After living in Israel for so many years living but mainly shooting abroad and creating photo-albums of the far-away countries I visited; I decided to compile an album of Israel - my country.
The really difficult task was choosing from the massive assortment I compiled in over 4 years and sorting them into coherent groups.
Too many pictures, too many subjects and no clear and cohesive objective made me decide on three distinct albums:
- Between Two Cities - An album about Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
- Down to Earth - An album devoted to the landscapes between Eilat and the Golan Heights - the Mediterranean and the Dead Sea.
- People | Places | Photos - is an attempt to bring together the different peoples/places/persuasions that make up this crazy country.
In the meantime I continue taking photos and hope to expand the trilogy into a tetralogy or even a pentalogy as I compose more albums on different aspects of this nation.
Between Two Cities
Tel Aviv and Jerusalem; two important cities that constitute a substantial part of the character of Israel - only 52 km (32 miles) apart and yet so different.
- Tel Aviv - A modern cosmopolitan hub, though only 52 km2 (20 sq. mi.) in area it is blessed with a 12 km (7.5 mile) seafront - most of which is accessible beach. It is also known as 'The City That Never Sleeps' and 'Non-Stop City' it features 1st rate restaurants and interesting coffee shops as well as top rate museums and theaters.
- Jerusalem - is beauty fused with passion. This bond constitutes the cities greatest benefit and also contributes to its detriment. Holy to Jews, Christians and Muslims, the old city is one of the world's great pilgrimage destinations. Walking on the old cobbled streets one can follow in the footsteps of prophets. Auditory input is a mix of prayer, barter, church bells, muezzin calls and shofar blasts while the olfactory register the scent of incense and the aroma of the spices in the shuk- Whether this all adds or detracts from the spiritual experience of Jerusalem is still open to discussion.
Information about the Album ...
Title: Between Two Cities
Photographer: Deniz Bensason
Width: 32 cm
Height: 26 cm
Number of Pages: 163
Cover: Hard cover.
Additional Information: Printed on high quality gloss paper.
Laminated in matt silk to maintain maximum protection for the album.
Design & Layout: Nili Glick Studio.
Book 1 of the ISRAEL TRILOGY. It examines the contrast that divides and the humanity that unites the "eternal city" of Jerusalem and Tel-Aviv "the city that never sleeps".
Excerpts from the ISRAEL: Between Two Cities Album
Pages 10-11: Jerusalem Market
Page 14: The Three Religions
Page 15: The Three Religions
Page 16: The Colors Of Fashion
Page 17: The Colors Of Fashion
Page 24 Nargila on the Rack
Page 25 Men Smoking Nargila in Coffee Shop
Page 36: A Muslim Woman on Temple-Mount
Page 37: The Church of the Holy Sepulchre
Page 46: Children Playing with Water
Page 47: Dancing in the Fountain
Page 56: Market - Machane Yehuda
Page 57: Market - Machane Yehuda
Page 74: Chareidi Quarter, Wigs and Torah Scrolls
Page 75: Ultra Religious Quarter
Page 82: Children, Customs & Culture
Page 83: Children before the Day of Atonement
Page 98: Tel-Aviv Beach Front
Page 99: Children at the Beach
Page 114: Tel-Aviv, Gay Parade
Page 115: Tel-Aviv, Gay Parade
Page 128: Tel-Aviv - The Trumpeldor Cemetery
Page 129: Tel-Aviv - The Trumpeldor Cemetery
Page 134: Tel-Aviv, Habima National Theater
Page 135: Tel-Aviv, Habima National Theater
Page 142: Tel-Aviv-Jaffo, Graffiti
Page 143: Tel-Aviv-Jaffo, Graffiti
Page 156: Jaffa Harbour
Page 157: Jaffa Harbour by Night