{"id":65266,"date":"2022-09-20T14:00:05","date_gmt":"2022-09-20T05:00:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fujifilmnxtc.wpenginepowered.com\/?post_type=xstories&#038;p=4206708"},"modified":"2024-05-02T00:12:40","modified_gmt":"2024-05-01T15:12:40","slug":"food-for-thought","status":"publish","type":"story","link":"https:\/\/www.fujifilm-x.com\/pl-pl\/stories\/food-for-thought\/","title":{"rendered":"Food for Thought"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><div class=\"embed-responsive\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/GMS9opf_pi0\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<h5>Nivi Shaham\u2019s bite-sized vignettes unveil the highs and lows of mealtime upkeep<\/h5>\n<p>It\u2019s where cuisine meets cutlery and families break bread. It\u2019s that hastily arranged sandwich pre-commute, a nine-course tasting menu \u00e0 la carte, the gloopy broth slopped across soup kitchen pots and pans. It has its own economies, cultures, and circumstances \u2013 defined by scarcity and abundance, taste and quality. The patterns of consumption may differ, but the rituals of food remain.<\/p>\n<p>We\u2019re all thinking about it, but Nivi Shaham ponders nutrition more than most. Four years ago, the UCD freshman was diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), and overnight, her dietary changes were drastically altered.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI had to learn to prepare my meals in a very different way,\u201d she begins. \u201cWeirdly, that\u2019s when I really fell in love with cooking, and by extension, photographing the process.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>What began as a strict necessity swiftly became a beneficial routine. Connecting with the plethora of culinary content that circulates social media channels, Nivi\u2019s interests were refined by a glut of recipes and vlogs \u2013 enthusiastic demonstrations of an appetite that she too shared.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI was ingesting a lot of media, produced in a very specific style. This all happened during my freshman year of college, in 2018.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI owned a camera, but barely touched it that year. I\u2019d neglected photography because I was so focused on academics. I figured I could merge both of my pastimes, so I decided to try my hand at blending the two.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Caught in the midst of a rigorous political science degree, Nivi was poring over her studies, cramming in additional hours as and when she could. A prospective career in law loomed. The workload was exceptionally demanding.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI was on track to become a lawyer, but something changed along the way. I didn\u2019t even know food photography could be a career path. It took stepping away from school to help me realize what I should be pursuing.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/fujifilm-x.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/DSCF1080.jpg\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/fujifilm-x.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/DSCF1080.jpg\" alt=\"A woman monitors a screen, showcasing the setup of a commercial food shoot\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo 2022 \u00a9 Justin Stailey | FUJIFILM X-H2S and XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR, 1\/40 sec at F2.8, ISO 800<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><p>Whenever a free moment presented itself, Nivi jumped at the opportunity. In many ways, snapping up snacks represented an escape from mounting university pressures, nurturing a sense of enjoyment that would only continue to flourish.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI started photographing my own recipes, and it just grew from there,\u201d she says. \u201cI absolutely loved doing it. I called local restaurants to see if I could take pictures of their items, and slowly but surely, began building a portfolio.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In 2020, Nivi was awarded top prize in our Students of Storytelling contest. Her winning project focused on the impassioned accounts of various chefs, exploring their exploits and motivations in kitchens across America.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat competition kick-started my interest in commercial photography. I learned so much. It was a great introduction to the idea of telling a grander story.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Building upon previous success, she was recently nominated to contribute a project with FUJIFILM X-H2. Operating in the world of advertisement styling, Nivi planned to construct a series that extended beyond the glitz of a well-made advertisement, or some flashy billboard sign.<\/p>\n<p>With more reflective considerations in mind, she ultimately produced Misconceptions: A thought-provoking examination of what food can signify in certain thematic contexts.<\/p>\n<p>Split into five episodic portions \u2013 Scarcity, Nourishment, Efficiency, Indulgence, Joy \u2013 each installment interrogates a particular idea, picking apart the nuances with delicately crafted snippets of stop-motion.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/fujifilm-x.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/DSCF1077.jpg\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/fujifilm-x.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/DSCF1077.jpg\" alt=\"A woman gazes intently at a laptop, monitoring the upkeep of a commercial food shoot\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo 2022 \u00a9 Justin Stailey | FUJIFILM X-H2S and XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR, 1\/40 sec at F2.8, ISO 800<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><p>\u201cThree of the five segments speak to the choices faced by those living with food insecurity. It\u2019s about challenging perspectives, and shining a light on those experiences.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Sifting through the meticulously arranged details of each chapter, you\u2019d expect the creator of these scenes to have some familiarity with the topics at hand. The reality is quite the contrary, but no less admirable.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNone of this is autobiographical. I come from a position of privilege and wanted to highlight an issue that doesn\u2019t get a lot of airtime,\u201d Nivi explains.