Acuaria

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Photographer

Elzbieta Kurowska
Prize

Honorable Mention
Company/Studios

Light Forms
Date of Photograph

2019
Technical Info

Shutter speed 0.5-1.0 s, ISO 100, f/8/0, sensor FX 24.3 MP, Focus stacking
Socials
Website

https://lightforms.ca

Acuaria depict abstract macro arrangements of floating droplets and loose transparent folds that resemble dreamy underwater landscapes inhabited by vibrant, glowing, mysterious life. To create these images I formed their components from solid, translucent, colored organic substances; gels and other organic materials. Then I superimposed various elements and I captured final compositions using back light and polarized filters.

Biography

Elzbieta (Ela) Kurowska is a photographer and a biochemist living in Canada. In her works, she implements her science background to explore and visualize overpowering forces that compel the natural world to develop life from organic matter. To create her otherworldly biomorphic images full of light and vivid colors, she designs and builds miniature compositions using photoelastic organic gels and other organic materials, and then she captures them in the cross-polarized light. Ela’s artwork has gained international recognition as example of creativity at the interface between art and science.
Awards

Awards • Grand Prize Winner, See Me 2022 • Nominee, International Color Awards, 2021 • Honorable Mention, ND Awards, 2021 • Honorable Mention, International Photography Awards, 2021 • Nominee, Fine Art Photography Awards, 2020 • Honorable Mention, International Color Awards, 2020 • 1st Place Science Winner, Tokyo International Foto Awards, 2020 • Honorable Mention, ND Awards, 2020 • 2nd Place, Special Category Winner, International Photography Awards, 2020 • Nominee, International Color Awards, 2020 • Story, Dodho Magazine, 2020 • Science Category Winner, Budapest International Photo Awards, 2019 • Honorable Mention, Chromatic Awards, 2019 • Honorable Mention, ND Awards, 2019 • Honorable Mention, International Photography Awards, 2019 • Nominee, International Color Awards, 2019 • Honorable Mention, Chromatic Awards, 2018 • Honorable Mention, ND Awards, 2018 • Honorable Mention, International Photography Awards, 2018 • Exhibition grant recipient, Ontario Arts Council, London, Canada 2018 • Project grant recipient, London Arts Council, London, Canada 2018 • Nominee, International Color Awards, 2018 • Cover image, F-Stop Magazine, 2018 • 2nd Place Canada National Awards Winner, SONY World Photography Awards, 2017 • Shortlisted, Nature category, SONY World Photography Awards, 2017 • Shortlisted, D&AD Next Photographer Award, London UK, 2017 • Winner, UNTAPPED Emerging Artist, The Artist Project, Toronto, Canada 2016 • Honorable Mention, International Photography Awards, 2014 • Macro assignment story, National Geographic, 2014 Publications • Licensed image, “How Scientists Visualize Things”, Jack Challoner, Quintessence, UK, Fall 2022 • Feature, Science Dong-A Magazine, Seoul, South Korea, November 2020 • Emerging Photographer, Photo District News Magazine, Fall 2019 • Feature, Dek Unu Magazine, October 2019 • Image, Practical Magazine, UK, May 2017 • Image, fotoMAGAZIN, Germany, 7, 2016 • Documentary film “Ela’s Worlds”, 2015