Leica Presents Winning Pictures From Its 2024 Women Foto Project
By Mikelle Leow, 08 Mar 2024
Flor, Ita Savi, from the coast. Image courtesy of Luvia Lazo / Leica Camera and featured with permission
Four talented photographers were crowned the winners of the Leica Women Foto Project Award this International Women’s Day. This year’s theme, Perspective is Power, saw a global search for visual narratives that explored resilience, reclamation, and rebirth through a feminine lens.
Compelling pictures are a given, but these images are more about empowering women to continue telling their stories and reshape how we see the world.
This year’s awardees—Adenike Sogbesan from the UK, Stasia Schmidt from Canada, Luvia Lazo from Mexico, and Camille Farrah Lenain from the US—were chosen by a panel of photography heavyweights and represent a stunning range of styles and backgrounds.
Emphasizing the focus on sharing stories that resonate with themes of strength and transformation, Karin Kaufman, art director of all Leica Galleries worldwide, proclaims, “Through these lenses, the Leica Women Foto Project continues to empower and amplify the voices that capture these profound narratives, adding depth to our collective visual tapestry while reflecting our commitment to celebrating the power of visual storytelling.”
Luvia Lazo (Mexico)
Gold maker, gold weaver, gold woman. Image courtesy of Luvia Lazo / Leica Camera and featured with permission
Luvia Lazo, a Zapotec indigenous photographer from Oaxaca, Mexico, captures the nuanced identities and experiences of contemporary indigenous women. Her project, Women from the Clouds, seeks to weave a rich tapestry of stories that broaden our understanding of womanhood. Lazo’s work has been recognized and featured internationally, reflecting her commitment to sharing the voices of indigenous women through her lens.
Mother and sisters. Image courtesy of Luvia Lazo / Leica Camera and featured with permission
Jewelry from Agua Fria. Image courtesy of Luvia Lazo / Leica Camera and featured with permission
Adenike Sogbesan AKA Dola Posh (United Kingdom)
Care. Image courtesy of Dola Posh / Leica Camera and featured with permission
Adenike Sogbesan, known as Dola Posh, explores the complexities of motherhood and self-identity in her series OMO MI. Nigerian-born and based in the UK, Dola uses her platform to address mental health and postpartum depression, blending her photographic talent with advocacy to highlight the experiences of Black women and mothers.
Postpartum Story. Image courtesy of Dola Posh / Leica Camera and featured with permission
Adornblue. Image courtesy of Dola Posh / Leica Camera and featured with permission
Camille Farrah Lenain (United States)
Made of Smokeless Fire. Image courtesy of Camille Ferrah Lenain / Leica Camera and featured with permission
Camille Farrah Lenain, with a background in documentary and portrait photography, focuses on challenging societal norms and stereotypes. Her project, Made of Smokeless Fire, offers a glimpse into the lives of LGBTQIA+ Muslims in France, aiming to foster a deeper understanding of their experiences.
Made of Smokeless Fire. Image courtesy of Camille Ferrah Lenain / Leica Camera and featured with permission
Made of Smokeless Fire. Image courtesy of Camille Ferrah Lenain / Leica Camera and featured with permission
Stasia Schmidt (Canada)
Basalt. Image courtesy of Stasia Schmidt / Leica Camera and featured with permission
Stasia Schmidt, a fine art photographer from Canada, combines surrealism with a keen eye for form in her work Ephemerality. She challenges traditional gender roles in adventure and exploration, inviting viewers to reconsider their perceptions of femininity in these contexts.
Dune Drift. Image courtesy of Stasia Schmidt / Leica Camera and featured with permission
Missing. Image courtesy of Stasia Schmidt / Leica Camera and featured with permission
To further uplift her visual storytelling, the camera brand will present each winner with US$10,000, a Leica SL2-S camera, and a Vario-Elmarit-SL 24-70mm f/2.8 ASPH.
[via Leica Camera, images courtesy and featured with permission]