crafting: what does this make you think of?

I think you're absolutely right about food being the new social currency; it's strange that something we make for ourselves suddenly becomes everyone's business. the mix of social currency and contentment made me think of crafting: I made the two paper balls in the photo, and I was really satisfied that I managed to follow the instructions and finish them. however, as soon as they were finished, I get this urge to take photos of them and share - what's that about? why is the personal feeling of contentment not enough; why do we need others to see and acknowledge what we're doing?
I do enjoy crafting very much - it's really pleasing to do something so concrete and tangible. but I wonder about the urge to display it - is it something innate to humans, or is it a by-product of our digital age?

contentment: what does this make you think of?

i've been pondering your theory on the food shots. it strikes me that food is the new social currency. people show who they are through food and instagram and the ubiquity of smart phones make it easy. daily cappuccinos and healthy, organic salads present a picture of us that matches the one we'd like to send to the world. so send it we do.

i'm largely a failed food photographer. i can't seem to master the ennui of the empty plate with only a few remaining crumbs and a sad fork and the light is just too bad in this house for proper shots of the food before anyone has eaten any (case in point above). but food remains, for me, the way to happiness. my most contented moments are in the kitchen, making food that will be served to guests.

so i'd say that photos of food make me think of contentment, laughter, happiness and friends....hygge.

food shots: what does this make you think of?

your words "a story waiting to happen" for some reason made me think of instagram, and food shots. I have this idea that we take lots of food shots and photos like that, because the rules around photographing people are getting stricter and stricter. people you don't know will not be delighted when you take their picture - quite the opposite: they will probably be suspicious and wonder where that photo will end up, and if it will be photoshopped to make them look bad. well then, take photos of the people you know? that's not unproblematic either. I personally feel uncomfortable publishing photos of people I know, if I don't have their explicit permission. hence, the food shots, in which a story is implied, but the main characters are missing.