Blog | 08 - CE Marked
| bokeh photographic (Alistair Grant): Food & Drink Photographer; Commercial Photographer, Product Photographer & Packshot Photographer; Event Photographer; Portrait Photographer; Corporate Photographer & PR Photographer; Engagement Photographer & Wedding Photographer and Photography Training Courses in Cambridge, Huntingdon, Peterborough, Bedford, St Neots, St Ives and London. Freelance Photographer & Freelance Photography Services in Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Hertfordshire and across the UK. | |||
 
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Alistair Grant Freelance Photographer Cambridge & London |
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bokeh photographic: Blog No: 08 → TIP: Click any image to view in LightBox |
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CE Marked Since it aired a week ago I have mulled over BBC Horizon’s ‘Clean Eating: The Dirty Truth’. Presented by ‘bald Chinese dude’ aka Cambridge University Geneticist Dr Giles Yeo the programme explored the Clean Eating (CE) phenomenon. Before you ditch the spiralizer the programme targeted the decidedly oddball although obviously persuasive experts (albeit with dubious qualifications) who don’t just make a lot of money out of promoting CE but who make extremely questionable claims about the benefits and, in the case of Dr Robert O Young, practice illegally with tragic outcomes. So why the unease? Surely exploding pseudoscience and exposing charlatans can only be a good thing? Absolutely. However, the backlash, with much vitriol directed at ‘Deliciously’ Ella Mills who appeared on the programme†, was not just predictable but indicates a wider problem. From the perspective of my previous career which included researching the link between diet and disease there is much to comment upon but unfortunately not the space. However, it’s worth pointing out unintended consequences. As CE is now vilified some who could potentially benefit will in all likelihood be dissuaded from taking up (or sticking to) a diet where processed foods are substituted for fruit, vegetables, wholegrains, oily fish etc. i.e. the positive and scientifically proven components of CE based upon balanced eating in accordance with current NHS guidance. I’m not necessarily referring to those who cyclically follow whatever is the latest dietary fad as they will have already moved onto the next big thing. It is the general population that perhaps stand to lose the most; the majority of us who suffer or are at risk of chronic lifestyle diseases who don’t need to ‘diet’ but who do need to eat well in the long term. We could all do with making better (more informed?) dietary choices. Let it be clear that eating more fruit & vegetables is not the problem. The problem is ‘experts’ peddling sensational and completely unproven claims about the benefits of CE, especially to vulnerable individuals, and it is only right and proper that they are held to account. As a Food & Drink Photographer working in the industry it is intriguing how the popularity of CE has been fuelled by social media. Deliciously Ella has 1m Instagram followers and admitted to making food ‘look pretty’ before photographing her social media feeds. Whilst not a problem per se, this exemplifies how the photography profession (although not directly implicated here) needs to consider its responsibilities. Many photographers routinely doctor food to make it ‘perfect’ by using things like motor oil to impart an aesthetic sheen. How has this become the accepted norm? At best, presenting food that has been unnaturally manipulated is disingenuous and can only add to the confusion over what is a good diet. What exactly does this signal - that the food is somehow not ‘good enough’ despite the effort and skill imparted by those producing it? Is manipulated food even 'real'? After all, everyday we all eat food without the delights of additives such as motor oil! † Prompted by the perception that she distanced herself from CE on anticipating the criticism the Horizon programme would generate. It’s also worth pointing out that Ella’s recovery from Postural Tachycardia Syndrome may have been helped by CE although this could just have been (and probably was) a coincidence – another type of bias in addition to the conformation bias mentioned in the programme and why scientific examination through controlled trials is so important. |
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Call Alistair Grant on 07775 365507, Email [email protected] or click Booking Enquiries if you have any questions or would like to make a booking. |
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bokeh: "the aesthetic quality of the blur produced in the out-of-focus parts of an image produced by a lens" Freelance Photographer offering Food & Drink Photography Cambridge; Commercial Photography Cambridge, Product Photography Cambridge & Packshot Photography Cambridge; Event Photography Cambridge; Portrait Photography Cambridge; Corporate Photography Cambridge & PR Photography Cambridge; Engagement Photography Cambridge & Wedding Photography Cambridge and Photography Training Courses in Cambridge. Also covering: Huntingdon, St. Ives, Ramsey, St. Neots, Peterborough, Bedford, Stamford, Newmarket, Sawtry, Alconbury Weston, Brampton, Hartford, Warboys, Houghton, Wyton, Godmanchester, Hilton, Hemingford Grey, Hemingford Abbots, Fenstanton, Whittesley, Yaxley, Needingworth, Somersham, Chatteris, Ely, Bar Hill, Grafham and Buckden. |
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bokeh photographic - Alistair Grant | Freelance Photographer | Cambridge, London, UK Food & Drink Photography | Commercial Photography & Product Photography | Corporate Photography & PR Photography | Portrait Photography (inc. 'Active Portraiture', 'Naturally You' & 'Poptraits') | Event Photography | Engagement & Wedding Photography | Photography Training Courses & Camera Tuition | Videography & Film Production Tel: 07775 365507 | Email: [email protected] |
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