM on their breakfast menu. That led me to an obvious question. If McDonald’s Hawaii serves SPAM, why has there never been an official SPAM Big Mac?
Tomorrow I’m going to find out what that might look like. I’ll be creating and photographing my own SPAM Big Mac. It won’t be an official McDonald’s product, but rather my own photographic interpretation inspired by Hawaii’s unique food culture. Then, a few days later, we’ll continue the journey with National SPAM Musubi Day.
You can see more of my photography, projects, motion, and my Blog on my website at https://www.secondfocus.com
Thank You!
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
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
The McRib: Stacked and Photographed
My latest food photograph features six McDonald’s McRib sandwiches, casually stacked onto a black background. Straight from their packaging, the sandwiches showcase the iconic barbecue-glazed pork patties, cornmeal-dusted buns, and classic toppings of crisp white onions and pickles. The glossy barbecue sauce seeps between layers, creating a visual sense of indulgence and texture.
The dramatic black backdrop isolates the subject, enhancing the visual impact of this limited-time McDonald’s menu item. With professional lighting and composition, the photograph preserves the unstyled, straight-from-the-bag authenticity of the stack while elevating the overall presentation.
Check out my Food Photography and much more on my website at http://SecondFocus.com Thanks!
National Fast Food Day!
Fast food has become a cornerstone of modern dining—fast, affordable, and familiar. No brand represents this phenomenon better than McDonald’s, and at the center of their menu is the Big Mac.
First introduced in 1967, the Big Mac has become a global symbol of fast food. With its two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, and sesame seed bun, it’s a recipe so well-known that it has become part of pop culture.
For National Fast Food Day, I wanted to capture the essence of this icon. My latest photograph showcases a pile of Big Macs against a stark black background. The image highlights the layers and textures that have made this burger instantly recognizable.
Fast food often represents more than just a quick meal—it’s a cultural experience, a shared memory, and a symbol of indulgence. Today, we celebrate its most famous ambassador: the Big Mac.
What’s your favorite fast food memory? Share it in the comments! More of my Food Photography on my website at http://SecondFocus.com Thanks!
All The Parking
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