Photographe touchée par les problématiques humaines et environnementales, Valerie Leonard parcourt le monde en se consacrant à son thème central des "Travaux d'Hercule", révélant ainsi la résilience et la dignité d'hommes et de femmes confrontés à l'adversité.
Chaque photo est prise avec la ferme conviction, partagée avec elle par son père, le photographe Herman Leonard, de " toujours dire la vérité, mais en termes de beauté ".
Elle prend le temps de vivre avec les populations et d'être totalement acceptée avant de commencer son travail. Il n'y a pas de mise en scène. Avec patience et respect, elle attend le bon moment, la bonne lumière, afin de capturer la beauté et la vérité de l'être humain.
Loin d’une recherche essentiellement esthétisante ou d'une fausse compassion, elle espère ainsi parvenir à changer notre regard sur une humanité oubliée et provoquer un questionnement dans nos sociétés privilégiées sur nos réels besoins ainsi que notre engagement et notre rôle dans un monde en perpétuel développement au détriment des hommes et de leurs terres.
Valerie Leonard is a documentary photographer deeply moved by human and environmental issues. She travels the globe, dedicated to her overarching theme of "Labors of Hercules" where she illuminates the resilience and dignity of men and women confronting adversity.
Every photo is taken with the firmly held belief, shared with her, by her father, the photographer Herman Leonard to "always tell the truth, but in terms of beauty".
She invests time in immersing herself within communities and earning complete acceptance before initiating her work. There's no staging involved. With patience and respect, she awaits the perfect moment and lighting to capture the beauty and truth of humanity.
Rather than seeking false compassion, she aims to alter our perception of a neglected humanity and provoke reflection within our advantaged societies about our genuine needs, our commitment, and our role in a world of continual development at the expense of people and their lands.
AWARDS
2021
Hon. Mention Tokyo International Foto Awards Editorial-Photo Essay with “Silver Hands”.
2018
1st Prize Zoom Photo Festival Saguenay. Canada. Human Nature.
Hon.Mention PX3 Paris/ Press/ Book Documentary with Silver Hands.
Hon.Mention PX3 Paris/ Press/ Feature Story with Amazon Queen.
2017
Silver Medal ND Awards/ Editorial Environment with "Trash Slaves" Nepal.
Hon.Mention ND Awards/ General news with "Survivors" Nepal.
Winner Pollux Awards/ Documentary with Black Hell.
Hon.Mention SDN with Black Hell.
Hon.Mention IPA/ Environmental with Black Hell.
2016
Silver Star Award ND Awards Editorial/ Environment with Black Hell.
Bronze star Award ND Awards/ People, Travel with Iran.
2nd Prize APA Awards/ Documentary Editorial with Black Hell.
Gold Medal Documentary Book Prix PX3 Paris with Iran.
Nom. Fine Art Photography Awards/ Portrait, Travel, Animals, People with "Praying Ganesh", Iran, China, India.
2nd Prize "The Other Hundred" Educator's edition, with Iran.
1st Prize Florida Museum Photographic Arts/ Nature, Animals with "Praying Ganesh" Andaman.
2015
Hon.Mention ND Awards/ Editorial, Daily life, People, Travel with China, Cambodia, India.
Hon.Mention Monochrome Awards with China.
Remarkable Award Siena Photography Awards/ Storyboard with Kawah Ijen.
Hon.Mention Fine Art Photography Awards/ Travel with Kawah Ijen.
Gold Medal PX3 Paris/ Press Feature Story with Kawah Ijen.
Silver Medal PX3 Paris/ Portraiture with "The Frog hunter". Cambodia.
Bronze Medal PX3 Paris/ Nature with " Praying ganesh". Andaman.
Finalist 7th J.M Cameron Award/ Landscapes, Seascapes with "Lightly Suspended". Sri Lanka.
Finalist 7th J.M Cameron Award/ Documentary with Kawah Ijen & India.
Finalist 7th J.M Cameron Award/ Portraits with "Sledgehammer". Mali
Finalist 7th J.M Cameron Award/ People, Culture, Daily life with "Douala's Harlem". Cameroon.
Hon.Mention IPA/ Home one Place with "Farmer's Home". Cambodia.
Selected APA-Off The Clock-LA travelling exhibition with "The frog Hunter". Cambodia.
2014
Silver Star ND Awards/ People, Travel with Kawah Ijen.
Hon.Mention IPA/ People Children with "The Frog Hunter" Cambodia.
Shortlisted Sony World Photography Awards with Kawah Ijen.
2013
Finalist Travel Photographer of the Year/ Extraordinary with "Praying Ganesh". Andaman.
Hon.Mention Best of Photography with "The Look". Mali.
Nominee Nature Images Awards with Kawah Ijen.
Hon.Mention IPA/ One shot one world with "Stairway to heaven". Kawah Ijen.
Nominee Oasis Photo Contest with "The Look". Mali.
Hon.Mention Winner of PX PARIS with Mali.
2012
Hon.Mention IPA/ Wildlife with "Praying Ganesh". Andaman.
Hon.Mention IPA/ People with Mali.
Bronze Medal "Art en Capital" Grand Palais Paris with "The Look". Mali.
Photographer of the Month National Geographic France Web with "Douala's Harlem". Cameroon.
2011
1ST Prize National Geographic Channel's Contest France with "The Shadows". Mali.
EXHIBITIONS
- RENCONTRES DE LA PHOTO. Villennes sur seine. March 2020.
- MAISON DU DEVELOPPEMENT DURABLE MONTREAL Canada Oct/Nov 2019
- FESTIVAL PHOTO MONCOUTANTJune/September 2019.
- LES FEMMES S'EXPOSENT June 8th/July 16th 2018. Houlgate, France.
- NOT A GALERIE Galerie Natacha & Olivier Dassault. Jan/Feb 2018.
- JAVA SERIES hosted by THE FENCE in 2017. Brooklyn, Boston, Atlanta, Houston, Santa-Fe, Denver, Durham.
- BIENNIAL PHOTO Berlin October 2016
- ART EN CAPITAL Grand Palais Paris Dec 2012
- OPEN SHOW Paris June 201
PRESS & INTERVIEWS
- TEAR SHEET GEO MAGAZINE Jul 2020
- GEO MAGAZINE PODCAST Les Gardiens de la Forêt Interdite
- RADIO CANADA Valerie leonard invitée
- ZOOM PHOTO FESTIVAL SAGUENAY 2018
- YOU TUBE HOULGATE FESTIVAL
- NOUVEL OBS GRAND FORMAT
- ACTUPHOTO Valerie leonard
- GAIA RADIO INTERVIEW
- HUFFINGTON POST MALI-BLACKSMITHS
- THE GLOBALIST-MALIAN BLACKSMITH ASSOCIATION
- SONY WORLD PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS
- NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC PHOTO PAR NATURE
- MANFROTTO
