Fred R. on Yelp

Sunday, January 31, 2010

Friends and Food

I get asked (A LOT) why I take pictures of food. I also sometimes get asked why I don't take pictures of the people I'm with when we go out dining. So for those of you who wonder, here is my explanation.

Food doesn't worry if it's make up is perfect, if it's hair is just right. Nor will food ask to see the picture and approve it before posting. Food doesn't worry what others will think about it's portion size and whether anyone will think they are a pig for eating it. 

That is the simple acerbic answer. There are other reasons, but I think the questions miss the point of my pictures. For me, eating and dining is a social event. I love to break bread with friends and family. Eating is what we do to nourish the body. Socializing while eating is how I nourish my soul.

I conduct business while eating and drinking. I bring colleagues together over food and drink in order to spark creativity and to build community. I make meals and visit new restaurants with friends and family to generate debates over the best (fill in the blank) I've had and to create great memories for us all.

They say all of our senses are tied to memories. I know I can smell fresh bread and instantly remember the best artisan loaf Kim has made for us and how cold it was that November morning. I know I can taste a 1988 Dom Perignon and instantly go back to day we brought my oldest daughter home from the hospital. For me, my memories have multiple triggers and strange connections. I like that personally.

So the next time you see a picture on my Facebook page, one of my websites or posts, please realize I am documenting my memories with family and friends. With every scone, burger, pizza or libation is story waiting to be shared.

So here are my questions to you:

What memory triggers are strongest for you?

How do you document or record your special daily moments?
 

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Soundtrack to Your Life?

So I came upon this site the other day, and thought: "Wouldn't it be cool if as we were living each day, the appropriate song was playing in the background?" I know there are songs that instantly transport me back to different times in my life.

The Wonder Years TV show made me wish someone was narrating my life as well, but that's another blog post for another day...

The wonder of iPods (and mp3 players in general) is that they make it easy for home DJs to put together hit lists that often serve as our personal soundtracks. I know that mix tapes and boom-boxes get a lot of credit for this concept (Cue John Cusack in Say Anything and High Fidelity) but even the process of burning your own CD was a singular process and a snapshot in time. MP3s changed all that. They were small and easily portable. When the proper players came out that took them off of hard drives and placed them in our pockets, the true revolution began. 

So this post asks you to share if you care to:

Does your life have a Theme Song?

Do you have a soundtrack playing in your mind at different times?  


Did the MP3 development make it easier to hear your personal soundtrack?


Thanks in advance for sharing!

Sunday, January 3, 2010

Digital Images at our Fingertips...

In the not too distant past, taking a photo required a person to bring a camera with them. Whether it was digital or film, the photographer had to consciously think about the potential for needing the device and bring it with them. Now most cell phones and other hand-held devices come equipped with digital cameras. Many of the "smart phones" allow you to directly upload photos or videos to Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, etc. With all of these tools and services at our disposal, is it any wonder why every event, private or public is captured and available for scrutiny and review? In an age where a picture of Tiger Woods (post scandal) can bring $300k, is it no wonder why everyone is ready to snap a photo or shoot a video in order to cash in? 

What most people fail to contemplate is the consequences of posting photos or video online. It is estimated that once you share a photo or video, Pandora's box is open and it is not possible to retract or remove digital content due to the ability of search engines to retain cached information and other netizens to store copies on their computers. Just ask anyone who is the subject of a news report how quickly agencies search out online images long since forgotten or in some cases, content that he/she was not aware of in the first place.

So my question to you is this: Do your share pictures and/or videos online? If so, do you worry who could be viewing it?

Friday, January 1, 2010

(Anti)Social Networking or Who Cares Where You Eat?

So here I am at the start of a new decade, using new technical innovations to do what used be done by email, voice-mail or heaven forbid, in person: having dialogs regarding all things banal, benign or brilliant.

I use apps on a cell phone that are now known as PCDs; Personal Communication Devices. These devices have have little in common with the bricks of the Eighties. The first cell phone I had was designed to connect me with others via phone lines. Later came text messaging, followed closely by photo and video messaging. Now, we are able to do most things that required PCs. So it stands to reason that our forms of interaction and communication would evolve as well.

The mere fact that I am blogging about this is demonstrates how much I am willing to share my thoughts and actions. Recently I was asked why I use Four Square (www.foursquare.com), although I believe the question was more along the lines like "Who cares where you eat? Why do you want people to know? The simple answer is that it is another way to create dialog and share opinions. The longer answer is that the competitive side wants to demonstrate where I go and what helps me form my "educated and knowledgeable" opinion.

So the idea of connecting without physical boundries is one that is appealing to some and disturbing to others. I know what I think, but I want to know what your opinion is. Share if you care. Feel free to use your iPhone, Droid, Crackberry or other device....