Whispers of The Soul

• Prize
  Bronze in Portfolio/Fine Art
• Photographer
  Elli Asker
• Agency / Studio
  Elnara Askerova
• Technical Info
  Nikon Z6II, Nikkor Z 50mm f1,8 S
• Photo Date
  13.08.2024
• Website
  https://elliasker.com/

These images reflect the silent struggle of a gay man living in the closet. The series delves into the complex emotions that come with hiding one’s true self, capturing the tension between the yearning to be seen and the fear of being exposed. The shifting colors mirror the emotions beneath the surface—layered, nuanced, and deeply personal. Through these photographs, I aim to express the quiet yet powerful battle between identity and concealment.

• Biography
  Born in Baku, in the former Soviet Union, and now based in the Stockholm area, Sweden. My creative practice is shaped by the intersection of my cultural heritage, my identity as a homosexual, and the influence of art and cinema, particularly the works of Tarkovsky and Bergman. Through a metaphysical lens, I explore themes of identity, time, and human emotion. These experiences shape my artistic voice, allowing me to merge the personal with the universal, positioning my work as both a reflection of and a critique on contemporary life.
• Awards
  2024 — International Photography Awards (IPA) — Official selection 2023 — Budapest International Foto Awards (BIFA), Gold Winner  2023 — Budapest International Foto Awards (BIFA), Honorable Mentions  2023 — International Photography Awards (IPA) — Honorable Mention  2023 — Sony World Photography Awards (SWPA) — Shortlist  2023 — Sony World Photography Awards (SWPA) — Alpha Female Award  2022 — Tokyo International Foto Awards (TIFA), Silver Winner  2022 — Tokyo International Foto Awards (TIFA), 2 Honorable Mentions  2022 - Budapest International Photography Awards (BIFA) - Honorable Mention, Category: Architecture & Still Life. 2022 - ND Awards, Honorable Mention, Category Fine Art, Nudes  2022 - ND Awards, Honorable Mention, Category Fine Art, Other 2022 - International Photography Awards (IPA) - 3-rd Winning Placement, Category: Advertising , Other 2022 - International Photography Awards (IPA) - Honorable Mention, Category: Fine Art - Abstract 2022 - Prix de la Photographie, Paris (PX3), Curator Selection Winner 2022 - reFocus Awards, One Shot Photo Contest, - Honorable Mention and People's Vote 2022 - International Photography Awards (IPA) - Official Selection in six different categories including: Fine Art Minimalism, Fine Art Abstract, Architecture. 2022 - International Photography Awards (IPA) One Shot - Color - Jury Top 5, Honorable Mention 2022 - International Photography Awards (IPA) One Shot - Color - Official Selection, Honorable Mention 2022 - MonoVisions Photography Awards - Category - Photojournalism/Series, Honorable Mentions 2022 - MonoVisions Photography Awards - Category - Abstract /Series, Honorable Mentions 2022 - MonoVisions Photography Awards - Category - Abstract /Single, Honorable Mentions 2022 - MonoVisions Photography Awards - Category - Abstract /Single, Honorable Mentions