Family Meal, Dakar

Family Meal, Dakar

Photograph by Penny De Los Santos

Gatherings

The reason I’m so drawn to food as a subject is because of its ability to connect each and every one of us. It forces us to gather at least once a day and share a moment together—around a table, over a drink, at a counter. It peels away our differences and gives us a commonality. As a photographer, it’s these moments that I look for; it's usually where great photographs happen.

This image is from a shoot I did on Senegalese food. After spending the entire day photographing this woman and her daughters as they made thiebou jen, the national dish of Senegal, I found that the true moment was when they all sat down to eat together, sitting close, all reaching into the same bowl. Visually it told the story—that was the photograph. —Penny De Los Santos

Photo Tip: When I’m on a shoot and the story is about food, I always stay to see how people gather around the table and share the meal. To me it's the most revealing moment about the culture I’m in.