Leslie Alsheimer, USA

Is the whole world a vale of tears? Particularly on the black continent? Is this not a place where sad allegories of murder, disease and refugees dominate our perception?

American photographer Leslie Alsheimer wants to provide us with a different view. Her strength lies in seeing and understanding things. Her work is poetic and without pathos – it captures people’s grace even under harsh circumstances, their hope, their joy and the significant shades of grey between life and mere survival. Leslie Alsheimer doesn’t deny the tremendous suffering Africa frequently endures. She wants to draw our attention, however, to the incredible lust for life of African children, their lack of prejudice and their loving care for each other.

Curriculum Vitae: Leslie Alsheimer

• freelance photographer (2001 - present):
• Editorial, Fine Art, Photojournalism
• workshops founder, director (2003 - present):
• Santa Fe Digital Darkroom Photography Workshops
• Forward Focus
• Community Photography Outreach, Non-profit agencies

Photographic mentor / instructor / educator (2001 - present)

• National Geographic All-Roads Photography Project
• Nikon Mentor Series
• Santa Fe Digital Darkroom Photography Workshops
• Maine Photographic Workshops
• Anderson Ranch Arts Center
• Santa Fe Photographic Workshops

Education

• New Mexico Highlands University: Las Vegas, New Mexico
• Master of Social Work, Deans List, James Madison University: Harrisonburg, Va
• Bachelor of Science, Cum Laude Honors

Photography awards selected

• Fotoweek DC 2009 Awards, Award of Distinction Photojournalism / Social Documentary Series Black & White Magazine
• Spotlight Award 2009, Portfolio Feature Publication, Issue 71 PhotoLucida, Critical Mass TOP 50 2009, Portland, OR The Art of Photography Show 2009
• Lens Baby Award, Juried by Charlotte Cotton Black and White Spider Awards 5th Annual - Photojournalism Professional Nominee APA/NY-Advertising Photographers of America, New York 2009
• Jurors Selection Award, 2009 International Photography Awards 2008 and 2009
• LUCIE AWARD, Deeper Perspectives & Documentary Work PDN / National Geographic Traveler - Magazine, World in Focus 2009, Featured Professional photographer Center, The Review Santa Fe 100, Portfolio Juried Competition, 2009, Santa Fe, NM Women in Photography International
• Juror’s Choice, 2009 Our World: Photo Alliance Portfolio Juried Competition, 2009, San Francisco, CA National Geographic Magazine International Photo Award, 26 November 2009 NAPP Photoshop GURU Awards 2008, Vincent Versace Award for Photographic Excellence New Mexico Council on Photography 2008
• Willard Van Dyke Award 2nd Place Corcoran Gallery of Art
• Gold Key Award PDN Magazine
• “The Power of Photography, Photo Annual 2003, Best Photos of the Year”, Reality from the Barrio

Exhibitions selected

• PCNW, PhotoLucida, Critical Mass TOP 50 Exhibition, Photographic Center Northwest, Seattle, WA 2009
• Fotoweek DC Photojournalism Exhibition, Crystal City and Georgetown, Washington D.C. 2009
• The Art of Photography Show, Lyceum Gallery San Diego, California 2009
• Center for Fine Art Photography, Fort Collins, Colorado, Documentary Exhibition 2009
• The Center for Fine Art Photography, Fort Collins, Colorado, 2008
• Society for Photographic Education, 2008
• Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington D.C. Group Exhibition
• Untitled, Gallery Santa Fe, Santa Fe, NM, Permanent Collection
• Wilkinson Gallery, Telluride, CO 2009
• 222 Shelby Street Gallery, Visions Of Africa, 2008, Santa Fe, NM 2008
• Underground Gallery of Contemporary Art, Santa Fe, NM 2007

Publications selected

• Black & White Magazine / Issue 70, October 2009, Issue 71, December 2009
• National Geographic Traveler / World in Focus Issue 2009
• PDN Magazine / 2009 World in Focus Issue
• National Geographic Magazine on-line / Nov. 26, 2009
• The Wall Street Journal / Feature Story
• NPR The Picture Show / On Picturing the Positive 2010
• Digital Photographer Magazine UK, Featured Photographer, 2009
• Outside Magazine, April, 2007 and June, 2007 / Between the Lines

author (2007 - 2008, Elsevier, Focal Press)

• Black & White in Photoshop CS4 & Lightroom; Published March 2008, English, Chinese
• Black & White in Photoshop CS3 & Lightroom; Published October 2007, English, French & Spanish