A slight departure from the traditional adage, one might say that the way to Bob Noto’s stomach is through his camera lens. Before using them to satisfy his expert appetite, the dishes of some of the world’s greatest chefs have been immortalized by the photographer, graphic designer, and – most of all – the ironic and passionate gourmand.
When shooting food, Noto follows a very precise technique: he never uses either a studio or set, but captures the dish in its indigenous habitat – a restaurant. After he places his order, he photographs the dish in just a few short minutes, before it becomes cold and loses flavour. Only later, with his appetite satisfied by the subject of his shot, does he elaborate the work on his computer, with the aim of de-contextualizing the image: the ambience and table settings disappear from the frame. Only the food remains.