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI read <em>How the Other Half Eats<\/em>, and that opened my eyes to the ways we consume, based on specific factors. I realized that if you\u2019re not experiencing it, you simply don\u2019t understand the realities. I sought to question that sense of ignorance, and hopefully inform others about the challenges these people face.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The title of Nivi\u2019s series transmits the confrontational nature of her work. Saturated and whimsical, her style may appear aesthetically fanciful, recalling the quaint palette of Joan Steiner\u2019s Look-Alikes books. Delve deeper and you\u2019ll realize that this is precisely the point \u2013 a clever reworking of a time-honored style, communicating pressing messages about contemporary fears and uncertainties.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cScarcity was about that sense of anxiety, and what it can look like,\u201d she continues. \u201cIf you were a family and purchased food for the month, this piece showcases just how quickly resources can dwindle, right down to the point where you end up with completely barren pantry shelves.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In a subtly observed addition, Nivi slows the speed of each stop-motion transition as the video concludes. The metaphor is an effective reminder of how some families must conserve and slow their expenditure, so as not to max out their resources.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe reality of being in that situation is not knowing if you\u2019ll always have access to something no one should ever struggle for,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/fujifilm-x.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/4_Scarcity_0453.jpg\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/fujifilm-x.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/4_Scarcity_0453.jpg\" alt=\"A selection of food items dissipate across pantry shelves\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">\u2018Scarcity\u2019 \u00a9 2022 Nivi Shaham | FUJIFILM X-H2 and XF33mmF1.4 R LM WR, 1\/125 sec at F11, ISO 125<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><p>Offering additional commentary to this theory, &#8216;Nourishment&#8217; underscores the ways in which class differences can prevent meaningful sustenance from being obtained. Framed like a still life painting, a selection of ingredients chop and change across a long wooden table, set up like some kind of lavish regal feast.<\/p>\n<p>Adorned with crackling candles, the iconography is a vivid reminder of excess and greed, reaffirmed by the addition of dollars dwindling, then re-emerging in the center of the frame. If anything, this section illuminates the importance of spending power, and how capital ultimately affects access to selected types of food.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis was all about stressing both sides of the \u2018healthy foods\u2019 debate. We begin with a full stack of money, and that\u2019s when we observe the more expensive stuff like salmon, avocado, pistachios, and kale. As it progresses, the transitions reveal changes in the meals \u2013 more specifically, cheaper alternatives. Peanuts replace pistachios, for instance.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s important for people to acknowledge the differences between healthy types of foods, depending on your financial status. I\u2019m not explicitly saying either is worse, I\u2019m just making a point about availability. The more you\u2019re able to spend, the more likely you are to garner access to purer, baseline ingredients. You\u2019re losing the additives and preservatives, and getting something unadulterated instead.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/fujifilm-x.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/1_Nourishment_0111.jpg\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/fujifilm-x.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/1_Nourishment_0111.jpg\" alt=\"A selection of food items populate a long wooden table\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">\u2018Nourishment\u2019 \u00a9 2022 Nivi Shaham | FUJIFILM X-H2 and XF33mmF1.4 R LM WR, 1\/25 sec at F11, ISO 400<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><p>\u201cEfficiency was created in a similar vein. That was about having to make the quickest food possible, out of pure necessity. I created this night scene\u2026 I feel like it alluded to somebody working long hours, stuck for time. In those contexts, some end up foregoing nutritious options, simply because they can\u2019t afford to prepare something more considered, over a longer period.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Throughout all these sections, the might of X-H2 helped to simplify Nivi\u2019s aims. Thinking through technical considerations, she speaks to the importance of specific techniques employed, and how our newest X Series camera brought abstract ideas into fleshed-out fruition. \u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI had to make sure I used an F-stop that cascaded across the image, to maximize the level of detail. I also had to assess the distance between the lens and the table \u2013 then choose glass that suited that. In the end, I used <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fujifilm-x.com\/pl-pl\/products\/lenses\/xf56mmf12-r\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">FUJINON XF56mmF1.2 R<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fujifilm-x.com\/pl-pl\/products\/lenses\/xf33mmf14-r-lm-wr\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">XF33mmF1.4 R LM WR<\/a>. Usually, I\u2019ll use a macro to bring out the idiosyncrasies. I think they\u2019re fantastic for textural items. With these primes, I was surprised at the level of minutiae you can retain. It\u2019s still so incredible.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Clarity and definition are integral in the creation of anything commercial, and here, they epitomize the precision of Nivi\u2019s imagination.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSwitching from manual to autofocus streamlined the process, particularly when dealing with stop motion. The colors that come out of that camera are also incredible. It makes things so much easier in post,\u201d she reasons.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/fujifilm-x.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/5_Efficiency_0574.jpg\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/fujifilm-x.