As a lover of culture and good food, I chose to embark on a photographic journey exploring the connection between a passionate chef and the bounty of edible treasures he was pursuing in a remarkable region of Mexico. “To the Source” is a multi-year project documenting the efforts of Michael Beary, the owner and chef of Zocalito, an Aspen, Colorado dining institution. Michael’s search for extraordinary ingredients found only in and around Oaxaca, and the myriad ways he uses those ingredients back in his kitchen are the core of this project. I feel fortunate to have captured the passion in Michael and his ability to maintain the integrity and traditions of these ingredients while still translating them into his own unique culinary language.
–Chris Guibert