Ben Harman, Director of Stills: Centre for Photography in Edinburgh, speaks to Chris Leslie.

BAFTA Scotland (New Talent) Award Winning photographer and filmmaker Chris Leslie began taking photographs whilst volunteering in the Former Yugoslavia in 1996. He then went on to work as a photographer, filmmaker and communications manager for an International NGO documenting stories across Africa and Eastern Europe. In 2005 he went freelance as a documentary photographer and filmmaker and founded Journey Productions –  an independent video production studio producing films and photography for corporate and third sector clients.

Leslie graduated from the London College of Communication in 2010 with an MA (Distinction) in Documentary Photography. As part of his final project he began documenting his home city of Glasgow, following the stories of the people on the frontline of demolition and regeneration. This documentation continued after his MA and resulted in the 2016 sold out book and multimedia project Disappearing Glasgow. This project and other projects in Glasgow established him as one of the most consistent chroniclers of the city’s recent history.

His photography and films are featured regularly in the Guardian and his photography work has been acquired by the National Galleries of Scotland as well as many private collectors. Leslie’s most recent project and book – A Balkan Journey released in 2021 takes us on a photographic journey through the towns and cities of post-conflict Former Yugoslavia in this extensive and previously unseen 24-year archive from his region.

www.chrisleslie.com

www.balkanjourney.com

@chrisleslie (Instagram)

@clesliephoto (Twitter)