Picture this

SINGAPORE — Like most of us, Martha Stewart loves giving live updates on her meals on social media. The only problem? The domestic goddess’ photos on Twitter are so grainy, badly lit and unappetising that followers have compared her food shots to prison food, poop and dishwater suds. Not surprisingly, there was an online petition urging Stewart to improve her food photography, and social media even popularised the hashtag #struggleplate — a term that refers to a nasty-looking plate of food.

Stewart is clearly not the only person who’s guilty of similar crimes to dishes that have been carefully prepared by chefs. In Singapore, where anyone with a mobile phone can (and often would) take and post pictures of their meals online, bad pictures of food and the potential negative publicity they garner should seem like good enough reasons for restaurant owners and chefs in Singapore to ban table photography entirely. Some upscale restaurants in New York did just that last year.

But perhaps restaurants that take such measures are being too precious or, as Tippling Club Chef Ryan Clift put it, “egotistical”. It’s hard to imagine anyone heading out to eat with the intention of taking bad food pictures and ruining reputations.

After all, as the lines between private- and public-self become blurred, every online post is a reflection of one’s passions, interests and taste — over-exposed plates of mush do not do anything to highlight these things. With Instagram accounts like Cooking For Bae, a collection of the worst food pictures, making the risk of online humiliation very real, it is safe to say that “struggle plates” are usually unwitting by-products of food porn.

Clift understands why we love to snap shots of our food — it’s just a way the modern diner enjoys or remembers his meal. He does it too, particularly when eating at top restaurants around the world. And that is why at his restaurant, he is more than happy for anyone to snap away.

“I have nothing to hide. I take great pride in making sure that every plate of food that comes out of my kitchen is picture-worthy. Of course, there are average pictures that get published on blogs, but I’m a firm believer that everyone is entitled to enjoy his dining experience in whichever way he pleases. If that means taking photographs and showing their friends what they’ve eaten, it’s their prerogative,” Clift said.

Over-exposed or plain negative

Jeremy Nguee, Chef of Preparazzi, also accepted that the snap-and-upload drift has become part and parcel of the modern-day dining experience. But while he appreciated how “food porn” on social media serves up easy access to dining experiences many might not have had the opportunity to enjoy, he was also quick to point out the downsides.

Even before they get shared or hashtagged, Nguee pointed out bad food photography etiquette, such as the use of flash photography. Or standing on chairs to get top-down shots of food. Food blogger Brad Lau (www.ladyironchef.com) also agreed it can be disruptive to other diners when someone constantly stops to take photos. “That’s why as much as possible, I will try to take quick shots so my dining companions can enjoy the meal. If I really have to, I’ll bring my dishes to the corner of the restaurant so I don’t disturb the other guests.”

When food photography is swift and inconspicuous, it is not the annoying and disruptive habit it is made out to be. It is not even anti-social. Pre-smartphones, dining out was a social ritual centred on the sharing of food with fellow diners. The social nature of eating out hasn’t changed — technology’s just allowed us to extend this shared experience to an infinite online community. And really, where’s the harm in sharing something as intrinsically pleasurable as food?

“Sadly, the medium in question (smartphones), as opposed to the timeless option of simply describing the experience, is part of the problem,” said a food critic who preferred to remain anonymous. “Before the cyber-freeway got supersized and gave birth to social media, both elated and disillusioned diners chose to put their thoughts and experience into words.”

He reiterated that blogs and personal pages aren’t as wildly fashionable as they once were and people nowadays are too impatient. “Badmouthing and poor judgment notwithstanding, a bad writer is as dangerous as Al Capone with a Super Soaker. To borrow from the film 8MM, ‘there are some things you can’t un-see’.”

But perhaps the only thing that “foodstagrammers” inevitably miss out on is experiencing a meal with undivided attention — something Nguee wished more people would realise to make them more appreciative food lovers.

After all, Nguee asserted, something was slaughtered for our consumption, for our pleasure and nourishment.

He added: “Chefs work hard to make sure food is delivered to you at the optimum temperature. Concentrating on your food, instead of being distracted by your phone, will make you more conscious and respectful of the amount of effort it has taken to create your meal.”

Now how hard is that to visualise?

10 FOOD INSTAGRAM ACCOUNTS TO CHECK OUT

Whether you’re obsessed with food or love to make fun of people who are, this list is sure to satiate.

LOCAL

1. @IEATISHOOTIPOST

While hipsters are snapping away at latte art and punctured poached eggs, Dr Leslie Tay gives shout outs to Singaporean hawkers. From Hill Street Char Kway Teow to Seng Kee Fish Maw Noodles, local fare is shot in all its much-deserved glory.

2. @WILLCOOKWILLEAT

All foodies want to know where chefs eat on their time off. Willin Low, chef behind Wild Rocket and Relish, lets you in on his favourite food haunts. And boy, does he love his hawker food.

3. @LADYIRONCHEF

Possibly one of the most influential local food bloggers on Instagram, Brad Lau gives you a glimpse into his picture-perfect world of food and vacations. You can also expect the occasional lovey-dovery couple shot.

4. @CATSLAVERY

Bella Koh, creator of lifestyle store Flea & Trees in Tiong Bahru, tests healthy recipes and features the end results on her Instagram account. Shot like they should be in Kinfolk, Bella makes healthy eating very palatable.

5. @SARAHSLOFT

Three-tier victorian sponge cakes, lemon yoghurt cakes, reindeer cookies … Is there any surprise the owner of cake shop Maple & Market (on Cassia Crescent, off Guillemard Rd) loves shooting sweet treats?

INTERNATIONAL

1. @SATIREGRAM

A collection of pictures of text captions of Instagram cliches. The food-centric text captions are just as hilarious mainly because they are true.

2. @COOKINGFORBAE

Cooking For Bae re-grams the worst food photos on Instagram. Expect plates of mush, over-exposed shots, mystery meats and a possible loss of appetite.

3. @RACHELRYLE

Learn how to pour the perfect pint of beer, make a morning smoothie or just simply marvel at this marketing director’s adorable stop-motion animated Insta-videos.

4. @FARMERT

Created by Tucker Taylor, a self-proclaimed “culinary gardener”, his instagram account features produce that’s freshly pulled out of the ground, such as rainbow-coloured stalks of Swiss chard and plump tomatoes in all their saturated, gorgeous natural beauty. A great reminder that veggies don’t come from supermarkets.

5. @IDAFROSK

Mum might have told you not to play with your food but Ida Skivenes’ 173,000+ followers disagree. The Norwegian arranges day-to-day ingredients into adorable plates of food art ranging from animals, cartoon characters to even modern art.

FOUR MORE TO GO

1. @ALICEGAO

This photographer based in New York and social media powerhouse keeps her over 500K followers on her Instagram account hungry for her beautiful food photography. The styling’s simple but thoughtful; the lighting’s soft and inviting; and every shot is smartly composed.

2. @MATTHEWJENNINGS

One of the most active chefs on Instagram, the gorgeous pics of his innovative dishes (think lardo with bitter chocolate and hazelnut) are appetizing but it’s the comments left by other chefs like April Bloomfield and Tyler Florence that foodies will really relish.

3. @DELPOSTO

Mario Batali’s fine dining Italian restaurant doesn’t just dish out food porn on Instagram. It takes you into the kitchen with shots of chefs hard at work, and front of house where the most glamorous events are taking place.

4. @LEGALNOMADS

Jodi Ettenbery quit her job to travel the world. Wake up to a breakfast of tortillas, plantains, rice and beans, eggs and queso fresco in Costa Rica one day, banh da xuc hen in central Vietnam the next … and see the world through her filtered lens.