When is a slice of cheesecake a complicated still-life composition of color, form, and texture? When it’s shot by food photographer Andy Ryan, who says a photo of cheesecake should evoke the same lip-smacking response as if you had a slice in front of you.

Ryan, 48, who works out of Lexington and New York, has shot photos of sizzling burgers, frosty grapes, high-end wines, and restaurant interiors for clients such as The Cheesecake Factory, Starbucks, and Food and Wine magazine. Ryan got started on his career path at age 5, when he won a local art competition with a photo taken with the family Instamatic.