going dark.

First note to self: There is low light, and there is basically just candlelight.  Stop trying to take photos when conditions veer closer to the latter.   No matter how wonderful your burger and hot chicken sandwich at The Commodore were.   (Oh hey!  I just noticed in the top photo: Commodore 64!  Purely coincidental and totally awesome.)

Second note to self: The lighting at Momofuku Ssam Bar is better than at The Commodore, but at the end of the day, you’re still not going to get a good shot of your food with the Leica.  No matter how glorious the entire meal was.  (Especially the spicy Chinese sausage with crispy rice cakes — sweet jesus yes.)  And no matter how great the company was.  (Hi Carson and Gregor!)

Third note to self: While taking photos of great meals in low light will inevitably result in so-so photographs, the converse (obverse?  inverse?  You’d think I know this) is also true, at least for my most recent roll of film: great photos taken in beautiful, natural sunny (de)light will surely also mean that the meal itself will be quite mediocre.   Case in point: brunch at Flatblush Farm. 

Not a terrible meal — just not a very memorable one, alas.  The sausage gravy in the b&g was pretty bland, though the biscuits had a nice texture.   And hey, note to restaurants: throw a poached egg on top of your biscuits and gravy!  It’s brunch!  The egg yolk will bind all flavors together in the most magical of ways.  Trust me.