I don't do any photojournalism right now but it doesn't stop me from admiring the work of someone who really gets into long form subjects -- spending time with the people in the story in order to get intimate, beautiful and sometimes very raw images.

Leonie Purchas recently won an award for her continuing series into intimate family portraits, sometimes of people very close to her. This warts and all approach takes real dedication. My favourite of her work is of a black polygamous family in the urban sprawl of Paris.

Three years ago Abdou and Feinda were obliged to divorce in order to keep their work permits as a result of the government's new Pasqua laws. The two women now live 10 minutes walk from each other in the Paris suburb of Clichy-Sous-Bois. Their husband now spends three nights at a time with each. The children, grandchildren and the rest of the extended family also move between the mothers and regard both apartments as home.

I enjoy how the gallery of her work blends images of the family's environment as well as their intimate moments -- and of course a blend of beauty and reality.

Her site >>