1. Pinhole philosophy
   During the 1980s in France, the accepted style of photography was "street photography" in accordance with the myth of "the decisive moment". Rather than document the real world, I preferred to create another world, using large and medium format photographs. To accomplish this, I wanted maximal depth of field and long exposures.
   Then, seven years ago, I discovered pinhole photography. I had some disappointing experiences with pinhole photography in the late 1980s, but I will always remember the day I saw my first pinhole image. Sure, it was not as sharp as a lens photograph, but it had the depth of field I had been searching for. Time was captured, not frozen. The camera showed movement, the movements seemed to break down.
   For the first time in my photographic career, I realized that I could present the world as I saw it. In building my own cameras, I can also distort life and rearrange views inside the camera.
   With my pinhole camera, I am totally free to bring to life the world inside my mind.
2. Pinhole camera gear
   I use only handmade cardboard or wooden Pinhole cameras with medium format film and sheet-films and transformed Tins with paper or very large format sheet-films.
3. Biography
   Photographer and Teacher in History of photography
   About 12 personal exhibitions and 15 collectives exhibitions in France
   Since 2007, Organize and Curate the International Pinhole photography exhibitions in France
   Numerous publications in catalogues
   Author of numerous articles and prefaces about photography, history of photography and pinhole photography
   Pictures were bought by Dutch, Danish and French collectors and several Cultural Centers.
   
4. Personal information
   Marie-Noelle Leroy
   1, rue Jules Jouy
   75018 Paris (France)
   
   Mail: frenchpinholecenter@orange.fr
   And leroy.marie-noelle@wanadoo.fr
   
   Sites and Blogs:
   Gallery 1
   Gallery 2
   Gallery 3
   Work almost exclusively with Pinhole since seven years
   

Marie-Noëlle Leroy
France