Pickle Day, The International Version
Today is International Pickle Day.
Because at some point, we decided pickles deserved a global platform.
And honestly, that tracks. Pickles show up everywhere. Not always the same, not always even close, but the idea holds. Take something fresh, preserve it, transform it, and give it time.
In the U.S., it usually lands here, cucumbers, brine, salt, sometimes vinegar, sometimes garlic, sometimes a little bite. The kind you get stacked next to sandwiches, burgers, or just eaten straight out of the container when no one’s paying attention.
But step outside that and it shifts quickly. Europe leans into sharper, more acidic versions. The Middle East brings in spices and different vegetables entirely. Asia pushes into fermented territory that’s deeper and more complex. Same concept, different outcomes.
That’s what makes it “international.”
This photograph keeps it simple. Whole pickles and slices, nothing styled, nothing adjusted, just taken as they are and placed onto a black background. The texture, the surface, the variation in color, that’s the entire point.
No garnish needed.
More at https://www.secondfocus.com
Falafel Wraps for International Falafel Day
June 12th marks International Falafel Day—a time to acknowledge one of the most enduring and portable fast foods in the world.
Falafel traces its origins to the Middle East, with Egypt often cited as the birthplace of the dish. Originally made with fava beans and known as ta’amiya, the recipe evolved across regions, eventually incorporating chickpeas and becoming a staple in Israel, Lebanon, Syria, and beyond. Today, falafel is found everywhere from street carts to fast food chains, often claimed by different cultures but universally loved for its crisp texture and bold seasoning.
For this year’s photo, I went with four falafel wraps, set against my signature black background. Three wraps are arranged along the base, with a fourth stacked above. Each one features sesame-crusted falafel tucked into pita bread and layered with fresh tomato, pickled vegetables, greens, and tahini sauce—exactly as it came, with no styling or edits.
Falafel by itself is often considered a fast food. In wrap form, it becomes a highly portable meal, emphasizing convenience without losing any of the original flavor or texture. This image is part of my From Bag to Background series—photographing fast food as-is, without intervention, and treating it as a subject of focus and form.
More of the series can be viewed on my website:
https://www.secondfocus.com/index/G0000wQ3fbeEezF0/I0000nUG8tfk8Gdc
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