Jason Leung
- Oct 8
- 3 min read
Bay Area photographer Jason Leung, featured in For The Writers’ #ForThePeople series, uses his lens to bridge art, advocacy, and connection. Known for his work with Michelin-starred restaurants like Suragan and Soto Omakase, and featured in Pop-Up Magazine x Google’s Year in Search, Fletcher’s album cover, and Wise Knuckle Magazine, Leung’s images have been viewed over one billion times. His storytelling extends beyond food photography to nonprofit and press freedom work, seeking to capture truth and humanity.
In the Bay Area’s creative landscape, where food, culture, and storytelling are inextricably linked, freelance photographer and videographer Jason Leung has built a career rooted in empathy and intention. His images capture more than beauty; they reveal truth through light, texture, and human detail. Recently featured in For The Writers’ #ForThePeople series, as part of staff writer James Bierre’s feature ACLU and Press Freedom: Protecting Journalists from Censorship and Retaliation, Leung’s work stands alongside artists using their craft to defend expression in all its forms. His inclusion in the series reflects a conviction central to his practice: that photography can expose injustice, foster connection, and prove that creativity, at its core, is an act of resistance.
Leung’s lens often turns toward subjects that bring people together—none more so than food. For him, food is a universal language that bridges cultures and tells stories of craftsmanship, family, and community.
“Food brings people together,” he says, “and photographing it lets me tell stories that go beyond the plate.” His shoots reveal intimacy, movement, and the shared humanity behind every meal. And yes, he laughs, the best part often comes after the camera is packed away: the meal itself.
That instinct for authenticity has taken him inside some of the most acclaimed kitchens in the country. His work has captured the culinary artistry of Suragan and Soto Omakase, both Michelin-recognized restaurants where Leung’s imagery translates technique into feeling.
Beyond the restaurant world, Leung’s reach has become global. His imagery has been viewed more than one billion times, a testament to the depth of his storytelling's resonance with audiences. His photographs have appeared in Pop-Up Magazine x Google’s Year in Search 2021, reflecting moments that shaped a year of upheaval and reinvention. His portrait work landed on the album cover for musical artist Fletcher, and his striking visuals earned him a cover feature in Wise Knuckle Magazine, where he was profiled for transforming everyday scenes into narratives of emotion and connection.
But Leung’s commitment to storytelling extends far beyond aesthetics. His ongoing work with non-profit organizations uses photography as both advocacy and documentation. Whether amplifying community projects or capturing stories that often go unseen, he approaches each frame with the intention of encouraging viewers to pause, see, and connect with what is being presented before them.
“The camera gives you access,” he says. “It lets you witness and share something real. If my work can make someone feel seen, I’ve done my job.”
While food photography remains at the heart of his practice, Leung continues to expand into new creative spaces. He draws inspiration from other artists who experiment boldly and tell truths without compromise, echoing the very mission that led to his feature in the #ForThePeople series. For him, every photograph, whether of a chef at work, a protest in motion, or a meal shared between strangers, is an act of preservation and purpose.
Jason Leung’s work stands as proof that connection and truth are inseparable. Through his camera, he reminds us that storytelling, whether visual or written, is one of the last unbroken threads of freedom we all share.
See more of Jason Leung's work featured in: ACLU and Press Freedom: Protecting Journalists from Censorship and Retaliation.
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