Interview with Leanne Surfleet | MONOVISIONS - Black & White Photography Magazine

MonoVisions Black & White Photo Contest 2025

– How and when did you become interested in photography?

When I was around 18 I was gifted a little digital camera and started to shoot anything and everything. After some time I received a 35mm SLR and encouraged to experiment with different films & processes, my obsession and passion grew from there. I studied photography at college and was exposed to so many brilliant photographers and began to find my own specific style. After college and before uni I was alone so much and had a need for a human element in my photographs so I turned the camera on to myself, beginning my self-portrait project.

– Is there any artist/photographer who inspired your art?

Francesca Woodman was always a big inspiration for me, I’d never seen work like hers before and was / still am in awe of the majority of her photographs. There’s just something there, something deeper in those images that reach out and grab you and bring you into her world.

– Why do you work in black and white rather than colour?

I work in both but have always had more of a fondness for black & white. It just feels so much more timeless and romantic for me, and I can never get enough of skin tones in black & white, it’s just so lovely to see. There’s something deeply satisfying about a perfect black & white print, when you have those deep blacks, stark whites and smooth greys.

– How much preparation do you put into taking a photograph/series of photographs?

I don’t put too much preparation into my photographs, I like to catch myself in moments, it makes the process much more honest and raw for me. Shooting mainly self-portraits, being spontaneous works far better for my aesthetic and what I’m trying to put across to the viewer. I used to have a big spare room in my house, which was basically my studio; it was always filled with light. I would walk past and catch the light on the floor and just get a rush of inspiration and grab a camera and some film and just go for it. These days I don’t have as much space but I do now have a studio, so my shoots are a little more planned in the sense that I know when I’m going to go and take photos but I still like to keep it very minimal and on the spot.

– Where is your photography going? What projects would you like to accomplish?

I’ve been shooting self-portraits for around 10+ years now and I don’t see that stopping any time soon, I have slowed down for sure but I believe that need will always be there. I do try to look more outwards as well and am hoping to photograph more people in the coming years.

Website: leannesurfleet.co.uk