Place of Departure

• Photographer
  Ellen Jantzen

Place of Departure (Disturbing the Spirits, part 2) I was working on my series, "Disturbing The Spirits" when my parents suddenly died. Place of Departure is the work I have done since….. I feel that my life has fundamentally changed; but sometimes all seems the same. Where did my father go? Are my parents now united? What does a life mean after it leaves it's body? Does the life-force rise and connect the terrestrial with the celestial or does it evaporate into thin air? These are the questions I am grappling with as I begin my new series; I hope to find my way to an understanding. I now speak with clouds, the earth...with trees. Words fail me.

I create work that bridges the world of photography, prints and collage. As digital cameras began producing excellent resolution, I found my perfect medium. It was a true confluence of technical advancements and creative desire that culminated in my current explorations in photo-inspired art using both a camera to capture imagery and a computer to alter, combine and manipulate the pieces. My work is shown and published internationally; I was one of 15 women photographers chosen to receive the Julia Margaret Cameron Award in 2016.