Nigel Lopez-McBean
Executive
Leadership
Creative Director
Project Manager
Strategist
Henry Hargreaves
Food photography bright
4.0 GT
Impact style
4.0 GT
Rustic
3.0 GT
Flemish Still life
4.0 GT
Colorful
4.0 GT
Food photography moody
4.0 GT
Henry is a New Zealand photographer and Food Artist based in New York. His work looks at the stories, rituals and habits we form around food. Always playful, cheeky, nostalgic and colorful. His work has been exhibited all over the world from the Venice Biennale and Art Basel to his grandma's nursing home.
Q
As a creator, you have your own style. How do you bring balance between your style and the client’s vision?
It's always a collaboration. I always try to create a visual I would like to look at, while satisfying their requirements.
Q
How did your journey into the creative world begin?
After University in New Zealand I went traveling. I was scouted as a model and when I was on set I wanted to be the person taking the pictures more than the one in them. I persisted until that was me behind the lens.
Q
How do you manage critical feedback on your work?
You have to take the ego out and separate yourself from it. Remember it's not personal and working with the feedback will probably improve the final result.
Q
I’d love to hear more about your experience! Can you tell me about a project you found particularly challenging, and how you managed to overcome any obstacles?
I was offered an exhibition at Art Basel in Miami sponsored by a large candy company. i sold in the concept of Gingerbread art galleries. They loved it and green lit the project. Only I had no idea or experience in making them. Myself and a collaborator spent 2 weeks experimenting, failing and persisting until we made 7 of the most amazing and memorable food sculptures!
Q
Can you discuss the different styles and techniques that help you create a compelling project?
I just keep prodding, trying something different and when I'm happy with a result I try to mix it up again. I want it to go to a place that surprises and thrills me.
Q
How did you get interested in creating? What were your early influences?
I always got a kick out of being able to bring something to life that didn't exist at the start of the day. I wasn't exposed to much international art until my 20's. So my influences were what my 3 aunts who were local artists were doing.
Q
Please share with us your absolute favorite project from amongst all your work.
I did a series of portraits of final meals of prisoners on death row. It chilled me to do them and resonated with a common thread in all cultures of death, food and punishment.
Q
Did you always know your creative calling? How did you find your way toward it?
No I didn't know you could make a career as a creative until my early 20's. I thought it would always just be a hobby.
Once I saw it was possible I invested time and resources into my projects and fortunately they caught attention of many online blogs int he early 2000's and encouraged me to keep going.
Q
What does your creative process look like?
I invest time in each project and keep prodding at it until I find an approach that excites me then I start running with that and keep pushing, trying to improve where it's at.
