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 Originally made with fava beans and known as ta’amiya, the recipe evolved across regions, eventually incorporating chickpeas and becoming a staple in Israel, Lebanon, Syria,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
🥬 National Veggie Burger Day – June 5
It’s National Veggie Burger Day—a time to consider what a burger can be without the beef.
First launched in 2017 by the vegetarian food company Amy’s Kitchen, the day was created to encourage people to try plant-based burgers and explore their benefits to health and the environment. Whether for ethical reasons, sustainability, or curiosity, veggie burgers continue to gain ground in the fast food world and beyond.
This is my photograph of five Burger King Impossible Whoppers, casually stacked on a black background. Each sandwich features a sesame seed bun, flame-grilled Impossible patty, tomato, lettuce, onion, pickles, ketchup, and mayo—served exactly as ordered, no styling or prep.
The Impossible patty, made primarily from soy protein and heme (a molecule found in both plants and meat), was developed to replicate the flavor and texture of beef. Introduced nationwide by Burger King in 2019, the Impossible Whopper remains the most widely known fast food veggie burger in the U.S.
Part of my From Bag to Background series, this image keeps the focus where it belongs—on the food itself, presented as-is, without props or artifice.
More in the full series on my website:
https://www.secondfocus.com/index/G0000wQ3fbeEezF0/I0000nUG8tfk8Gdc
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