Zena Holloway began her career as a scuba instructor, then transitioned to an enchanting underwater photography artist.
Zena Holloway (born 1973 in Bahrain) is an underwater photography artist living in London. Her work deviates from the stereotypical imagery associated with underwater photography. For Holloway the underwater landscape serves as a backdrop, using cinematic drama and painterly aesthetics, she directs her models through themes of universal human experiences: love, loss, intimacy, and romance.
Zena first gained recognition as a fine art photographer in 2005 with “swansong”. Since then her unique style of photography has led to many solo and group exhibitions worldwide.
Zena is a regular contributor to publications such as The Sunday Times Magazine, Paris Match, and the FT. She also has been the recipient of many international photographic and film awards such as AOP, APPLIED ARTS, COMM ARTS, RPS, PDN, CANNES, and IPA.
Underwater Photography Artist Explores Humanity
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From scuba instructor to artist
“I always think about my career as a little bit backwards,” says Zena. She learned to dive first and as a child always enjoyed the thrill of being weightless underwater. At eighteen, she went on a diving holiday in Egypt for two weeks and ended up staying for two years. “I remember phoning home and asking my mum to send me some clothes by post as it was difficult to get western clothes at the time,” she says.
Eventually, Zena worked up the ladder and became a scuba instructor, and then worked in the video department. She returned to the UK to hunt down work as a diver in the underwater industry and her interest in photography grew from there. That was in 1995 and she hasn’t looked back since.
To see Zena’s latest work, visit Saatchi Art >
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