Street Photography Magazine France Leclerc – The Art of Becoming Invisible
Dec 5, 2025
France Leclerc, a former professor and now full-time photographer based in Chicago, dives deep into the essence of 'life photography'. She discusses her transition from academia to capturing authentic moments across Asia and Africa, emphasizing the importance of storytelling. France shares her unique emotional editing process and the art of becoming invisible to document natural behaviors. With curiosity as her driving force, she reflects on the challenges of solo travel, shares insights into her photographic techniques, and highlights the humanizing impact of her work.
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Travel Sparked Her Photography
- France Leclerc began photography to share discoveries from long travels after taking a leave from teaching due to burnout.
- She improved by taking classes and limiting shots to convey stories, not just quantity.
Wait Until People Forget You
- Stay in one place long enough so people forget you and return to their natural behavior.
- Blend into the background to capture candid moments rather than staged reactions.
Shooting Lamu's Molid Festival
- At a Molid festival on Lamu Island some processions barred women, making candid work harder for France.
- She noted intense curiosity from locals but eventually got natural shots once they resumed normal behavior.
