My name is Brendan Miller (FotoDiaspora on IG), I’m from White Plains, NY, I’m the son of a South Bronx native and a Trinidadian immigrant. I’ve been taking photos and studying composition my entire adult life but my photographic journey evolved during the pandemic. I used the additional time to enroll in a photography class offered through the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). I learned about photo history, composition, editing and lighting. I began applying these principles to candid street photography and instantly fell in love. My work has been featured in Docu Magazine, Anthology and recognized by countless other print organizations. During the summer of 2023 I decided to expand my focus to documentary storytelling. I designed a series entitled ‘Chef’ not ‘Cook’: The Process to Plate which captures the story of eight industry leading chefs of color. The title is a nod to the historical marginalization of BIPOC culinary artists who were labeled as ‘cooks’ but denied the esteemed title ‘chef’.
This journey has taken me to chef’s homes, gardens, family gatherings, farms, butchers and so much more. I’ve also conducted hours of interviews to document each subject in their voice. This beautiful project encapsulates my love of food and photography in a way that’s deeply personal.
For my efforts I have been named a finalist by Pink Lady Food Photographer of Year for the 2024 James Beard Foundation Photography Award. As such, my work will be on display at The Mall Galleries, London in June 2024. Further, 'Chef' not 'Cook': The Process to Plate has been selected by the Photoville Photography Festival for display during their June 2024 installment in New York City.
When I'm not behind the lens, I lead the communications program for a central bank, where I direct the curation of strategic storytelling.
