Rennard majored in independent studies at Princeton University and a master's degree in English from Middlebury College. She later turned to photography, studying with Eugene Richards, Joyce Tenneson, Shelby Lee Adams, and others.
In 2009, the unpublished book, The Downs at Albuquerque, was nominated for a New York Photo book award. Photos and an article about the series will appear in the February 2010 edition of Black and White Magazine.
Rennard teaches at the Groton School, in Groton, MA.
Around 40 years ago, when horseracing was the most popular sport in America, Ellen Rennard had the opportunity to ride a horse on the exercise track at Arlington Park in Illinois. That glimpse into the racing world left a lasting impression.
Decades later, in 2003, when she was teaching school in Albuquerque, New Mexico, she began photographing The Downs at Albuquerque, a thoroughbred and quarter horse racetrack at the state fairgrounds.
A series of her photographs focusing on the people, horses, and trappings of ordinary life at the track, The Downs at Albuquerque, is featured in The Atelier Gallery at the Stoneham Theatre in Stoneham, MA.
The exhibit runs parallel to the theater's production of Hockey Mom, Hockey Dad.
Rennard says of The Downs, "Even though horses are cooled on mechanical hot walke...