Col Ellis is an Australian Fine Art Photographer, educated at Campbell Primary and High Schools in Canberra, and later studying Photography at the Canberra Institute of Technology, successfully attaining an Associate Diploma of Arts in Photography in 1994. As a member of the Australian Institute of Professional Photography since 1994, he gained one of the AIPPs highest accolades as a Master of Photography in 2005. From 1990 until 2002, he ran a  successful wedding and portrait photography business in Canberra until making a conscious decision to return to his lifelong passion, that of exploring the connection between  humanity and the natural environment in which we live. Through the photographic medium, he captures, creates, and enhances his landscape and art images to emphasize the bond that he believes is essential for both our spiritual fulfillment, and the preservation of the planet and environment in which we live, all too often either taken for granted or completely ignored.

 

Artist Statement.

 

‘My inspiration and passion lies in the nuances and intricacies of our natural world and environment, and my subjects can range from the grandest of powerful panoramic landscapes through to the minutest macro detail of a plant leaf. Whatever my chosen subject is, I am forever seeking an element of spirituality, or possibly a yet undefined ‘feeling’, rather than a straight literal interpretation.

 

My positive obsession is in seeking both the visual harmony and spiritual aura in the environment, and interpreting the aesthetics through the photographic medium using natural light, form, and texture. I will often study several captured images together, and if I feel the need to deepen the visual spiritual connection, I will blend and fuse two or more images together to enhance the connection for both myself and the viewer.  I’m deeply interested in the creation vs evolution theories, and am continually fascinated by the intricacies and the workings of nature, and when combined with my own unique vision and artistic gifts, are the source of my major artworks.

 

I believe in a spiritual connection between mankind and the primeval forces which have sculpted and shaped our landscape and flora and fauna, and also believe that if we are separated from nature and its inherent beauty, then our spirit and soul is also being separated and deprived of natural nourishment and growth. The subtle nuances and beauty of the environment are an essential part of both our physical and psychological well being, and my greatest desire in life is to bring that connection into the lives of others for the health and wellbeing of all.’ 

EXHIBITIONS AND AWARDS

2012

2 Silver with Distinction Awards

Australian Professional Photography Awards

Melbourne, Australia.

 

2011

2 Silver Awards

Australian Professional Photography Awards

Sydney, Australia.

 

2010

2 Silver Award

Australian Professional Photography Awards

Brisbane, Australia. 

2009

Silver Award

Australian Professional Photography Awards

Sydney, Australia.

2008

Exhibition ‘Roadkills and Roadside Memorials’

Gallery 27, Kingston

Exhibition ‘Tibet Unveiled’

Framemaker Gallery, Canberra City 

2007

Exhibited Beowulf Gallery, Woollahara, Sydney.

Exhibited  ‘Art Melbourne’, Royal Exhibition Building, Melbourne.

Exhibited 2007 Daylesford Foto Biennale, Daylesford, Victoria.

Three Silver Awards

Australian Professional Photography Awards

Melbourne, Australia.

2006

Exhibition ‘Birragai and Beyond’, Canberra

Exhibition ‘Spiritual Bond’ at Gallery 27, Canberra.

Silver Distinction Award

Australian Professional Photography Awards

Sydney, Australia.

2005

Master of Photography Accreditation

Two Silver Awards

Australian Professional Photography Awards

Brisbane, Australia

2004

Gold Distinction, Gold, Silver Distinction, Silver Awards

Australian Professional Photography Awards

Sydney, Australia.

Represented in Tasmanias Wilderness Gallery ‘Break o’ Day’ Exhibition

Represented in 2004 APPA National Tour Exhibition.

Open Folio Award

ACT AIPP Photography Awards.

2003

Two Silver Awards

Australian Professional Photography Awards

Perth, Australia.

2002

Gold & three Silver Awards

Australian Professional Photography Awards

Brisbane, Australia. 

Represented in 2002 APPA National Tour Exhibition.

2000

Silver Award

Australian Professional Photography Awards

Sydney, Australia.

1999 

Silver Award

Australian Professional Photography Awards

Melbourne, Australia.

1998

 

Three Attainment Awards

Australian Professional Photography Awards

Adelaide, Australia.

1997

2 Silver Awards

Australian Professional Photography Awards.

Canberra, Australia.

1996 

Silver Award

Australian Professional Photography Awards.

Brisbane, Australia.

Represented in Australian Heritage Commission

Wild Rivers National Photographic Touring Exhibition

1995

Silver Award

Australian Professional Photography Awards.

Sydney, Australia.

ACT Portrait Photographer of the Year

ACT Illustrative Photographer of the Year

ACT AIPP Photography Awards 

Winner of Landscape Category

Winner of Theme Category

Photex 1995,

Canberra, Australia.

1994

Merit Award

19^th Exhibition of Police Photography

of Australasia and South West Pacific Region

Canberra, Australia.

Place Winner in Self Commissioned category

Photex 1994

Canberra, Australia. 

Winner of Best Colour Photo of the Year

CIT Associate Diploma of Arts in Photography Awards

1993

Place Winner in Category

18^th Exhibition of Police Photography

of Australasia and South West Pacific Region

Christchurch, New Zealand.

 

 

Silver Award

Australian Professional Photography Awards.

Sydney, Australia.

Representation in

CIT Imagebank Collection

Representation in APPA National Tour Exhibition 

Winner

Bica Prolab Open Award

For Academic Achievement

CIT Associate Diploma of Arts in Photography

1992 

Grand Prize and Category Place Winner

17^th Exhibition of Police Photography

of Australasia and South West Pacific Region

Brisbane, Australia.

Feature Article

Lightning Photography, the Electric Atmosphere

Australian Photography magazine. 

Publication in Ford/New Holland

Rural Heritage Award calendar.

Publication in Kodak/Australian Photography

My Country calendar.

1991

Production of video

Beneath the Southern Cross – Images of Australia.

Place Winner

A Day in the Life competition

Australian Photography

1990

Solo Exhibition

Australian Eulogy

Gorman House, Canberra.