Picturing Emotions

M y name is Leoni Ridder. My work is about emotions. As a psychotherapist, I help people understand their feelings. As a photographer, I try to make them visible.In both roles, it’s about what lies beneath the surface — what moves us, touches us, and makes us feel alive. Born in Germany, raised among Norwegian fjords, and later finishing school in Canada, I have always been on the move—both inwardly and outwardly.Alongside my psychology studies, I discovered photography—not just as a way to document my travels, but as a form of expression, as art.What began with landscapes gradually evolved into concert photography and ultimately to what fascinates me most today: capturing musicians in portrait. As a cellist with stage experience in various amateur orchestras, I know the thrill before the first note, the complete presence in the moment, the merging of technique and feeling.My portraits are all about capturing this very emotion. Emotions are what drive us—they make us alive, unique, and vulnerable. They give meaning to our lives, create connection when shared, and sometimes become a challenge. I want to reveal what moves artists, how music reflects in their face, body language, and gaze—how sound becomes image.