Bio

Valerie Leonard is a documentary photographer passionate about human and environmental issues. She travels the world pursuing her overarching subject of "Labors of Hercules" in which she shows the dignity of men and women living and working in difficult conditions. 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 takes the time to live with the people and to be fully accepted before starting her work. There is no staging. With patience and respect, she waits for the right moment, the right light, to capture the beauty and truth of the human being. Far from seeking a false compassion she intends to change our view of a forgotten humanity and provoke a questioning in our privileged societies about our real needs as well as our commitment and our role in a world in perpetual development to the detriment of men and their lands.