Based between Hamburg and Paris, Israeli photographer Ella Uzan endeavours to create a particular atmosphere and achieve an emotional impact on her audience. Always on the search for a unique visual and narrative style, Ella Uzan’s focus revolves around a visual identity that is always dreamy and innocent, yet does not ignore the scratches and the dark side of beauty. As she mentions, there are always demons in her wonderland and she has a diary for her dreams, jotting down visions which will be realised into images.
A girl who used to live in her own imaginary world, Ella was dreaming of magical places, which she depicts using different combinations of light and colours. She mentions that until six years ago, she would have never guessed that photography would become such an obsession for her.
It all changed the moment she acquired her first camera, occupying a spot in her heart ever since, her passion increasing in intensity and blooming rapidly after graduating from Bezalel Academy in Jerusalem, where she studied animation for 4 years.
Concluding her studies in Animation, Ella began to work in a studio soon thereafter, an event that lasted only two weeks. A visit to a photographic store on her way to work was all she needed to realise that working in an animation studio was wrong for her, she bought a camera and never looked back. She has not regretted her studies in animation since it is has been a strong influence on her style as a photographer; she enjoys art direction in particular and would not hesitate to create art for films, underlining her love for the work of Tim Burton and Wes Anderson.
When asked about life in Israel, Uzan replies that it is a wonderful, yet complicated country. “Living there definitely makes you tougher” Ella mentions and goes on to state that it will always be her home. Even though she has travelled all over the world she emphasizes that she has never felt that there is a place like it. A very small but unique country, it inspires Uzan and she points out that there is a pool of very creative and talented people, even if sometimes it is difficult to grow there as an artist.
Young girls appear frequently in Ella’s work and she reveals that young models are always more authentic; in her opinion they never fake emotions and underlines that there is something pure and innocent about them, yet they appear strong in her photos.
Her artwork has been displayed in various galleries around the world and can be seen in different popular fashion magazines and art festivals. Currently, Ella Uzan is working on her exhibition and plans to engage more with teaching photography to young photographers, with a focus on women.
I.
My true passion lies in taking photos of people, but actually, this is one of my favorite photos. This is a very special place in north Israel called Agmon Hahula [ed. Hula Valley]. Over half a million migrating seabirds, birds of prey and songbirds pass over this place. I got there in the sunrise, it was dark but I could hear the birds, slowly the light came up and this breathtaking view appeared in front of me.
II.
This frame is a part of fashion Editorial for Go Magazine. A lot of my photos are inspired by painting and movies. My favorite filmmaker is Wes Anderson, I was thinking about him and his movies when I created this story. The boy in the photo is Ben Alon. He is a Model and an artist so for me it was a great experience to work with him. The stylist Haya Vider is my soulmate and I really felt we are creating magic that day.
III.
The girl and the fox is a photo that really close to my heart. She is a very special girl, I saw her just walking somewhere in the city, her hair is almost white with beautiful blue eyes, she really looks like a fairy. It was her first photoshoot and she was amazing and so natural, I think that’s why the mood is so magical and real, she was perfect for this scene.
IV.
Recently I moved to Germany, and this is one of my first editorials I did here for Kaltblut Magazine. I think that as an Artist I’m changing all the time and in a new country everything is very exciting. When I created this photo I was inspired by the mood of the city, and I was thinking about my favorite classic oil painting. I shot this story in an old circus wagon with an amazing team. Art always was and always will be a big influence in so many ways, as an artist my biggest passion is to tell a story or make people feel something when they see my images.
V.
I always try to tell a story in my photo, a lot of times it’s a reflection of my life or my childhood. I remember myself as a shy little girl, I had my own imaginary world, I used to walk on the streets and imagine frames. I never spoke with people and I didn’t have many friends but I never felt alone because I had my Imagination. I really appreciate my mom who always made me feel ok being silent, she never tried to change me and definitely influence the way I am today as an artist. Photography for me was the place where reality meets the imagination.
VI.
This is fashion editorial I did with really amazing stylist Salev Lavan, it’s a story about a hotel room and the different guests hosted in it. Same bed, same walls, the same view; only the people change. I love to show fashion with a great story behind it, I think it makes it much more interesting.
VII.
Liza. She is my muse simple as that. I really think she is a very special little girl, she lives far away but she is always in my heart, and to shoot her it was like a dream for me. When I create a photo, I always think about the colors and the light, I use only sunlight. The most important thing for me is the connection with the model, see if it’s good, so we can tell a story together.
Interview by Demetrios Drystellas
