ABOUT

'Ashes from Stone' is a personal and deeply meaningful project, one that brings together years of portrait work captured across the world, using only natural light. The aim was always simple yet powerful: to bring out the best in people by showing them in real light, not staged, not artificial, but honest and human. These images reflect my ongoing mission to make people feel seen, and to use photography as a tool for empathy, visibility, and connection.

The project was created in response to a brief centered on 'Unity through Diversity'. I approached it as a documentary photo essay, highlighting individuals who challenge conventional ideals of beauty, strength, and identity. Through empowered portraits and accompanying personal narratives, I focused on people from a range of cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds, those whose stories often go unheard. Each image and story was crafted with care to challenge stereotypes, foster empathy, and show the strength in vulnerability.

Submitting this body of work to the 'Leica Women Foto Project Award' felt like a natural step, but winning the award was an enormous personal milestone. Leica is such an iconic brand, and to have my work recognised by them felt like a moment of affirmation, that the stories I’m telling, and the way I tell them, are reaching the right people in the right places.

Even more special was the opportunity to travel to New York City, where the work was exhibited on a major scale. I was invited to be part of a panel talk hosted by Leica, a moment I’ll never forget, and one that truly marked a turning point in my career. It wasn’t just an award; it was a reminder of why I started photographing in the first place: to humanise, to connect, and to amplify voices that deserve to be seen and heard.

Conceptually, Ashes from Stone explores identity, dignity, and resilience through a lens of radical empathy. In execution, it relies entirely on natural light and a deep sense of presence, allowing each subject’s story to guide the image-making process. The result is a project that not only challenged me as an artist but also confirmed that photography, when done with care and intention, can be a powerful force for change.