The Old City of Jerusalem is a place completely different from anywhere else on earth. The center of all three Abrahamic religions, Christians, Muslims and Jews live along the narrow cobblestone streets.
Photographer Ofir Barak, a native of the city, turned his attention to the religious fervor that prevailed in the Old City: documenting Christians in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Muslims worshiping in the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and Jews. hiding notes in the western wall,
“This topic is deeply woven into the fabric of my daily life. Be it encountering religious processions while commuting to work or attending local cultural events, I am constantly reminded of the city’s rich religious heritage,” he explains. petapixel,
Through his work, Barak tries to offer “a unique and intimate” perspective of Jerusalem, which cannot be seen by the millions of tourists who visit each year.
He added, “I have been living here for the third generation and have devoted a significant amount of time to understanding these different worlds.” “I tried to maintain meaningful connections and present a more nuanced portrayal of Jerusalem.”
Barack’s project, old city jerusalem Which he has released in book form, is the result of 10 years of documenting the ancient city, during which his technical skills have improved, as has his perspective on the shared human experience.
“Although religious and cultural differences are evident among Jerusalem’s diverse population, there is a deep level of shared humanity that transcends these divisions,” he explains.
“The complexities of faith, although rooted in different traditions, often give rise to surprisingly similar expressions of devotion and sacrifice, no matter what religion it is based on.
“By becoming immersed in the lives of these communities, I found that compassion and understanding were much more prevalent than I initially expected. It became clear that despite the challenges facing the city as a whole, there is a strong current of hope and resilience, as well as the individual’s desire for connection and coexistence.
Barak says that to avoid the trap that some photographers fall into when they become so familiar with a location that they become uninspired by it, Barak will focus on a small area of the Old City for an extended period of time allowing them to ” Will allow “to develop deeper intimacy”. that place.
Barack decided to pursue photography in 2014 when his grandmother gifted him a Leica M240 and a 50mm Summichron lens.
“Looking back, deciding to choose a rangefinder camera as a tool for my craft was a real milestone for me, it forced me to embrace its unique advantages and disadvantages,” he says. “I’ve lived with this setup for most of the time since then.”
Barack has since acquired more technologically advanced leica m10 monochrome But says the camera “bridges the gap between the analog experience and digital photography.”
old city jerusalem Now available in hardback and can be purchased HereMore of the photographer’s work can be found at website And Instagram,
Image Credit: Photos by Ofir Barak
