2nd place
silver star award
VALERIE LEONARD
france
title
TRASH SLAVES
The increased volume of domestic waste, industrial waste, and chemical waste in Kathmandu's valley has posed challenges to the environment.
A landfill can have a number of environmental impacts. Contaminated water called leachate can contaminate soil as well as ground water and surface water.
The sisdol landfill site has been operationed since 2005 is now reaching to its capacity.
Every day 140 trucks empty garbage in the land.
As the level of trash expands, excavators scrap the side of the hill to cover the garbage.
About 300 scavengers are currently segregating, the waste at landfill.
This activity is in no part official, as the scavengers are putting their health at risk.
In July 2014 a female scavenger died as she was hit by a vehicle that was operating at the site.
These people are making a small livelihood from selling the segregated waste.
Most of them lost their homes after the earthquake in 2015 and have no other option than working here to make a living.
When she presses the shutter, she remembers the doctrine of her father: "Always tell the Truth, but in terms of Beauty".
Valerie Leonard strives for her work to embody to this search for truth and beauty of human beings, whatever their origin or wealth.
Far from seeking aesthetic or false compassion, she wants to show the dignity of these women and men, in particularly hostile environments.
Throughout her trips around the world she focused her work particularly on a theme that she named “Labours of Hercules”.
A series of photographs where she attempts to show with utmost respect and admiration the nobility and courage of those living in difficult conditions.
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entry description
The increased volume of domestic waste, industrial waste, and chemical waste in Kathmandu's valley has posed challenges to the environment.
A landfill can have a number of environmental impacts. Contaminated water called leachate can contaminate soil as well as ground water and surface water.
The sisdol landfill site has been operationed since 2005 is now reaching to its capacity.
Every day 140 trucks empty garbage in the land.
As the level of trash expands, excavators scrap the side of the hill to cover the garbage.
About 300 scavengers are currently segregating, the waste at landfill.
This activity is in no part official, as the scavengers are putting their health at risk.
In July 2014 a female scavenger died as she was hit by a vehicle that was operating at the site.
These people are making a small livelihood from selling the segregated waste.
Most of them lost their homes after the earthquake in 2015 and have no other option than working here to make a living.
about the photographer
Born in Paris, french-american, Valerie Leonard has always been surrounded by a world of images. Her mother was a painter, and her father, photographer, Herman Leonard.When she presses the shutter, she remembers the doctrine of her father: "Always tell the Truth, but in terms of Beauty".
Valerie Leonard strives for her work to embody to this search for truth and beauty of human beings, whatever their origin or wealth.
Far from seeking aesthetic or false compassion, she wants to show the dignity of these women and men, in particularly hostile environments.
Throughout her trips around the world she focused her work particularly on a theme that she named “Labours of Hercules”.
A series of photographs where she attempts to show with utmost respect and admiration the nobility and courage of those living in difficult conditions.
back to gallery