Travel nominee

Their name “Rabari” means in Hindi,“out of ways”. They are known to be the ancestors of the European Gypsies.It is because of their wandering and nomadic lifestyle as stockbreeders of camels. However most of them have chosen a sedentary life on the outskirts of villages.
Even though the adults still hold tightly to their culture, and carry with pride their traditional splendid costumes of purity and elegance; the young people have given up on tradition, and now leave the tribe to seek work in Bombay or Delhi.

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.

2018
1st Prize Zoom-Photo-Festival-Canada.
2 Hon.Mention.PX3
2017
Silver.Medal.ND Awards
Hon.Mention.ND Awards
Winner Pollux Awards
Hon.Mention.SDN
Hon.Mention.IPA
2016
Silver & Bronze Star ND-Awards
2nd Prize APA-Awards
Gold Medal.PX3
Nominee. FAP. Awards
2nd Prize The.Other.Hundred
1st Prize Florida Museum Photographic.Arts
2015


Hon.Mention ND Awards
Hon.Mention Monochrome.Awards
Remarkable.Award Siena.Photography.Awards
Hon.Mention FAP Awards
Gold, Silver & Bronze.Medal. PX3
Nom.Oasis.Photo.Contest
Fin 7th J.M.Cameron.Award/ 6 categories
Hon.Mention IPA
APA-Off the-Clock
2014
Silver Star ND.Awards
Hon.Mention IPA
Short-Sony.World.Photography.Awards
2013
Finalist-Travel-Photographer-of-the-Year
Hon.Mention Best-of-Photography
Nominee Nature-Images-Awards
Hon.Mention IPA
Nominee Oasis-Photo-Contest
Hon.Mention Winner-of-PX-PARIS
2012 


2 Hon.Mention IPA
Bronze Medal "Art-en-Capital" Grand-Palais-Paris
Photographer-of-the-Month National-Geographic-France-Web
2011 


1ST Prize National Geographic Channel's Contest France