Pasta Grannies

I travelled through eight regions of Italy, entering Nonnas' homes to photograph each woman making her speciality. It was an honour every time, to be welcomed in and then fed seconds, thirds, fourths after we'd finished shooting. What struck me most was an idea they all shared - that as you age you simply shouldn't stop moving. They cooked at a pace that left me scrambling, their hands working from a muscle memory built over decades.

Not one Nonna would repeat an action for the camera, which forced me to become quicker and more decisive at reading a moment and capturing it the first time. It refined my instincts more than any studio day could. The language barrier mattered less than I expected; we spent most of the time laughing, which turned out to be the common tongue of the whole journey. The images hold all of it: the speed, the skill, the generosity, and the rare privilege of being invited into something so personal.