About Jonah Allen

     Jonah Allen is an American photographer whose body of work explores his relationship with the surface of the planet. His work revolves around interests in abstraction, environmentalism, color, sacred geometry, and landscape - all of which include hydrological elements. Ultimately, he aims to share and respect the sacred places untouched by mass development in our postmodern world. Allen uses both digital and analogue photographic techniques to reflect on the Earth’s remaining natural landscapes.

     Allen was born in 1993 in Atlanta, Georgia and currently lives and works in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. He received his Minor in Fine Arts and BBA in Marketing from the University of Georgia in 2016. Early exposure to surfing and the power of the ocean formulated the development of his photographic work. Yet, Allen grew up landlocked. For 23 years, he longed to live by the sea. This separation from the ocean further drove his curiosity and obsession with water. In 2017, he embarked on a world journey, chasing waves and light in Central America, South America, Europe, Indonesia, Hawaii, and Iceland. He returned to the Gulf Coast in late 2017 – the place that first inspired his love for the sea. Since then, he has amassed a substantial portfolio of work surrounding the watercourses of the Gulf. Constantly at play in Jonah Allen’s photographs is the ephemeral relationship between water and light. His deep knowledge of the ocean allows him to capture intimate moments with energy in one of its rawest forms.

     “Pelagic Patterns” is an aerial study of watercourses that examines fleeting moments between water and light. On the surface, this collection is based on the allure of natural fractal phenomena in nature. Furthermore, the series aims to inspire a deep respect for the Earth’s waterways. "Ultimately, water is all we have; it facilitates our very existence. It is why we are here on this tiny blue planet.  While trying to accommodate the needs of our rapidly expanding civilizations, we are inherently reshaping the Earth and its water. We need to think about the long-term consequences of our affects. Thus, it is my hope that these images will inspire you to not only appreciate our watercourses, but also think about how we can make them last for future generations."