More Coming Into Focus

• Prize
  Gold in Fine Art/Special Effects, 2nd Place winner in Fine Art
• Photographer
  Ellen Jantzen
• Socials
• Website
  http://www.ellenjantzen.com

In this series I am exploring the realm of one’s environmental surroundings, how it is absorbed into one’s psyche and how this changes through relocations. In these days of refuges relocating from their homelands to distant places, my move from the Midwest to the West may seem trivial, but there are still feelings of dislocation and assimilation that take place. I approach this new work as both a window through which I observe my new surrounds (recording what I see) and a mirror where I bring my sensibilities to bear, reflecting my inner state of being. I use layering and blending modes to merge the observed environment with my internal intuition. I’m striving to visually capture the essence of my new environment while at the same time learning to understand. Add to that a landscape (the American West) that is fraught with cliché, and I find myself aspiring to bring my new home into focus, to make it my own.

• Awards
  2018 THE PHOTOGRAPHY GALA AWARDS - has chosen my work to be featured in the 5th Biennale of Fine Art & Documentary Photography October 4-21, Barcelona Spain GOLD WINNER in the ANNUAL TOKYO INTERNATIONAL FOTO AWARDS (Fine Art-Special Effects, Professional) for my series, more Coming Into Focus. My work was in the Winners Exhibition at ICA Gallery, Tokyo from May 12-16. SECOND PLACE WINNER in the ANNUAL TOKYO INTERNATIONAL FOTO AWARDS (Fine Art, Professional) for my series, more Coming Into Focus HONORABLE MENTION in the 11th Julia Margaret Cameron Award honoring women in photography. HONORABLE MENTION PX3, Prix de la Photographie, Paris for "Unexpected Geology #1" RUNNER UP in the 11TH POLLUX AWARDS (Digital Manipulation & Collage) for my series Coming Into Focus 11th ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL COLOR AWARDS - Honorable Mention in the Abstract Category for my photo, Synchronized Color and Honorable Mention in the Fine Art Category for my photo, Amplification SONY WORLD PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS - my photo, Barrier Relief was Commended in the Enhanced Category and will be published in the accompanying book. 2017 SPECIAL PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR in the International Photography Awards. 1ST PLACE WINNER in the International Photography Awards, Digitally Enhanced Category 3RD PLACE WINNER in the International Chromatic Awards, Professional Abstract Category HONORABLE MENTIONS for two series (Alternative Process Category) 10th Annual Pollux Awards, juror Julio Hirsch-Hardy managing director of The Gala Awards HONORABLE MENTION for one series (Fine Arts Category 10th Annual Pollux Awards, juror Julio Hirsch-Hardy managing director of The Gala Awards RUNNER UP in the 10th Julia Margaret Cameron Award honoring women in photography. SHORT LISTED Art Gemini PhotoX Award, exhibition in London, June 2nd PLACE NYC4PA Liquid 2017 Award, juror Debra Klomp Ching NOMINEE (Fine Art Category) Fine Art Photography Awards 3rd PLACE Life-Framer open call, juror Brian Paul Clamp