4. Reading. Task 2.2. Click... Bite!

The second part of the Reading Task 2

 

 

When the French inventor Joseph Nicéphore Niépce photographed a table setting with a bowl, bottle, and bread in 1832, he probably never imagined that he had laid the foundation for what turned into a global phenomenon known as "Camera Eats First".

Even if taking photos may rile some people in the restaurant kitchen or at the next table, foodstagrammers themselves may actually be at an advantage as the trend brings some health benefits. Several scientific studies have investigated the effect of taking pictures on the enjoyment of a dining experience and came to the same conclusion: it positively influences the perception of the food on our plates and it tastes particularly good to us afterwards. The main reason for this is anticipation: the process of delaying the meal by meticulously preparing the photo increases the enjoyment of the meal. We pay more attention to our food, eat with more awareness, and thus, more slowly, which in turn improves digestion.
It can also benefit the psyche as sharing food has always been a social ritual. Whenever family or friends are absent, sharing photos of food replaces this ritual, and we are happier when we can share our pleasure with others.
While the phenomenon of foodstagramming has now attracted research interest in the field of psychology, the photographic technology behind it is also becoming more of a science. Baking and cooking courses have long since ceased to consist solely of teaching food preparation; marketing plays an increasingly important role, too. The camera has become just as important a utensil as the wooden spoon. On countless Internet forums and food blogs, tips are exchanged on how best to present one’s food, from the perfect arrangement of the food in a triangle for better image composition to the ideal shooting angle of 45 degrees.
No one can say whether Joseph Nicéphore Niépce was aware of these techniques when he composed his image. What we can assume with certainty, however, is that the wait made his meal all the more delicious.