Forget The Standard Ice Cream Sandwich
For National Ice Cream Sandwich Day, I went with something a little different—a Jewish Deli Ice Cream Sandwich. Vanilla ice cream layered between slices of rye bread, topped with yellow mustard, and plated with pickles.
It’s everything you didn’t know you wanted in a dessert: carbs, condiments, and a deli‑counter sense of confidence. Forget the cookies—this is a sandwich your grandmother might serve if she’d finally given up on tradition and decided dessert should also pair well with pastrami.
Yes, I thought this one up myself. I didn’t want to just photograph more ice cream sandwiches. I’ve been reading about the history of Jewish delis and photographing deli food, and one thing led to another. And if you’re curious, I did try it—and it tasted outstanding!
This photo is part of my commercial food photography—where I sometimes explore the less obvious corners of culinary “artistry.” See more here:
https://www.secondfocus.com/index/G0000WFAqDJQOgKU
Sonic Hot Dogs for Memorial Day
Memorial Day might be known for backyard grills, parades, and remembrance—but let’s not forget the American tradition of food, and especially fast food.
This photo features a stack of Sonic hot dogs—five All-American dogs topped with ketchup, mustard, relish, and chopped onions, and five Chili Cheese Coneys loaded with beef chili and melted cheddar. They were ordered with standard condiments, photographed unaltered, and presented exactly as served. No stylists, no tweaks. Just how they looked coming out of the bag.
Part of my ongoing From Bag to Background series, this shoot keeps the focus on the food itself—raw, excessive, and unmistakably American. The visual contrast of bright toppings against a black background amplifies what these items really are: edible symbols of road trips, summer, and casual indulgence.
Sonic Drive-In has been a fixture of American car culture since 1953, when it began as a root beer stand in Shawnee, Oklahoma. It quickly expanded into a nationwide chain known for its curbside service, carhops on roller skates, and all-American menu. Hot dogs—especially chili dogs—have been a core part of that menu since the early days, long before the arrival of the footlong in 2010. Sonic’s hot dogs remain rooted in drive-in tradition, served fast, topped generously, and wrapped in foil like a handshake from another era.
To see the full From Bag to Background series, visit the gallery on my website at SecondFocus.com
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