Elizabeth Opalenik
About
Elizabeth Opalenik is a photographic artist and mordançeuse known for her evocative, intimate imagery and use of alternative processes such as carbon and platinum printing. She is recognized for her masterful use of mordançage—often incorporating delicate veils of lifted emulsion where her work blends technical innovation with emotional depth. Opalenik also works extensively with infrared photography, creating sensual images with water, flowers, and the human figure. Her photographic works on Japanese papers are characterized by distortion, reflection, and an atmosphere that invites contemplation.
Over the course of her 45 year career, Opalenik has taught, lectured, and exhibited on six continents, sharing her expertise with students and professionals alike. She has been a longtime instructor at Maine Media Workshops and the Santa Fe Photographic Workshops, and has led figure workshops and specialized programs for women with cancer at the F Holland Day Center for Creativity and Healing, where art becomes a tool for resilience and expression. Beyond the studio, Opalenik has engaged in humanitarian efforts with eye doctors working in South America and along the Amazon emphasizing photography’s power to connect, heal, and reveal.
She is the author of two books, Poetic Grace: Elizabeth Opalenik photographs 1979-2007 and Workshop Stories: changed through photography, which document her artistic journey and teaching philosophy, further solidifying her legacy as both an artist and educator.
Gallery
LACP Interviews Elizabeth Opalenik
LACP asks Elizabeth Opalenik ten questions about their background, career in and beliefs about photography.
Los Angeles Center of Photography: What kind of photographer are you?
Elizabeth Opalenik: I am a photographic artist and educator that has spent much of my career working with the figure, the beauty of women and prefer one of a kind handmade images. I like starting with an image preferably created in camera. In my world I want to wet everything and explore the emotional reasons why we make the images we do.
LACP: How long have you been photographing?
EO: I seriously began my journey in 1979 when I enrolled in a two week intermediate darkroom class as what was then Maine Photographic Workshops. I couldn’t stop crying and essentially never left the workshop world for learning.
LACP: Where did you get your training?
EO: I am mostly self taught, but a great observer through years of being involved with workshops internationally and learning from colleagues through evening presentations and long conversations, especially in the days before digital when conversations over drinks not texts happened. I also produced and co-taught for 5 years with National Geographic Expedition classes in Europe, always listening.
LACP: When did you know you wanted to devote your life to photography?
EO: After that 2 week workshop in 1979, I immediately signed up for a 3 month resident program, then they gave me a scholarship for another 3 months and a job as Facilities Director for the summer. No looking back, no regrets.
LACP: Did you ever come close to giving up?
EO: Yes. A bad car accident with head injury made critical thinking much harder for at least 5 years, ending the path toward commercial work though the few big jobs I did helped get me out of debt. It was a conscious choice to continue as an artist and then educator at a pace more suited to my temperament and what was important to me, but the digital learning curve was hard. The last time was wondering if I had anything left to say, but fortunately I was on the edge of a pool that day and started the “Reflecting on the Edge” series. My love of the medium always kept me going and still does.
LACP: Have you sacrificed anything by being a photographer?
EO: On my path, perhaps the financial security a “real” job would offer, but that kind of security has never been my primary goal. Balance with my personal home life while traveling was always a consideration and dedicating a lot of time sharing my craft with others may have been detrimental to exploring more outlets for my own work.
LACP: What have you gained by being a photographer?
EO: A very full and rich life filled with friendship, love and creativity. I have love the doors that have been open to me through my teaching experiences and grateful I had an audience to follow me on the many personal workshops I conducted. Possibilities, joy, sharing and giving back on six continents teaching, lecturing and exhibiting created a life as a photographic artist that I really love.
LACP: What classes do you teach at LACP?
EO: I will be teaching an intimate portrait class.
LACP: What do you love most about teaching?
EO: Teaching connected me to the world in a way I would not have engaged if it had not been for photography. I love the creativity of the students, meeting new cultures, the grace of models, the kindness of people that invite me in, the camaraderie and learning exchanged. My students have supported my work, travelled with me and become friends. Even my involvement with humanitarian projects and meeting my husband started with someone that came into my life through workshops. Through teaching, I met all the incredible photographers that were part of Workshop Stories:changed through photography, my pandemic book project that kept me sane.
LACP: What advice would you give someone who is thinking about making a career in photography?
EO: To thine own self be true and the most important thing you have is your integrity. Believe in yourself, don’t walk around with the same box of prints, always be curious and kind. Photography is only one of the art forms. Be inquisitive about them all and learn from doing and making mistakes. Remember, being a photographer is still a business that takes time. Take a workshop….it can change your life. It did mine.