Leslie, originally from southern Ohio, has lived in Honolulu since 2007. She holds a masters degree in education and has worked for 43 years in early childhood education. She currently works in the role of pedagogista (pedagogy specialist) in the Mid-Pacificʻs Reggio-inspired preschool.

After coming to Hawaiʻi, her passion for photography expanded beyond the classroom and, in 2011, began taking classes through Pacific New Media. By 2014 -15 her photographic journey was leading her towards fine art black and white macro photography, with a focus on floral subjects. Out of this passion grew a large body of fine art work that was created within Oahu’s Botanical Gardens titled Thresholds and was part of the 2016 “Solo Shows by Emerging Photographers” (by invitation) sponsored by Pacific New Media and curated by David Ulrich.

She has had work exhibited in the juried “Contemporary Photography in Hawai’i” a Survey Exhibition by Pacific New Media (2015, 2016, 2017,2018 (received Juror’s award) 2019, 2020 and 2021); “2016 Hawai’i Photography Show” at the East Hawai’i Cultural Center Hilo, Hawai’i, LoosenArt Group Exhibit “Stranger Than Fiction”, Millepiani, Rome, “Trees” group exhibition at Jadite Gallery, NY, NY, Photoplace, “Botanical” group exhibition, PhotoPlace Gallery, Middlebury, Vermont.

Leslie’s work has been published and featured in various magazines and blogs; Lens Work, Shots magazine, Leica Camera blog, Shades of Grey Fine Art Photography magazine, and recently in Fall 2021 Parabola magazine. Her work was included in David Ulrichʻs books, Mindful Photographer: Awake in the World with a Camera (2022) and Zen Camera: Creative Awakening with a Daily Practice in Photography (2018).

Leslieʻs work has been selected for numerous local and international awards, the International Landscape Top 101 photographs, 2021 Rfotofolio Selection – Merit Award, 360 Awards, Minimalist Photography Awards, Prix De La Photographie (PX3), Moscow International Awards, International Photography Awards, B&W 15th Annual Spider Awards, Photolucida 2019 Critical Mass Top 200 finalist.

Leslie’s work is represented by the Susan Spiritus Gallery in Irvine, California.

Connect with me on FaceBook, Instragram (Aerial) and Instagram (Floral)