Joshua Foo and Lauren Abell fix the subjects of their project in stills and videos, respectively. They often profile restaurateurs, chefs, waiters, and kitchen purveyors because Foo is a food photographer with deep industry ties to folks adversely impacted by the pandemic.
He and Abell intentionally captured the poignancy of once-bustling eateries turned empty, quiet spaces. The resulting textured images and confessional reveals feel immediate and intimate.
“It started with photo essays I posted on my personal Instagram account,” Foo said. “Lauren joined doing video work. I think we did close to 70 interviews in one month, capturing a lot of stories, going with the flow of whatever was happening—from the pandemic to the protests. We’ve done some interviews since the protests. The movement’s affected the community, mostly in a positive way. People are talking about it because it’s on their mind.
They are also following the way restaurants are adapting and places reopening. Foo added, “I think it’s something that just all blends together. We just want to be conduits for everyone’s voices to be heard.”
“This is kind of a little window into what people in the industry are going through,” Abell said. “We’ve had several people mention that it’s kind of a therapy session for them. It is for us, too.”
Abell said people are optimistic that on the other side of this pandemic, the community will be stronger. “Hearing people talk about hope for the future reminded me there’s a light at the end of the tunnel.”
New stories have continued to emerge, and this pair of collaborators—he’s the extrovert, she’s the introvert—have expanded their vision beyond food to other fields. The project could birth several series.
“I think it will continue to evolve even beyond COVID,” Foo said.
Making time for the project may get challenging as these freelancers pick up more paid gigs. “But the project is still our top priority,” he said.
The team includes producer Jesse Hassler and line producer Sam Foo (Joshua’s brother).
The project has attracted attention from the James Beard Foundation, and a local library wants to archive it. Foo and Abell said they hope to adapt it into a documentary. A gallery show and book are also on the table.
View their project at righthererightnowproject.com.
