Delving into Food Storytelling: Uncovering the Art of Photography with Acclaimed Photographer Penny De Los Santos
EPISODE SUMMARY
Are you ready to immerse yourself in the captivating world of food storytelling? Join me, Mica, on The Savory Shot podcast, where I interview renowned photographer and food storyteller Penny De Los Santos. In this episode, we dive into Penny’s experiences traveling to over 30 countries and how they shaped her unique perspective as a food photographer. We discuss what makes a great food photo, the importance of food storytelling, and the ways in which food can connect people and cultures. But that’s not all! We also highlight the challenges of being a professional photographer in a changing industry and the transformative power of travel. So, get ready to be inspired and join us on The Savory Shot. Don’t forget to subscribe and leave your comments and questions. Let’s explore the world of food photography and storytelling together!
- Food photography and storytelling
- Interview with Penny de la Santos
- Importance of food and culture
- Career journey as a photographer
- Love for food and cooking
- Capturing moments and creating a story
- Building trust with subjects
- Being a photographer in NYC
- What makes a good food photograph
- Importance of warmth and inspiration
- Challenges in the publishing industry
- Pursuing passion and finding joy
About Penny – Photographer & Food Storyteller
Penny De Los Santos is a latinex storyteller who began photographing as a way to understand her own diverse cultural background and identity.
Born in Germany to an American military family that eventually settled in small-town- Food photography and storytelling
– Pursuing passion and finding joy Texas, with generations of family history tied to the Texas-Mexico border, Penny’s background no doubt inspired curiosity about culture.
From the historical all-male dining clubs of the Basque Country to Jerusalem’s most historical markets, photographing culture has been at the heart of Penny’s work. She has been fortunate enough to travel extensively throughout the US and to over 40 countries on assignment for various clients.
Penny trained for the first 10 years of her career with National Geographic Magazine.
Her photographs have received numerous grants, fellowships, and awards, including:
– The National Geographic Photography Grant
– Recipient of the Prestigious World Press Joop Stewart Master class
– College Photographer of the Year
– Eastman Kodak Photography Grant
-Canon USA Photography Grant
– The Eddie Adams Photography Grant
– California New Media Award, Ohio University School of Visual Communication Photography Grant
– The Parson’s School of Design Marty Fortier Fellowship.
Penny has a Masters degree from Ohio University’s School of Visual Communication and an Undergraduate degree in Journalism from Texas A&M University. She has been a featured speaker at many universities and industry conferences throughout the US and abroad.
Episode Breakdown
- Celebrating a big moment [00:00:58]
- Reflection on the last episode [00:01:06]
- Preference for home cooks [00:10:49]
- Wanting to visit New York [00:12:58]
- Emotions invoked by a photo [00:13:36]
- Question about how many countries Penny has visited [00:15:28]
- Reflection on traveling to different countries [00:15:44]
- Gratitude and taking shots [00:25:05]
- Identification of a photo [00:25:21]
- Elements of a good photograph [00:30:45]
- Dealing with moments where you don’t feel anything in your photo [00:31:09]
Resources
- National Geographic
- Aglaia & Costa’s Table
- Saveur Magazine
