Each year, more than 1,500 military personnel are released from the Canadian Armed Forces. Nearly a quarter of these Veterans experience challenges in transitioning to civilian life; a reality that particularly affects those who have to deal with physical or mental health problems.
This two-part project presents a series of portraits of Canadian Veterans who suffered life-changing injuries while serving in the Armed Forces – from post-traumatic stress disorder to major physical injuries. These Veterans were first met in studio to share their story through a filmed interview and a portrait session. After wearing the uniform in memory of their military past, they unveil a facet of their reality in the civilian world during an environmental portrait session.
These images tell the stories of Veterans who experienced complex transition from military to civilian life, struggling towards a new identity. They bear witness to their scars, sometimes invisible, and reveal with sensitivity the bravery and sacrifice they have shown. They offer an intimate look at the journey of inspiring individuals for whom life is a battlefield, but who continue to strive every day to rebuild their lives with resilience and dignity, on the long road of recovery.
Marie France L’Ecuyer is a Canadian emerging photographer based in Montreal, specialized in portraiture, reportage and documentary photography. Humanist issues have always been the main focus of Marie France’s projects and practice. After more than ten years working in an academic environment, notably as a lecturer and research coordinator at the Faculty of Social Sciences at University of Quebec in Montreal, she discovered the world of photography during a trip to East Africa. She spent almost a year traveling the roads of Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya, alone with her camera. Through this journey, she worked as a humanitarian photographer for various organizations and developed an interest for visual arts and storytelling. Graduated from Marsan School of Photography and recipient of the M5 Award for Best Portfolio, she has been honoured as finalist for the Bourse du Talent 2018 in the Portrait category. Her work will be exhibited at McCord Museum in Montreal in November 2018.
Website: mariefrancelecuyer.com
