Leo Dickinson

Biography

Leo Dickinson, born in 1946 in Lancashire, UK, is a British cameraman, director and adventurer. He attended Rossall Public School, during which time he took up climbing in the Lake District and North Wales. He spent his first alpine season in the Dolomites in 1966 and in 1970 gained his first film backing with Yorkshire TV which resulted in an award winning film Out of the Shadows into the Sun - The First Filmed Ascent of the 'Eiger. Dickinson is married to award-winning cameraman and adventurer Mandy. Mandy has helped on Leo's films since 1981, and in 1989 became British Skydiving Champion and is now a commercial balloon pilot working for Virgin. He directed 68 films, winning all the major mountain and adventure film awards. Dickinson specializes in mountain, hot air balloon, skydiving and underwater films. During his mountaineering career, Dickinson filmed ascents on a number of mountains including Mount Everest, Cima Grande di Laveredo, Civetta, Piz Badille, Matterhorn North Face, Eiger North Face, Cerro Torre, Torre Egger, and in 1991 he filmed the first-ever hot air balloon ride over Everest. Dickinson is the author of three books detailing the stories of his career: Filming the Impossible, Anything is Possible and Ballooning over Everest. Leo Dickinson is renowned for his use of unique camera angles and holds several world records, including skydiving from the highest platform in the world (on Everest). Dickinson is an avid skydiver, having made over 3,500 jumps, and holds numerous records, including skydiving with the most naked women at a time.