Purgatory

• Photographer
  Valerie Leonard
• Agency / Studio
  Valerie Leonard Photography
• Photo Date
  December 2017
• Website
  https://www.valerieleonard.fr/

Between hell and heaven... purgatory... For 35 years, Saliha has been dipping aluminum foil in sulfuric acid and caustic soda. It's a necessary process to anodize (create a protective layer) aluminum foil before transforming it into pots, pans, or kettles. The smell is unbearable. The toxic fumes burn eyes. With a simple scarf on her face, she works all day for a salary of 3€ per day. Aluminum factory in Dacca, Bangladesh.

• Biography
  Valerie Leonard is a documentary photographer concerned with human and environmental issues. She travels the world following her theme of "Works of Hercules" in which she shows the dignity of men and women living and working in difficult conditions. Far from seeking aesthetic or 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.
• Awards
  2018 1st Prize Zoom Photo Festival Saguenay. Canada. Human Nature. 2017 Silver Medal ND Awards/ Editorial Environment Winner Pollux Awards/ Documentary 2016 Silver Star Award ND Awards Editorial/ Environment Bronze star Award ND Awards/ People, Travel 2nd Prize APA Awards/ Documentary Editorial Gold Medal Documentary Book Prix PX3 Paris 2nd Prize "The Other Hundred" Educator's edition 1st Prize Florida Museum Photographic Arts/ Nature 2015 Gold Medal PX3 Paris/ Press Feature Story Silver Medal PX3 Paris/ Portraiture Bronze Medal PX3 Paris/ Nature Selected APA-Off The Clock-LA travelling exhibition 2014 Silver Star ND Awards/ People, Travel 2011 1ST Prize National Geographic Channel's Contest France