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Ashford photographer Zuzana Valla's Covid-19 lockdown photos to feature in Vogue Italia collection

A Kent photographer's pictures of working in lockdown will appear in an international collection.

Zuzana Valla captured a number of shots while working as an improvement technologist at the Premier Foods manufacturing site in Ashford.

Zuzana Valla has been documenting life at Premier Foods during the lockdown
Zuzana Valla has been documenting life at Premier Foods during the lockdown

Documenting the efforts of her colleagues, the snaps will now be featured in Vogue Italia's ‘All in this together’ collection.

Moreover, the photographs are currently being considered for inclusion in the National Portrait Gallery later this year.

Zuzana has worked at Premier Foods for the last 12 years, and has carried out the project to boost morale and document the efforts of her co-workers.

Of the project, Zuzana comments: “One of my colleagues suggested that I capture these unusual times in photos and the response from the team has been fantastic.

"They are helping to bring ‘positive vibes’ to the company, acting as a reminder to everyone that we are playing an important role at a very difficult time.”

Zuzana Valla started the project to boost morale and document the unique working environment caused by Covid-19
Zuzana Valla started the project to boost morale and document the unique working environment caused by Covid-19

Simon Ellmore, factory general manager for Premier Foods, said: "Zuzana's project really demonstrates how well our colleagues at Ashford are pulling together, as well as showing the pride we have in being part of a team that's helping to feed the nation.

"Keeping our people safe is our priority at Premier Foods and as a food manufacturing business, our already stringent hygiene standards have been strengthened, and we have put a range of additional measures in place, such as social distancing wherever possible, restricted access to our sites, and managing the flow of colleagues around our sites.

The award-winning photographer's evocative snaps are now being considered for a place at the National Portrait Gallery
The award-winning photographer's evocative snaps are now being considered for a place at the National Portrait Gallery

"We are constantly conducting risk assessments on our manufacturing lines to identify any extra measures we can take, such as installing Perspex screens on some production lines."

An award-winning photographer in her spare time, Zuzana's work was until recently featured in a gallery at Stag Coffee on Ashford's High Street.

To see more of her pictures, click here.

Read more: All the latest news from Ashford

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