Grollman’s ‘Guardian Angels’ Shortlisted for Sony Photography Awards
In taking photos of places where her late mother lived, Ilana Grollman ’25, addressed her grief, and created an award-nominated photo series.
Grollman’s Guardian Angels series was shortlisted for the 2025 Sony World Photography Awards Student Competition. The winner of the Student Photographer of the Year will be selected from the 10 students and announced at the Sony World Photography Awards 2025 ceremony in London on April 16. The overall winning university will receive Sony digital imaging equipment worth more than $30,000.
Grollman’s Guardian Angels series, reprinted with permission of the artist
Ilana Grollman’s father sits on the floor watching home videos of when Ilana was a child. 
A sticker in honor of Ilana Grollman’s mother. 
Grollman found this rock that says “You are here” in Massachusetts woods, and thought it fit the photo series. 
Ilana Grollman with her father in their New York City apartment. 
Grollman staged all photos for the series. 
Grollman’s series included photos taken in Baltimore, New York, and the Boston area. 
This playground reminded Ilana Grollman of her mother. 
“The prompt for the [awards] was ‘in the beginning’…and I was thinking about how grief can start a new connection with the loved one you lost or a phase of your life emotionally,” said Grollman.
After Grollman’s mother died in 2022, she took photos of places where her mother lived.
“People tell me you’ll be closer to someone if you explore your grief, and that was my way of getting closer to her. I haven’t been to Baltimore since I was a kid, it was definitely strange, but also healing to be back,” she said.
Grollman grew up in New York City with her parents, and took photos in their apartment, including one of her father watching a home video from when she was 5 or 6 years old.
“He knows everything I’m doing. All of the photos are pretty much staged. We talked about what we were shooting together,” said Grollman. “It was a way for us to collaborate. He’s a big fan of my work.”
Grollman said that her project wouldn’t exist without her Emerson College experience, specifically Visual & Media Arts Professor Lauren Shaw. The project was the capstone for her BFA, and she worked on it for a year.
“She inspired and pushed me to do this project. She suggested I explore [my feelings of grief],” said Grollman. “Because of her guidance and the students, I came out with something I’m really proud of.”
Shaw said she was deeply moved by Grollman’s courage to address the loss of her mother and her relationship to grief.
“When I asked her if the second semester would include healing, she responded that the second semester would now include her father as part of the grieving process,” said Shaw. “I do believe that the entire year was a way to assist her grieving and allow her to really address her own emotions. It was an honor that she trusted me and our bond exceeded my expectations.”
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