Photos by Camille Lepage

Just this week, young 26 year old French Photojournalist, Camille Lepage, was found dead while on an assignment to cover the Central African Republic. Although the rising photographer was at the very start of her career, the work she has left behind is powerful, and has already shed light on the lifestyles and subjects she has captured. The news hit the very tight knit community of photojournalists rather quickly, and shortly after Reuters reported that she was found dead by anti-balaka militia near the town of Bouar. Whether she was caught in crossfire or murdered is still unknown.

In an article published by Nicholas Kulish, he recalls his brief relationship with Lepage, and details the type of passionate photojournalist she was. Specifically, he notes, “Optimistic, generous, hard-working and relentless are all qualities I would come to associate with Camille. I would add fearless to that list as well. A young woman, just 26, as small of stature as she was large of heart, she was willing to go anywhere at any moment, an attitude that in spite of grave danger had taken her all over the Central African Republic in recent months.” Knowing this and seeing how remarkable her captures are, makes the work she leaves behind all the more intriguing.

Below are some of the captivating images and published work she leaves behind. Although the young photojournalist tragically lost her life, she left a powerful portfolio, and so much insight to the stories she was trying to tell.

“My interest takes me to places in the shadow, where crisis take place but where the media often remain silent.” – Camille Lepage (1988-2014)

[Via NY Times]