Valerie Ceppi was born in Evian-les-Bains, France, and brought up by her grandparents. After twenty years spent on the beautiful French shore of Lake Leman she moved to Switzerland to discover the other side of the lake, then transferred to Vancouver, Canada where she now lives and works at Emily Carr University of Art & Design. Valerie decided to settle in Vancouver because of its unique mix of culture, strong community spirit, beauty and the infinite possibilities of growth.

Valerie’s grandfather was a fire fighter for 24 years and retired as a Sergeant. Through him, she developed a profound admiration for this profession. As a kid she was proud to wear her grandfather’s heavy leather boots and helmet as he told stories of heroism, bravery, and service. She knows being a fire fighter is more than a job; it is a dedication to the people and the communities in which we live.

‘Beyond The Helmet’ is a product of Valerie’s passion for analog black-and-white photography, and her deep appreciation for the men and women serving their communities as fire fighters. All photographs were taken with an analog camera with a 35 mm f/2 lens. No flash or tripod was used during the photo shoots.