Keith Ellul
Fine art Photography, Malta
ABOUT THE ARTIST
If I had to define myself, I would say I am an introvert who prefers to spend time alone, away from the crowd. I enjoy reading, watching movies, trekking, camping in nature, and listening to music in my spare time. Photography, which began as a hobby, has evolved into my artistic expression, a means of satisfying my aesthetic vision. I began taking it seriously in 2011 when I enrolled in the Malta Institute of Professional Photography and learnt how to use a camera, but I quickly realised that the camera is nothing more than a tool. When I started exploring the vision behind the shot, I realised that in order to change an image into something more than just a nice picture, I needed to go inside rather than outward. Fine art photography is done in accordance with the photographer's personal vision as an artist, who uses the medium as a creative expression. The goal is to convey a feeling or emotion by generating a mood in the finished image.
I've always been amazed by the grandeur of our planet and beyond, and I'm conscious of how insignificant we are in comparison to the vast environment that surrounds us. Long exposure allows me to record a slice of time, but not necessarily the way our eyes view it. We are continuously inundated with difficult situations in today's world, society has gotten louder; and life itself has become extremely quick. We nearly forget to live in this constant hustle, and instead go about our days steeped in a cloud of habitual behaviour, almost as if we are on autopilot. To get away from all the commotion in my thoughts, I turn to photography. I attempt to convey a sense of solitude and stillness, a timeless sensation that the naked eye cannot capture. It's almost as if I'm attempting to catch something that is otherwise unseen. As a result, I don't just chronicle the environment; rather, I strive to interpret the situation in front of me and create a picture that reflects my personal vision, which I refer to as constructing another reality, where I may escape shortly in meditation. As a fine art photographer, I understand that an image may say a thousand words, and it is difficult to convey the intended emotion to the spectator, thus my work is an invitation to whoever is experiencing it to enter the scene and interpret it uniquely. I am convinced that creative vision is unable to represent all of these emotions. Technical understanding and the use of photographic equipment are required to turn my idea into a final image on the screen and, eventually, a print. As a result, I utilize photographic filters to create the feeling I'm attempting to conjure.
An image is always an image, whether printed or kept on a computer, but I also feel that in order to appreciate the final image, one must see his work printed; this adds a new dimension to what was envisioned. As a result, I prefer to print the majority of my photos; seeing my vision come to life in the tangible world elevates the experience. My preferred paper brand is Ilford Galerie, a high-quality fine art paper that meets all of my printing needs.
Youtube link: Video Feature
In Collaboration with :
Imaginarium of Long Exposure - Facebook Group
Join ‘Imaginarium of Long Exposure’ - Facebook Group - a new group dedicated to long exposure photography. This group is an active community of artists that have a strong connection to fine art photography created with the long exposure technique. It is an "Imaginarium", so we appreciate image content that reflects the member's imaginary world and the need to express a well-formed fine art perspective through images.
EXHIBITIONS
2015 - Life Bahar For N2K – Various Venues in Malta
2016 - 'Harvesting Light' - Continental Cars Ltd (Porsche Showroom) – (Solo)
2018 - APS – Diversity – Recognising Individuality (Collective)
2018 - ‘Allura The Trail’ – by Allura (Collective)
2019 - ‘The Ten Beyond’ – Aldabra & Atelier Gallery (Collective)
2019 - ‘UNSUNG’ Architectural Icons – Planning Authority – Various locations in Malta (Collective)
2019 - Cavalieri Art Hotel – Cavalieri Art Hotel (Collective)
2020 - TNAX – Valletta Cultural Agency (Collective)
2020 - JEPAA – Japan Art Festival – Mediterranean Conference Centre & Japan –(Collective)
2020 - 55th Malta Photographic Society National Exhibition (Collective)
2021 - 56th Malta Photographic Society National Exhibition (Collective)
2021 - The Malta Enterprise – The Pandemic Survival, Art & New Action Exhibition (Collective)
2021 - The Malta Community Chest Fund Arts Auction – “Finding Zen” (Collective)
2023 - Smiling with Jerome - Ir-Razzett tal-Markiz (Collective)
2023 - Institute of Accountants Biennale - “Monochrome” (Collective)
2024 - ‘Beyond Space and Time’ - Art by the Seaside Art Gallery, Senglea - (Solo)
DISTINCTIONS
2017 – Associate of Malta Institute of Professional Photography - AMIPP
2018 – Fellow of the Malta Institute of Professional Photography – FMIPP
2018 – Fellow of the Society of International Nature & Wildlife Photography – FSINWP
2022 – Award of Recognition – Malta Institute of Professional Photography
PUBLICATIONS
2018 – APS Bank ‘Diversity – Recognising Individuality’ – ISBN 978-99957-1-252-5
INSPIRATION
“Inspiration is anything.”
I find it hard to pinpoint artists in Malta or abroad who inspire me. Rather, I believe that the artist needs to define himself or herself through the discovery of a personal style. Inspiration is anything that changes how one sees the world around them.