Photography Exhibition Denis Lebioda – Portraits of Women Farmers

A look at women farmers in the Hautes-Alpes. Denis Lebioda has been photographing people involved in small-scale farming for many years, particularly in the Hautes-Alpes.

Much more than simply ‘taking photos’, he seeks encounters, dialogue and exchange in order to better understand the women and men, their work, their animals, their environment and their passion. This requires spending a lot of time with them: for each subject, the photo shoots are spread over several days and several years.

In search of the most accurate and respectful vision possible of today’s agriculture, living in and through its time – and in part even seeking to create the agriculture of tomorrow – the author rejects outdated clichés that glorify a supposed ‘good old days’ or ‘golden age’ of the agricultural and farming world.

Never ask people to pose, to do or redo a gesture, make yourself as inconspicuous as possible: leave them to their work, try to capture the moments when they are genuinely absorbed in what they are doing.

In this way, a story is told, that of these women farmers (and men farmers too!) who have chosen a certain approach to their profession: peasant farming.

Their names are Sophie, Anne-Claude, Nathalie, Noémie, Marie-Ange, Claire, Pauline, Bertille… they are market gardeners, livestock farmers or cheese makers, and they all testify to their passion for their work.

It is about proximity, social and environmental responsibility, organic methods and direct contact with consumers, particularly through the marketing of produce via short supply chains (local markets, farm sales, AMAP, etc.).

These photographs are a faithful representation of the complex and rich relationships that exist in our Alpine regions, linking women farmers to the land, animals, nature, food and consumers.