honorable mention
Leila Elamine united states
title
The Hands of an Artisan
This is a series of skilled hands at work; from the gnarled hands of an old Calabrian man presenting that day's olive harvest to the hand of a young Galician girl as she grasps her apron full of Pimientos de Herbón. I have spent time with each one of these people as I participated in their daily lives, learned about their culinary heritage, and documented their traditional recipes. Their hands tell stories of experience, skill, and craftsmanship; and of a knowledge that can only be learned through experience.
In April of 2014, Leila left her career trajectory in the sciences and moved on to pursue her love for photography and culture with no formal training. Leila began self-funded research in ethnography and food heritage as the cofounder, website developer, photographer, and writer behind therecipehunters.com. The website highlights the stories and recipes of locals who uphold culinary traditions and make positive changes in their local food systems.
Through this ethnographic journey, Leila has documented over 150 indigenous recipes throughout the world, witnessing the remarkable power of food, and more specifically the power of a home-cooked meal. A home-cooked meal can have the power to bring the past to life, conjuring memories through taste and smell; instilling upon it’s collective a feeling of comfort and belonging. No matter the ingredients used or the preparation methods, sharing food amongst family is a universal experience that everyone can relate to. Leila is passionate about the integration of arts and social change. A native of Duxbury, Massachusetts, Leila is proudly Lebanese-American and the second of five children. In her free time, she makes homemade sourdough bread and is a self-taught student of soil science.
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entry description
I have spent the past two years traveling the world in search of traditional recipes and the stories behind locals who maintain their culinary heritage. During my time abroad, I volunteer on homesteads and small-scale organic farms where I learn about the terroir and that region's seasonal produce. In an attempt to forge new relationships with people involved in traditional food making, I do my best to integrate myself into the local community. I practice the local language, introduce myself to neighbors, and visit local farms, farmers' markets, family-run shops, artisan bakeries, and street vendors. When I am not volunteering, I spend my time researching the local food culture and searching for people who still practice the traditional ways of cooking, making, fermenting, and foraging food.This is a series of skilled hands at work; from the gnarled hands of an old Calabrian man presenting that day's olive harvest to the hand of a young Galician girl as she grasps her apron full of Pimientos de Herbón. I have spent time with each one of these people as I participated in their daily lives, learned about their culinary heritage, and documented their traditional recipes. Their hands tell stories of experience, skill, and craftsmanship; and of a knowledge that can only be learned through experience.
about the photographer
After graduating from Emory University with a bachelor's degree in Psychology, Leila enrolled in the Health Careers Program at Harvard University taking classes in pre-medical studies at their extension school. Beginning in 2011, she spent three years at Massachusetts General Hospital researching in the departments of anesthesiology and oncology. In her time at the hospital, Leila played an integral role in creating and establishing their first Phase 1 gene targeted biopsy program and was published as a coauthor in two of the world’s leading science and medical journals: Nature Magazine and Science Magazine.In April of 2014, Leila left her career trajectory in the sciences and moved on to pursue her love for photography and culture with no formal training. Leila began self-funded research in ethnography and food heritage as the cofounder, website developer, photographer, and writer behind therecipehunters.com. The website highlights the stories and recipes of locals who uphold culinary traditions and make positive changes in their local food systems.
Through this ethnographic journey, Leila has documented over 150 indigenous recipes throughout the world, witnessing the remarkable power of food, and more specifically the power of a home-cooked meal. A home-cooked meal can have the power to bring the past to life, conjuring memories through taste and smell; instilling upon it’s collective a feeling of comfort and belonging. No matter the ingredients used or the preparation methods, sharing food amongst family is a universal experience that everyone can relate to. Leila is passionate about the integration of arts and social change. A native of Duxbury, Massachusetts, Leila is proudly Lebanese-American and the second of five children. In her free time, she makes homemade sourdough bread and is a self-taught student of soil science.
back to gallery