From Nepal to Cranbrook - The Ultimate Nepalese Cook Book!

I had been asked to shoot the images for a soon to be published cookery book, and very quickly found myself immersed into the world of Nepalese cookery, right in the heart of rural Kent!

Annie Watsham from Cranbrook, Kent (who suggested Joanna Lumley’s  involvement with the Gurkha Justice Campaign in 2008) had teamed up with ex-Gurkha chef Pemba Lama to produce The Ultimate Nepalese Cook Book. My job, as photographer, was to capture the sumptuous dishes put before me! There is no doubt that a food photographer needs a high level of photographic skill, and food photography is much harder than many people would imagine, largely because shot set up and capture often has to be done at a much faster pace than normal to ensure food looks as fresh as it can possibly be – timing is critical, and this involves a high degree of collaboration between the photographer, designers and chefs!

Food photography, perhaps more than most types of photography, is therefore very much a team effort, and this is what made the project so rewarding and enjoyable. It is the job of the entire team to create images that visually represent the taste, the smells and the textures which are encompassed within each dish. Along with Annie and Pemba, I was lucky enough to work alongside award winning chef Nicci Gurr,  designer Gavin Ambrose and design assistant Louise Watsham.

As I post this blog, the cookery book is starting its journey towards print, and we are all hugely excited to see the finished article!

I will keep you posted!

For more information on the Gurkha and Nepalese communities, please see www.gurkhabusinesscommunity.com for more details. 

If you wish to contact me regarding photography, including food or product photography, please visit my website www.tonyjonesphotography.co.uk, or email me at tonyjonesphotography@gmail.com.