French-American, Valerie Leonard travels the world following her theme that she named “Labours of Hercules" where she attempts to show with utmost respect the dignity of women and men living and working in particularly hostile environments.
She takes the time to live with the people and 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 tell the truth, but in terms of beauty.
Far from seeking aesthetic or false compassion she intends to change the way we see a forgotten humanity.
AWARDS
2018
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.
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