About

Zena Ballas Hey folks,

My name is Zena (yes, like the warrior princess!) and I’m a photographer and visual storyteller who stems from New York. My appetite for exposure encouraged me to branch out to the Mile High City in 2017.

My work is a magnetic collection of what I’m naturally drawn to: movement. With an insatiable lust for travel, I feel that being in transit offers insurmountable moments of self-reflection and inspiration. Being on the move is what drives my perspective; I’ve traveled to multiple countries that have expanded my pupils and senses, as well as my connection to other human beings. My goal is to explore personal stories and uncover the similarities that bring us all together. As a result, I’ve produced a variety of projects including an evolving storytelling piece called Denver Transplants, which documents the roots and stories of those who have moved to Denver.

Live music is another form of motion that perpetuated my desire to capture sounds in action – combining my enthusiasm for energetic visual and audial sensations. I’ve had the pleasure of photographing and reviewing several outstanding performances for online publications such as NYS Music and 303 Magazine – some of which include: Jeff Lynne’s ELO, Rod Stewart, Dead & Company, Yo-Yo Ma, Cyndi Lauper, Phoenix, Lotus, STS9, and much more.

My personal work and vision focuses on the abstract (don’t get me started about my affection for dark room photography). I’m enamored by taking a subject and altering one’s perception of it. It merges the concept of motion vs. stillness which encapsulates contrast. In essence, this type of dynamic imagery depicts its own sense of interpretation and rawness without distraction.

I’m entertained by simplicity, the pause in the stimulus, and the little things that have the capacity to hold more than meets the eye. If you want to grab some tea or have any inquiries, feel free to shoot me a message because I’d love to chat!

zenaballasphoto@gmail.com

Testimonials

“I met Zena at ARISE Music Festival — I was covering the festival for 303 Magazine and she was covering it for a New York publication. Her energy and positivity were instantaneously infectious — and when I saw her published work afterward, she proved to be much more than a likable personality. I hired Zena for 303 not long after ARISE where she consistently put out great writing and photography with us. Not only that, but she learned the magazine’s style quickly and took initiative to learn more and fine-tune her skills. Zena is a multi-talented media guru that I would recommend for anyone looking to expand their realms of writing and photography. Not only that, but she’s generally a wonderful co-worker to have around and an asset to any growing team.”

Tyler Harvey

Music Editor | Advertising Executive

303 Magazine

“Zena is an insightful and passionate emerging young artist. Her love for people from all walks of life shines through the images she creates. I had the pleasure and privilege of working with her on Community Heroes in Portraiture, a multimedia visual arts project conceived by me and funded by a grant from the State University of New York at Oneonta, Zena’s alma mater, where I teach figure drawing. Only the most highly qualified students were recommended to me by other professors to participate in the project as “student fellows.” Zena came on board as photographer, writer, and interviewer of “unsung” local heroes and quickly began navigating her course with ingenuity and commitment.”

Janet Wentworth Erickson

Art Instructor

State University of New York at Oneonta

“Zena has been a stellar asset to the NYS Music team. Her eye for photography and work ethic have been as consistent now as when she started with us. I eagerly recommend her photography skills to anyone seeking quality work from a professional.”

Pete Mason

Editor-in-Chief

NYS Music