A hefty, encyclopedic tome dedicated to food photography could be written from a simple dialogue with photographer Penny De Los Santos. (Her Tedx talk provides plenty of proof). The native Texan waxes poetically and naturally about the wonderful thing that is food photography—its quest for that stunningly-lit, perfectly composed dish, and its effort in giving a singular moment cultural and visual context.

However, she doesn’t just talk the talk—she also shoots the shot, so to speak.

Photographing for the likes of Saveur, Martha Stewart Living, and National Geographic, De Los Santos shares a refreshingly honest look at food. No over-the-top, hyper-stylized dishes here, but rather simple, subdued edibles with soul.

She tells stories big and small with her camera, from an intimate candle-lit feast shared among refugees in Beirut, to the sheer delight in cooking with market-fresh ingredients, like a succulent red snapper sitting atop an aromatics-laden pan.

For her favorite images—culled from her travels ranging from New York City studios to Delhi—De Los Santos brings us up close and personal with her subjects. So, sit back, relax, and let her spin a yarn for you.