Born in France and currently floating through Spain, photographer Crista Leonard fuses a glossy education with raw gut instincts for images that are remarkably sensitive to the flickering lights of beauty, sensuality and solitude. I had the pleasure of interviewing Crista in the wake of an upcoming collaboration with Lifetime Collective.

Where are you now?

Right now I’m sitting at my friend’s kitchen table in Barcelona trying to avoid the heat outside. I’ve been floating for the past few years and I need to stop, at least give myself a base, and I’ve decided that Barcelona is as good as any place.

What was behind your decision to pursue photography?

A decision to live my life differently, to travel, to pursue my childhood memories and basically I just really really love photography. Who or what have been some of the greatest influences on your work?

You know, I don’t really think it’s something specific or someone specific – it’s more like a collective feeling or idea, a sense of some “other” I get when I read a book that affects me, or see a painting that haunts me, and I feel like it belongs to everyone, and we each tap into it differently. Does that make sense?

It does make sense. I notice on your website that you place your photos of men and women in two distinct camps; so, with that in mind, this is a two part question:

Your images of men are very innocent -- remarkably so. Are you in favor of the sensitive man, or is this pattern accidental?

I’m a bit freaked out by this question - I feel laid bare. I spend a lot of time in my head so I like the people in my photos to look thoughtful. I like it when people seem lost in their thoughts, one foot in the real world one foot in their own world. But that’s not really answering the question - Yes, I am in favor of the sensitive man, but it’s not something I set about showing through my photos. In fact, I had no idea until you brought it up

Your images of women seem to be harder, more complex -- the subjects seem very thoughtful and a little devious. Can you tell me more about this...?

Yes, I guess it’s another projection of myself. I’m very hard on myself, but it’s not my opinion of women in general.

Are you more creative in a group or are you more of a lone wolf?

I’m an only child, so I’m like a forced lone wolf…but having said that, I can’t imagine being any other way, even if I did come from a huge family.

How did your collaboration with Lifetime Collective come about?

I sort of forced Trevor to do a collaboration! haha

What does the future hold for photography?

Well it looks increasingly like the death of analogue, which is an interesting analogy for the way we work as humans. What I mean is, digital photography hasn’t reached the quality and soul of analogue photography, but we’re always in such a rush, so obsessed with making money that we’re ready to pull the plug on this slow, beautiful and precise art, all in the name of money and speed. Still, real artists learn to express themselves through whatever medium they choose, and me...well, I guess I’ll just be bummed when I can’t buy film anymore.

If you could have any photographer (alive or dead) take your portrait, who would you choose?

Saul Leiter, staring through a rainy window with a cup of tea in my hand, lost in my thoughts.

What is your motto?

Be curious about everything...

What is your music?

That’s a hard one to answer - it really depends on my mood. I love Chad Vangaalen’s music though, I discovered him through Lifetime Collective, so thank-you!

www.cristaleonard.tumblr.com