Due to the substantial geographic distance between them – France/USA, photographers Segolene Ragu and Leslie Norman decided to concentrate their efforts on a central theme while shooting separately, frequently bouncing ideas back and forth by way of email. As the broad topic of ‘Mysteries/Legends/Unexplained’ evolved over the course of this project, the final photographic works reveal a riotous combination; documentation vs. suggestion, b/w opposed to color, and general interpretation. The worlds of explained scientific reality and supernatural concepts join together in this evocative collection of film photographs.

Leslie Norman is an American, primarily self-taught, lens-based artist working in analog black and white film photography. She had a typical Midwest, middleclass family upbringing. Her interest in image making began in her high school years where she was first introduced to 35mm film photography and the basics of darkroom printing. Although most dependent on 35mm and medium format film, Norman also utilizes found antique photographic negatives and shoots cameras from the turn of the century to the 1980’s - . She embraces experimental and alternative darkroom processes including multiple exposures, printing with glass, solarization, chemigram, lumen, and photogram prints. Much of her work explores connection, heritage, the subconscious and the unusual. Presently, she works out of her home studio and darkroom. She lives in Mount Vernon, Ohio with her husband and two daughters.

Ségolène Ragu is a French-Lebanese photojournalist based between Paris and Beirut. After a work experience in cultural desk research and audiovisual, she graduated in documentary photojournalism from EMI-Cfd in Paris. Her work focuses on societal issues, youth and memory, mainly in Lebanon and South Caucasus. She collaborates with French and international media outlets such as Libération, NZZ and The New Humanitarian. She co-founded Sillages collective and is a Diversify Photo Up Next member.

Leslie Norman - www.leslienormanphoto.com
Segolene Ragu - www.segoleneragu.com