Leli Blagonravova is a renowned photographer with over 20 years of experience in journalism, political, and portrait photography. Since beginning her photojournalism career in 1995, she has captured powerful images across diverse settings — from war zones and political unrest to architectural landscapes and the intimate details of everyday life around the world.
Her striking documentation of the public protests on November 7, 2007 earned her both national and international recognition. Likewise, her photographs of the Russia–Georgia War in August 2008 gained worldwide acclaim and led to her being awarded the National Order of Merit.
Leli’s political photography includes serving as the personal photographer to Georgia’s 4th President, Giorgi Margvelashvili. She has also collaborated with international organizations such as UNICEF, UNDP, and UN Women, using her lens to tell stories from both local communities and the global stage.
Since 2005, she has been teaching photography at various universities in Georgia, focusing on photojournalism and documentary photography. In addition to her academic role, she runs her own photography studio, established in 2018, where she specializes in portrait photography.
Film photography remains central to Leli’s personal projects, serving not only as a medium but also as a reflective process in her artistic journey. She is currently working on author-led photo books and pursuing a doctoral degree, further deepening her contribution to the field of photography.
