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Write useful kitchen notes

Food Photographs Need an Honest Caption

Show what the image can actually establish.

Independent educational journal ยท October 7, 2026

Bok choy, ginger, mushrooms and noodles beside a blank notebook; a fictional illustration.

A useful distinction

A photograph can depict a particular preparation, while a generated image can illustrate a culinary theme. Neither automatically identifies a restaurant, recipe or historical provenance. A caption should avoid supplying factual claims the image cannot support.

Put it into practice

State whether an image is a fictional editorial illustration or your documented preparation. Do not label it as an actual restaurant dish without evidence. Keep styling observations separate from ingredient, allergy and handling claims that require the relevant factual information.

Sources and further reading