Ella Blumenthal
born on 25 July 1921

Photographing Ella Blumenthal at 104 isn’t a portrait session, it’s an encounter with pure, undiluted life. She welcomed me with mischief in her eyes, razor-sharp humour, and stories that have outlived empires. Born in Warsaw in 1921, she carries history lightly, never letting it dim her sparkle. Between frames, she danced through languages, then, quite magnificently, launched into a string of Russian profanities with theatrical flair and impeccable timing. I nearly dropped the camera laughing. Her secret? People. Conversation. Connection. A refusal to fade into the background while life is happening. She radiates warmth, draws everyone in, and makes a room feel like a celebration. At 104, she’s not slowing down, she talks about her 1st hand experience of the holocaust factually, and with the most profound dignity.

Link to Ella’s Wikipedia Page:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ella_Blumenthal

Link to the book “I am Ella” by Joanne Jowell:
https://www.wordsworth.co.za/products/i-am-ella-paperback