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/5_Efficiency_0574.jpg\" alt=\"Various ready meals are housed in a rotating microwave\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">\u2018Efficiency\u2019 \u00a9 2022 Nivi Shaham | FUJIFILM X-H2 and XF56mmF1.2 R WR, 1\/125 sec at F11, ISO 125<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><p>\u201cAs I\u2019m working, I tend to adjust highlights, and lean into a warmer palette. I work through various adjustments \u2013 I open up the blacks and shadows, for more contrast. Obviously, it\u2019s image dependent. I left the darker scenes much colder in their tonalities.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Although the bulk of these sketches concentrate on the darker, more solemn consequences of food insecurity, Nivi does incorporate two sections that reflect her love and passion. Marked contrasts to the more somber episodes, &#8216;Joy&#8217; and &#8216;Indulgence&#8217; are comparatively brighter and upbeat \u2013 optimistic depictions that counterbalance the starkness.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cJoy was about the happiness that comes from sharing one\u2019s culture, what\u2019s meaningful and important,\u201d Nivi outlines. \u201cCuisines are a part of that. I\u2019m Israeli, so a lot of my intrigue stems from that place. The foods are very particular, and a reflection of who I am. I chose to demonstrate that for other traditions too.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>As the rotations of a Lazy Susan showcase Vietnamese, Mexican, Indian, and American Southern cooking, the importance of food is underlined as an essential part of all cultural identities. It defines our individualism, but in another sense, it\u2019s something we all share.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/fujifilm-x.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/3_Joy_0373.jpg\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/fujifilm-x.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/3_Joy_0373.jpg\" alt=\"A lazy susan cycles through a variety of international cuisines\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">\u2018Joy\u2019 \u00a9 2022 Nivi Shaham | FUJIFILM X-H2 and XF56mmF1.2 R WR, 1\/13 sec at F11, ISO 400<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><p>Encapsulating this sense of mutuality, the final part of Nivi\u2019s cycle concludes with perhaps the most integral message of all. The affinity of &#8216;Indulgence&#8217; is suggested in pension paperwork, strewn across a table in the corner of the frame. Empty boxes of typical party nibbles populate the image, as a neighboring puzzle is steadily completed.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s as if this scenario exists as a snapshot of an extended family gathering \u2013 generations of relatives assembled for the simple yet powerful act of dining together as one.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIndulgence features a lot of fast food items. Being able to purchase all this food as a family \u2013 what does that mean for the relationships at large? I envisioned them all sat around, devoting time to one another, sharing this meal.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere\u2019s this misconception we have about low-income people spending money on fast food. We think it\u2019s a waste. This last piece is supposed to confront that perception. I think you have to consider what else these elements provide, beyond just the provisions.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn this particular instance, it\u2019s about quality time, enjoyment, and the power of food as a whole. Regardless of our circumstances, we should all be able to participate in that.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/fujifilm-x.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/6_Indulgence_0751.jpg\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/fujifilm-x.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/6_Indulgence_0751.jpg\" alt=\"An assortment of junk foods populate a messy kitchen table\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">\u2018Indulgence\u2019 \u00a9 2022 Nivi Shaham | FUJIFILM X-H2 and XF56mmF1.4 R LM WR, 1\/125 sec at F11, ISO 125<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Nivi Shaham\u2019s bite-sized vignettes unveil the highs and lows of mealtime upkeep It\u2019s where cuisine meets cutlery and families break bread. It\u2019s that hastily arranged sandwich pre-commute, a nine-course tasting menu \u00e0 la carte, the gloopy broth slopped across soup kitchen pots and pans. It has its own economies, cultures, and circumstances \u2013 defined by [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":65267,"template":"","category":[2084,1006,1202,1055,13039,3211,13040,3309,320,3162,1986,565,7131,8307,7327],"post_tag":[],"b2b-solutions":[],"class_list":["post-65266","story","type-story","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-be-inspired","category-cameras","category-category","category-lenses","category-mirrorless-digital-cameras","category-x-series-mirrorless","category-prime-lenses","category-x-mount-prime","category-products","category-x-mount","category-x-series","category-stories","category-x-h2","category-xf33mmf14-r-lm-wr","category-xf56mmf12-r"],"pp_statuses_selecting_workflow":false,"pp_workflow_action":"current","pp_status_selection":"publish","acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-08-29 20:49:01","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fujifilm-x.com\/pl-pl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/story\/65266","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fujifilm-x.com\/pl-pl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/story"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fujifilm-x.com\/pl-pl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/story"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fujifilm-x.com\/pl-pl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fujifilm-x.com\/pl-pl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/65267"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fujifilm-x.com\/pl-pl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=65266"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fujifilm-x.com\/pl-pl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/category?post=65266"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fujifilm-x.com\/pl-pl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post_tag?post=65266"},{"taxonomy":"b2b-solutions","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fujifilm-x.com\/pl-pl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/b2b-solutions?post=65266"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}