Professional Photographer - USA (2019-10)

FOREGROUND

by Amanda Arnold

©GREGG SEGAL

PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER | OCTOBER 2019 13

What do children in various parts of the

world eat in a week and how does that affect

their physical health? Gregg Segal investi-

gated via his series-turned-book “Daily

Bread,” which includes subjects from com-

munities as far-flung as Mumbai, Sicily,

Hamburg, and Los Angeles.

Before making each image, Segal asked the

subject to keep a food and drink journal for

a week. Then he passed that journal to his

cooking staff, who recreated the snacks and

meals for the photo shoot. He used a Has-

selblad H4 camera with an 80mm lens and

a P65 digital back and a Canon EOS 5DS R

with a EF 50mm lens. The camera was af-

fixed to a 9-foot-long speed rail supported

by two heavy-duty stands 12.5 feet directly

above the subject, who lay on a platform.

The camera was tethered to Segal’s laptop

for image making.

Sessions were a challenge. Segal photo-

graphed four to five subjects in a day, which

meant over 100 meals to be prepared by the

kitchen staff. “In some places I photo-

graphed, we didn’t even have a proper kitch-

en to work out of,” he says. Once they had

the food laid out, they’d check the journal

to make sure everything was included.

“Sometimes something would be missing

and we’ve have to scramble to find it.” In the

meantime the child might also become ant-

sy. Not a problem: “Sometimes I’d keep kids

engaged by having them eat one of the

snacks around them.”

YOU ARE WHAT

YOU EAT

SERIES DOCUMENTS

CHILDREN’S WEEKLY DIETS