John Lok Photography

07/16/2024

01/10/2024

The wine, its lifestyle and industry is center stage at the Valle de Guadalupe region of México.⁣
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Outtakes and selects from a story for , shot in September 2023.⁣
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-An evening salute at .⁣
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-The beautiful cellar at .badan.⁣
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-A view down one of the vineyards at - with companion in tow.⁣
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-Wine grapes .badan.⁣
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-Diana Ruiz, right, and fellow crew process a batch of grapes at .⁣
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-Friends toast at .⁣
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This was a most memorable assignment and I hope to return one day. A huge thank you to all of the wonderful people I met and photographed - all were incredibly warm, kind and accommodating to my asks as I worked to tell their story. Thank you for following along!⁣
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Crafted with .⁣
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01/09/2024

From the recently-crowned “Best Restaurant in Mexico” - Rock Cod fish, nopal and lemon basil dashi, finger lime caviar. An amazing and beautiful place. ⁣
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Shot for a story about the Valle de Guadalupe region for . Created with + . ⁣
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Thank you to for his artful craftsmanship of the dishes for the shoot. ⁣
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01/08/2024

Indigenous cook Tabita Dominguez serves up traditional food at her restaurant Wa Kumiai Tabita. It is located in San Antonio Necua, a Kumiai village in Valle de Guadalupe, Mexico. ⁣
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Photographing her and her restaurant was an amazing experience. With the dining area set outdoors under a stand of trees, and smoke rising from food being prepared over a wood fire, it was a scene that was new to me and really drew me in. ⁣
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When I began crafting her portrait, I initially only thought of her being in the image. But these two cute and sweet children kept nudging themselves in to Tabita’s side as I shot. She maintained her smile and was very gentle as she tried to shoo them away. I struggled with this a bit until I realized the children really added a lovely feel to her portrait that I didn’t anticipate - so I included them. I felt it added an element of community, and warmth to the portrait. ⁣
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After I finished and was taking down notes for captions, I learned that the two kids were her grandchildren. This made me feel even better about the decision to include the little ones and that it now added a third element - family. ⁣
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I’m grateful to have met Tabita, her family and her team on this very memorable assignment. ⁣
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Photographed for as part of a story about the Valle de Guadalupe region of Mexico in late September, 2023. Story is out now. ⁣
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Shot on 5DS cameras and lit with . ⁣
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01/05/2024

I worked on a wonderful assignment looking at one of the most famous winemaking regions in Mexico, called Valle de Guadalupe. Located in Baja California, it is home to many beautiful wineries, hotels and restaurants.
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Story is live now. Photographed for in late September, 2023.⁣
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-Juan José Villacís, an agronomist, is working to make the land in Valle de Guadalupe more sustainable and resilient. Photographed at one of the vineyards he works in, with his trusty dog, Yuki, who accompanies him everywhere he goes. ⁣
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-Nick Kendall, hotelier, at his latest project, Mira Earth Studios . He employs thoughtful design and construction to create gorgeous living spaces for those who visit the region. ⁣
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-Chef and restaurateur Diego Hernández Baquedano.⁣
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-A tranquil scene at Hotel Bruma Casa 8 - a gorgeous hotel noted for their mindful use of design, architecture and construction to blend in with the natural environment. Truly one of the most beautiful hotels I’ve ever seen.⁣
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-Late-afternoon light fills a corridor at Casa Anlu, another beautifully-designed hotel in the region. ⁣
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-Visiting Fauna Restaurante was one of the highlights of my time there. I was tasked with photographing some amazing dishes in this beautifully-designed restaurant. Including this: Scallops, eggplant and squid ink puree, brown butter, lemon zest. Just last November, they were crowned Best Restaurant in all of Mexico, and among Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants in 2023. Grateful for the artistry of Alonso Ruiz, who helped craft the dishes for the shoot.⁣
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-Lulu Martínez Ojeda - the winemaker for Bruma Wines. Such a gracious portrait subject, she took me on a tour of her estate where we settled at this location, next to one of her giant wine vats. ⁣
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-Evening light at Casa Magoni winery. ⁣
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-Sea snail, shiitake mushroom, Chile morita Mayo - at Fauna Restaurante. ⁣
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All shot with EOS 5Ds bodies + EF lenses, and lit with . ⁣More work from this project to come.
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12/23/2023

Dr. Matt Altman and Dr. Carmen Mikacenic, researchers at the University of Washington and Benaroya Research.

New work out for Lakeside Magazine - photographed back in October at Mikacenic’s laboratory.

12/20/2022

New editorial work - A story of an effort led by Catherine Buck Le, far left, to support friend and classmate Natalie Phelps, second from left, as she battles cancer. With them are fellow Lakeside School classmates and their family members who joined Phelps in Seattle’s first walk to end colorectal cancer. ⁣
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Photographed at Gas Works Park in Seattle in October, for Lakeside School Magazine. ⁣
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12/02/2022

Excited to share some pages from my latest promo.⁣
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Portraiture has always been my #1 love, and passion, and I wanted this to represent that, showcasing some of my favorites from the past and current projects.⁣
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I’m so grateful for my collaboration with the absolutely amazing , who designed the piece. Her expertise in telling stories visually, elegant design sense and sheer discipline was an experience to behold.⁣
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Beautifully printed by in the UK who nailed the printing on the very first try, with superb customer service. I’m grateful to you, thank you.⁣
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And after looking and admiring all the promos from the outside through the years, it was exciting to see it featured on today. Thanks, Rob.⁣
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Time to put these to good use to strengthen already-established connections, and ignite new ones.⁣
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Hoping you all are doing well and thank you for following along.⁣
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07/11/2022

New documentary work - profile on Salt House, a progressive church in Kirkland, WA. Shot for Duke University Divinity School. ⁣
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07/08/2022

New branding work for - a continuing collaboration with one of the biggest commercial construction companies in the Pacific Northwest. Collateral includes fence wraps at the base of a new build site at 5th Avenue and Broad Street in downtown Seattle. I’ve really enjoyed helping tell the Lewis story through their dedicated, and diverse workforce who continue to give rise to some of the most iconic and innovative structures in the region. ⁣
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04/06/2022

Another from my shoot with Syren Nagakyrie. Nagakyrie founded , a nonprofit site that provides guides to hikers with disabilities and illnesses. Nagakyrie wanted to improve the outdoor experience for those who are disabled by helping identify features such as places to rest and water access points along the way. ⁣
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Photographed with Nagakyrie’s trusty dog, Benji, in Sedro-Woolley, Washington, for Alta Magazine . ⁣Canon 5Ds, Profoto AcuteB
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04/05/2022

Syren Nagakyrie founded , a nonprofit site that provides guides to hikers with disabilities and illnesses. Nagakyrie wanted to improve the outdoor experience for those who are disabled by helping identify features such as places to rest and water access points along the way. ⁣
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Photographed with her trusty dog, Benji, in Sedro-Woolley, Washington, for Alta Magazine . ⁣
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