Tzion Essel is a London based fine art photographer who holds a BA in Photography from Kingston University and an MA in Photography from the University of the Arts London. His work has been exhibited internationally, with showings in London, New York, Miami and most recently, Venice.
He is the recipient of multiple awards, including Gold in the Conceptual Category of the 2025 reFocus Black and White Awards, third place overall in the same contest and a nomination in the Fine Art Photography Awards. His work has been featured in publications such as Zone Magazine and Ephemere Tokyo.
“I create to depict the intangible; the deep, often contradictory emotions that accompany being alive. My work offers a space for viewers to find comfort, resonance, and reflection. If someone sees themselves in an image, if it gives shape to something they couldn’t express, then the work has succeeded.
Inspired by the melancholic aspects of existence, I explore themes of heartbreak, elusive memory, and the romantic pull of nature. I draw from the legacy of the old masters and build on pictorialism’s argument that photography is more than documentation. Through poetic black and white imagery, I use a blend of in-camera techniques and post-production to create a contemporary evolution of pictorialism, one that centres emotional clarity and the wonders of my imagination.”
Group Exhibitons
2025 Art Icon 'Static Cinema', Venice
2025 Art Fluent Online: ‘Obscura’ Link
2025 DG03 Collective 'Intro', London
2025 Artdoc Photography Magazine Online: ‘The Meditative Lens Part II: Monochrome Silence’ Link
2024 Photofusion 'Salon 24', London
2024 University of Arts London Postgraduate Shows 'Show One: Photography', London
2023 Comp-stomp studios 'Greyscale’ , New York
2023 Alternative Arts ‘Here and Now’, London
2022 The Holy Art Gallery ‘Elysium’, London
2022 Alternative Arts ‘Power and Glory’, London
2022 Shillr Mobile Gallery Art Basel, Miami
2021 The Holy Art Gallery ‘Fragmented’, London
Education
2024 MA, Photography, University of the Arts London
2022 BA, Photography, Kingston University
Awards
2025 Exposure One Awards Photographer of the Year Contest, Conceptual Category: Bronze Link
2025 reFocus Black and White Photo Contest, Contest Winner: Bronze Link
2025 reFocus Black and White Photo Contest, Conceptual Category: Gold Link
2025 Fine Art Photography Awards, Conceptual Category: Nominee Link
2024 The Sproxton Award: Shortlist
2024 Parallax Photographic Coop Outstanding Project Award
2023 reFocus Awards Black and White Photo Contest, Abstract Category: Silver Link
2023 reFocus Awards Black and White Photo Contest, Abstract Category: Nominee Link
2021 The Holy Art Gallery ‘Fragmented’ Contest Winner, London
Interviews and Publications
2025 reFocus Black and White Photo Contest, Contest Winner: Bronze Interview
2025 Ephemere Tokyo: Collective Book ‘Neither Here, Nor There’ Link
2025 Ephemere Tokyo: Collective Book ‘Anarchyº2’ Link
2024 Zone Magazine: Third Collective Book 'Z3NE' Link