'If These Hands Could Speak': Joakim Blockstrom on Chefs' Mental Health

We all have an idea of how kitchens are. We sometimes picture them as stressful places, where urgency and rage can sometimes boil over. We often imagine that those working in kitchens are able to deal with the pressure come what may. But we tend to forget that chefs are human, and that they feel the same as anybody else. We sometimes picture them as superhuman - able to work a crazy amount of hours every day, and manage high levels of stress. 

But it's not always like this. 

The photographer Joakim Blockstrom joined forces with the Pilot Light campaign, started by chefs Andrew Clarke and Doug Sanham with the goal of removing the stigma and discrimination associated with mental health issues in kitchens. Through his evocative photographs, he told the story of some brave chefs that decided to open up and let their emotions flow. And he did it by focusing on their hands.