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No flash, certainly not. The distraction level is high. I've heard that someone prone to epileptic seizures may be affected by the flash output. Same with migraine sufferers...

For food photography, I think it depends on what you're doing. Casual, "hey look at this" pictures can be done on my iPhone. With the 3GS, it's probably easier.

For more serious stuff, I break out the DSLR. High ISO when needed, and a fast lens. Since I'm so close to the food, I'll use a 50mm. If the restaurant is lit with ambient in the daytime, I'll use a lower ISO. I keep a little pocket tripod with me, so I can attach it to the camera and rest it on the table.

Lastly, modern cameras have lots of megapixels and good low light sensitivity. Scaling down a shot at, say, 1/25 second at ISO 800 with some noise to 400 pixels wide should be suitable for a blog post...
Scott

I would not dare to use a flash in a restaurant. If I get the choice, I try to get a table with decent lighting and do my best to take pictures as quickly as possible.

I rarely take pictures of dishes other than my own at a restaurant, so that I don't hold up diners on my table eating, but still try to get it over with as quickly as possible, as I do feel rude if I'm still snapping away trying to get the perfect pic.

If it isn't working though and I can't get the shot, I just leave it. I hate it when my food goes cold!

I can't believe some people are commenting that food photos shouldn't be taken at all - where do you think the pics are coming from on the food blogs you read?!

Whoa, I had no idea lights bothered so many people. I don't have a food blog, but I love looking at a picture of a meal I've had at a restaurant because it just doesn't happen much! I usually just take a quick one of my own plate, and put the camera away. My son took pictures of his meals when he was in Europe, so when I went to Buenos Aires for a trip of a lifetime, I had to do the same, and it was great fun! Where else can you take a pure 'Dulce de Leche' picture and drool later?
I'll certainly work on that 'non-flash' vs 'flash' aspect, though...
As far as 'getting over myself'? I've never thought of people taking a picture of their meal as singularly arrogant! Maybe if the chef came out and took a picture of one eating said creation....lol
Cindy H
Warm Bread?

I'm surprised by the handful of commenters who still insist on using flash for their photography. Especially the person who said it makes it better for greasy food. Wouldn't that just come out worse as a glossy glean of white? Flash is one of my biggest pet peeves about food photography because it just gives the rest of polite food photographers a bad rap.

With my point and shoot, I've alternated between digital macro and auto shots for close and entire plate shots. If anyone is using flash for the reason of getting blurry photos, realize that you're at a table. Glue your elbows, or your forearms to the side of the table for your tripod and get more practice in. Most point and shoots are already equipped for higher ISO sensitivities and (if you dare fiddle) exposure settings and mine is 3 years old!

@Truff- on behalf of the rest of us...please don't take pictures of your poop. Or if you must, please don't post them on the internet.

I don't thinks it impolite at all so long as you dont use flash and keep it relatively quick, then it doesnt disturb anyone. I also think the fact you want to take pictures of a restaurants food shows admiration and respect for the food the chef produces.

what? people take pictures of food? get outta here...

I don' think there is a polite way to take photos of your food at a restaurant table. Just like it's not polite to talk on your cell phone at the table. Or smoke. Or pick blow your nose....

As someone above suggested, call ahead, ask the staff/owner/chef if it would be ok to take pictures when it's not busy.

I have a hard time remembering to take photos of food I've made at home that I'm writing about, much less random restaurant food. More than once, the food is eaten and we're sitting back saying how good it was and it will be a great article, and then "Oh crud! I forgot to take pictures! I'll have to make more." Of course, DH has no problem with that, particularly when we're talking about me making another batch of cookies.

Photos in restaurants don't happen much around here (not a lot of photo-worthy food, to be honest) but flash photos can be annoying. If it's a touristy setting and everyone's taking photos anyway, you expect some flash. But if I'm at a nice romantic restaurant and someone's taking flash photos, it does spoil the atmosphere a bit. I'm not going to crane my neck and glare, and I'm not going to confront the person, but that doesn't mean I'm not bothered by it. But I brush it aside so it doesn't interfere any more than it has to.

The fact that "nearby diners don't even turn their heads" doesn't mean that they aren't bothered, it means that they're smart enough not to turn around and possibly look at a flashing bulb. I tend to look away if someone's taking photos, not look at them.

If I do need to take photos of a restaurant, I'll go at an off-time where I can walk around and take photos without bothering anyone. Usually I'll be talking to the staff/owner/chef, too, so that's best done when the place isn't busy.

@lemons- i just have a small point and shoot, so, one hand to press the shutter release button and one hand to hold the piece of paper over the flash on the other side of the camera. I guess if you have a large camera that needs two hands to manipulate or you need to hold the food, you're out of luck.

Must be where I was raised...in Hawaii, locals love to celebrate and take pictures all the time, including very high end restaurants. Plus, there are tourists from all over the world who take pictures everywhere.

I am a very plain looking person, but I have had people come up to me and take my picture...maybe it's a joke and someone put it in their album with a tagline like - "there ARE ugly people in Hawaii..."

As a result, flash has never really bothered me. I feel that any distraction, e.g., crying, excessive pacing, perfume/cologne/food smells, loud talking, flashes, smoking, clanging of utensils on plates or glasses, farts/burps, hearing people chew, can be annoying if you aren't accustomed to or hate it regardless of the location.

Dang. All the hate on flash. It can be awesome sometimes, especially close up macro on greasy food after you've taken a bite. Try it with and without. I think you might be impressed with the flash if you get it just right.

I've debated flash and no flash in certain situations. I can see how dim natural light might make for a better photo, but not always makes the food appetizing ...especially when the colors are more true with the flash vs ugly green pizza under florescent lights.

As far as flash bothering people --I say let people flash their cameras. They're just enjoying themselves. Let people have fun. You can have fun and be loud too.

@mrguy: So how do you get the napkin piece to stay over the flash? A third hand to hold it?