The Sea Close By

• Photographer
  Francoise Holtzmacher
• Photo Date
  2018-2020
• Website
  https://www.otherpix.com

This series’ title is borrowed from a 1953 text by writer Albert Camus who describes his love for the sea, its ever-changing landscape and mood. To him the sea means salvation and happiness. Being away from it is a wrench. I spent some years next to the ocean. Now in a landlocked country, I long for water, waves, smell, sound, and horizon. Out of curiosity I combined ocean photos with underwater portraits, and soon realised that both could complement each other. Now that travel is no longer taken for granted, this ‘mise en abîme’ brings the ocean close by.

• Biography
  I am a Belgian freelance photographer currently based and working in Sydney. I work on a diverse range of subjects dealing with documentary photography, street photography, fine art, and photojournalism.
• Awards
  Member of the Jury of the Monochrome Photography Awards "Felix the Dancer" featured on the LENSCULTURE Portrait Awards 2018 competition gallery, January Honorable mention in the ND Awards Photo Contest, Category Nature Featured in the editors' gallery of the LENSCULTURE Emerging Talent Awards 2017, October "Shark Attack" won the 2nd prize of the WIPPLAY Underwater contest, September "Mothers Courage and their Children" project featured on Edge of Humanity Magazine, August Picture selected for the Clique June People's Choice Award. "Marie&Charlotte" photograph featured in the LENSCULTURE Portrait Awards 2017 Competition Gallery "Phycology" series featured on the curated LENSCULTURE NETWORK, January Laureate and featured in magazine PHOTO, Le plus grand concours du monde 2016, category “Reportage”, issue nbr 529, France, January-February 2017 photo.fr