As I was driving by a church the other day, there was the typical sign with a quote or single word. That day it simply said in all caps, RELEVANT. I had spent the morning thinking about how I could use my photography to help others and be more relevant. So when I saw that word, as I drove by, it truly felt like a sign. I believe in signs.
My vision as a photographer has evolved over the last year and a half, but I have continued to be inspired by food. Not just the prepared dish but where the ingredients come from and who grows them and how. These thoughts took me on a journey this summer to some local farms. I began learning about biodynamic farming. The methods used in this type of farming to grow produce, raise animals and nurture the land and ulitmately what we eat are raising the bar.
What we put in our bodies makes a difference in our health and mind. It is important to know where your food is coming from. I personally am very sensitive to different foods and feel vibrant and alive when I eat well grown and lovingly prepared food. Some of our earliest memories involve food. We all have an attachment to a meal or a moment in life that involved a specfic food that resonates with us. Food feeds our soul. So feed your soul well, right?
My mission with my photography and writing is to educate. I want to inspire young people to learn to cook healthy and to educate themselves on where their food is coming from. It can be as simple or complicated as you want to make it but ulitmately you will be the one who feeds others. That is the greatest gift. Gathering around and sharing a meal with family and friends brings joy and connection. There is so much disconnect right now and I believe in the power of simple things. As we get closer to the holidays now is the time to consider disconnecting and being in the moment with those close to us and sharing a memorable meal.
Conversly I love supporting my local chefs. In Los Angeles there are many and they are so connected and in tune with what is happening in the food scene. Not just organic produce, farm to table, etc., but bringing us part of their childhood, their heritage. Cooking from their family recipes and tweaking them to make them more relevant. We have such a diverse community here in LA and we are blessed to have chefs share with us their culture. I use my photography to inspire people to go out and try food that is not culturaly familiar.
If I can inspire people to get out and support their local farmers at the farmers market with my photographs of the week and what is currently in season I will be pleased. Going to a farm or a farmers market is uplifting. Talking to the people who grow the food you eat provides the story. Sometimes not just the story of how it is grown but where they have come from as people and how they treasure what they do. We all have diverse backgrounds but food is a commonality. Maybe in some small way you will be inspired to grow some herbs or produce yourself. I am an avid gardner and long for more land to express my passion. I garden every week and love to take pictures as I go.
All of this is relevant in the times we are living in. My thoughts are always linked to a way to get back to a more simpler time. Since I was a kid I have loved country life. As an adult in the city I use my garden, ventures to farms and farmers markets, and cooking as ways to feel connected to nature. I use my photography to influence ways in which we can heal ourselves and community with food. This is what I have been thinking about lately. How can I make a change in my community? How can I influence others to eat and live a more healthy life? I have been a photographer my whole life. This is what I know so this is what I use to influence. I think food, farms, gardens, and community are worth photographing. These are things that feel relevant to me right now and worth fighting for.