Photographer Vanessa Wu’s mouth-watering lockdown project

AUCKLAND, Friday: The impact of Covid 19 meant professional photographer Vanessa Wu’s schedule screeched to a halt in lockdowns.

Normally busy with clients and advertising projects, she found herself suddenly locked at home, with two kids in tow to keep amused (and fed!) – and restless creative energy.

She also had a well-stocked pantry, a small residential kitchen and, of course, her camera.

So, thinking outside of the box, Wu devised a lockdown project to keep herself motivated and engaged – and her family fed and healthy.

Turning her home into a makeshift photography studio, she captured meals as she made them.

She says it was an incredible challenge but made lockdown feel productive, and generated a significant body of work.

Forty images were shot through the project, and Vanessa says has enjoyed sharing them with friends and family through her social media channels as her booking schedule for commercial work has started to fill again.

“Wu devised a lockdown project to keep herself motivated and engaged – and her family fed and healthy.”

Vanessa’s project also satisfied her cravings for dishes from her favourite restaurants – karaage chicken from Azabu, salmon namahuru from Nishiki, and woodfired eggplant from Lilians were just some of the dishes she paid homage to.

With hospitality doors open again now, Vanessa is relieved to be able to let the professionals take charge, letting her enjoy the real thing!

About Vanessa Wu
A professional photographer since the early ’90s, her main passion is still life and food. She has been involved in numerous photographic and art exhibitions showing her personal work, as well as having a high profile in magazines and books.

She has also been selected as one of the top 200 advertising photographers worldwide (Luerzers Archive) has been on the board of the AIPA (the NZ Photographers Association), and a winner at Clio and Axis.

Wu is represented by Match Artists.

• vanessawu.com
• matchartists.co