From the East to the West 1

In this FotoTV interview with photographer Robert Leslie, he discusses his work and his latest project, the photographic documentation of North America from Florida to Los Angeles and how he experienced the state of nation during the first few weeks following President Obama's inauguration.

Armed with his camera, Leslie set out on a journey of about 7,000 km, starting his trip in Miami at the site of President Obama's inauguration. Leslie's goal was to show images that reflected the social, environmental, and economical change in America during a time that some observers liken to that of the great depression.

Sticking to small rural roads and highways, Leslie did not visit any of the big major cities. Instead he searched for the nuances that made the small towns unique. He visited the immediate areas surrounding the infamous hurricane Katrina and BP oil spill on the gulf coast. It was there that he realized that much had not been done in these small towns to bring them back to their original state. Simply because of unemployment, lack of funds and support from social and governmental agencies. His work goes on to document many dilapidated and abandoned structures, land parcels and estates. In some instances Leslie was able to talk to the original owners only to find out they did not have any more money to keep up their properties, thus forcing them to live in relative primitive situations with only the bare necessities to survive.

In Crawford, Texas, the hometown of former US President Bush, Leslie shot a slew of images, mostly of signs, banners and billboards of resolute thanks and support to George W. Bush. One peculiar, if not disturbing image is of a shooting range with a pro-weapons billboard that is visible to children as they passed twice daily on a school bus.

Leslie's images reveal the problems facing Americans, the contrast between a land of superficial beauty and weak government social systems and the unfortunate results of a nation living on credit.