Malena Persson Photography
About Photographer and Videographer Malena Persson
Malena Persson is originally from Sweden but moved to Edinburgh in 2010, and started studying photography at Napier University in 2012. Malena wanted to specialise in documentary and NGO photography, and made important connections with several not-for-profit organisations and charities during her studies. Portraiture, especially environmental portraits, became a passion - and Malena incorporated documentary and portrait photography in her graduation project 'Barra Beyond the Blue'.
After graduating, Malena started taking commissions within corporate, wedding and event photography, but her passion remained within portraiture and documentary, and many of her personal projects is a testament to this. In 2018 Malena was hired as a social media coordinator at the Scottish Arts Club in Edinburgh, and she also became part of the in-house production team. Over the next four years Malena spent a lot of time documenting the Club, producing many portraits of its membership. Some of these photographs can be seen in the book 'A Genial Self-Portrait', which celebrates the Club's 150th year Anniversary.
It was also during this time that Malena widened her skills and took up videography. Along with her colleague, sound engineer and composer Andy Jeffcoat, she was commissioned to produce 30+ videos for the Edinburgh based Arts Club. This was the start of Fika Productions Ltd, and the duo filmed and recorded concerts, talks and art exhibitions of a wide range of artists and performers. Fika Productions Ltd is now available for video production jobs in Edinburgh and beyond. Explore examples of Fika Productions Ltd videos.
Clients
The Scottish Arts Club | Short Story Awards | The Citadel Youth Centre | Bethany Christian Trust |
Edinburgh Yarn Company | Greenpeace UK | Grassmarket Community Project | Peebles CAN |
Leaven Deli | Pilmeny Development Project | TEDxPortobello | Inspiring Leith
BirdsNest Gallery | Simply Impeccable | Friends of the Earth | Meadowberry |
Ingried Boussaroque | Underwood & Co | Abstract Alice
Publications
2022 | A Genial Self-Portrait
Words by Michael Hamish Glen et al. Portrait Photography by Malena Persson.
Exhibitions
2019 | The Scottish Arts Club, Edinburgh
Exhibiting the documentary photography series 'Barra Beyond the Blue'.
2017 | Image Collective; Ocean Terminal, Edinburgh
Exhibiting the series 'No Human Is Illegal'.
2016 | Den Lilla Kollektionen; The Wee Collection | Nordic Affar, Edinburgh
Exhibiting photography from 3 projects: Making Waves, Barra; Beyond the Blue & Welgedacht.
2016 | Preserve; an EWJF photography exhibition | Image Collective; Ocean Terminal, Edinburgh.
Curator and exhibitor.
Exhibiting the series 'Synergy; together we broke the sea (then we ruptured land). In support of The Asia Foundation.
Co-exhibiting w Katie Blair Matthews, Dafni Kalokairinou & Leithers Don't Litter.
2016 | Dualism: Mind & Matter | Design Institute; Hong Kong
Exhibiting the documentary photography series 'Barra Beyond the Blue'.
Part of photography exchange between Edinburgh Napier University & Hong Kong Design Institute.
2016 | Image Collective; Ocean Terminal, Edinburgh
Exhibiting the documentary photography series 'Barra Beyond the Blue'.
Co-exhibiting w Mhairi Bell-Moodie; Fisherfolk of the Firth.
2016 | Free Range Shows | Truman Brewery, London
Exhibiting the documentary photography series 'Barra Beyond the Blue'.
Part of the Napier Collective.
2015 | Media Medicum | Gallery Seventeen, Edinburgh
Exhibiting the series 'She is Never Tired: Anorexia Nervosa in the 19th Century'.
Five photographers under the name 'Panopticon'. 19th century medical phenomena from the perspective of the present day.
2015 | Egalitarian Frames | Whitespace Gallery, Edinburgh
Curator, photographer and exhibitor. Showing the photography series 'Making Waves'.
Egalitarian Frames exhibition consisted of three photographers & two artists. Compositions around the egalitarian principle; the view that all people are equal, and that all deserve equal rights; politically, economically, socially and environmentally. Part of the Edinburgh World Justice Festival 2015.
Education
2016 – BA Hons, Photography, Edinburgh Napier University
2008 – BA Teaching Studies: Arts & Photography, Linneaus University, Sweden
Photography Teaching
2016-2018 – The Citadel Youth Centre | Visiting Photography Lecturer & Project Coordinator; Leith Lens & Old's Cool.
2016 – Bethany Christian Trust | Photography Workshop Coordinator
Other work outside Photography | Videography
2019-2022 – The Scottish Arts Club | Social Media Coordinator & In-house Production Team.
2018 – Narcissus | Administration Manager & In-house Photographer.
2017 – Jessops camera store | Administrator.
2017 – TEDx Portobello | Event Coordinator and Photographer.
2016 – Inspiring Leith | Judge for Leith Life photography competition.
2016 – Retina Scottish International Photography Festival | Social media intern & Invigilator.