Visa Pour L’Image Exhibit, Perpignan, France September 2025

It was a career highlight to exhibit my 25 year project Lionheart, the story of Saleh, at Visa Pour L’Image, a premier photography festival in the south of France. The project has been a labor of love which I began while on staff at the San Francisco Chronicle in 2003. This work was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 2005 and I have continued telling his story ever since.

This project documents the life of Saleh Khalaf, a 9-year old boy who earned the nickname Lionheart after his heart stopped seven times on the operating table and he refused to die. He had picked up a bomb which exploded blowing off his hands, taking out an eye and ripping open his abdomen during the US-led invasion on Iraq in 2003. Over the past 25 years, I have documented his journey from a young boy brought to the United States for life-saving medical treatment to a man navigating the complexities of life as a maimed refugee in America. 

What began as a story about Saleh's personal struggle has evolved into a broader narrative about the brutal effects of war on civilians. Through Saleh’s experience, this project explores themes of trauma, resilience, healing, and hope, offering an intimate insight into the long-term challenges of rebuilding a life after war.The project aims to raise awareness about the enduring trauma faced by survivors of war, highlight the resilience required to heal, and promote empathy and understanding. By sharing Saleh's personal journey, this project will foster a deeper dialogue on the human costs of conflict and advocate for greater support for survivors of war.