Three exhibitions

NirNir Registered Users Posts: 1,400 Major grins
edited December 31, 2004 in The Big Picture
Had a very interesting evening yesterday. My wife & I headed for Tel-Aviv for an evening out on the town.

First stop was at the Tel-Aviv College for Geographical Photography to see an exhibition named "Hebron, My Home". This was a project initiated by a neighbor, photographer Menachem Kahana of the French AFP. Over a period of 18 months both Jewish and Palestinian children were given cameras to record images of their daily lives. The childrens ages were 6-18 and none had any photographic training. Of some 5000 photos, 60 were chosen for display.

All photos are displayed here - Jewish childrens photos: http://www.hebron.com/taarucha/photoexhibition.htm
and Palestinian childrens photos: http://www.hebron.com/taarucha/a/photoexhibition2.htm
(click on photos to enlarge)

Two pairs of phots were displayed together.
The first, a Moslem mother and daughter in prayer:

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And a Jewish mother lighting Sabbath candles:

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The second pair was striking. Taken from the Jewish side of the fence, an Israeli soldier interogates Palestinians;

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Taken from the Palestinian side of the fence, the Israeli military interogation and search is much closer, intimidating and intimate;

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It was very interesting to see the absurd conflict and unimaginable daily routine through the eyes of the children on both sides who have to bear it.


Second stop was at Dizingof Center for the World Press Photo 2004 Exhibition. (Photos displayed here: http://www.worldpressphoto.nl/index.jsp)
What was striking was the fact that about 80% of photos displayed portrayed conflict, war, pain and suffering. I consider myself emotionally 'strong'. I have seen a lot in life including situations similar to those portrayed in the exhibition. But walking around in the hall with huge prints of the world's worst really caused my stomach to turn. My wife gave up mid-way, couldn't take it any more. I forced myself to see everything. Why are the world's best press photos about pain? Is that what we feed on in journalizm? Other peoples pain?

One photo, not dealing with pain and suffering, really stood out in the exhibition and it is directly related to our Challenge 28 - Portraits. Photographer Mike Moore of the UK Daily Mirror received 2nd prize in the portraits category for his shot of Italian soccer referee Pierluigi Collina;


http://www.worldpressphoto.nl/img.db?34007+s(450x450)

This photo was printed really big and displayed at the entrance to the exhibition - a great effect!

The third exhibition was displayed alongside World press Photo 2004 and it was the Israeli Journalism equivalent. It was a paradox that although here too there was plenty of pain and suffering but it did not exceed 50% of the photos. There was a lot more pleasant photos to view.

My favorite was 2nd place in Sports category, by Ofer Chazan;

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Also stood out was 1st place in the Environment category, by Ziv Koren;

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It was an interesting evening!
__________________

Nir Alon

images of my thoughts

Comments

  • gusgus Registered Users Posts: 16,209 Major grins
    edited December 28, 2004
    Very powerfull photography nir...thankyou very much for showing it. We are very removed from it way over here.
  • GREAPERGREAPER Registered Users Posts: 3,113 Major grins
    edited December 31, 2004
    Thanks for sharring these with us. It is hard to miss the fact that so many of the children on both sides have photographs that feature automatic weapons hardship and other signs of conflict. It is a horrible shame that the children have to see all of this as part of their normal every day life.

    It makes me glad that my children are growing up here in what, despite what the media says, is a fairly safe environment.
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