f11 Magazine article: Faces of Jerusalem

Faces of Humanity is a documentary collection with little or no changes to the actual scene. I asked people to look straight into my camera, so these are not candid photos. The strength of this series is in giving viewers a rare opportunity to connect with people in their natural environment. This diverse group of people serves as a timely reminder that, despite our many cultural differences, we can unite as a community through the power of photography.

This is a celebration of our shared values: hard work, the importance of family, and caring for each other as humans. I hope that through these photos viewers learn more about people with different backgrounds from around the world: Ruanda, Morocco, Tanzania, Cairo, Jerusalem and New Zealand. The show offers opportunities for people to contemplate, absorb, and increase their awareness of the complexities of human experience. Each photograph reveals an individual with a story that has shaped their life.

We connect with others by making eye contact – reading their expressions, feeling their emotions and getting a glimpse of their souls. I want viewers to form meaningful connections with these people: to see them as human beings, not simply subjects in front of a camera. I purposely created portraits that allow viewers to make direct eye contact with each person, so visitors can form emotional connections with these individuals.

In sharing this portfolio, I encourage viewers to show empathy: to accept others and to recognise the value of cultural diversity. We would all experience an enhanced sense of community if we took the time to appreciate interactions which allow us to discover the world beyond our familiar boundaries. We are all wonderfully unique, yet, at the same time, we are deeply similar.

I am presenting these photographs in timeless monochrome, to ensure consistency and flow of the series amidst the chaos and clutter of the busy environment. The portraits are crisp and sharp, to allow the details to inspire the imagination and to evoke emotions. My aim is to create an authentic portfolio of diverse individuals in a foreign land. My goal is to tell their stories using a clear narrative style and enduring quality.

Tires – Morocco

Clyde Scott – Auckland

Frank – Auckland

The barber – Auckland

Shish Kebab – Cairo

Knife sharpener – Morocco

Man with a Hat – Jaffa

Shells – Taranaki

The Library – Auckland

Boy and his Eel – Taranaki

The Fish Merchant – Akko

The Counter – Akko

Blue Collar – Jaffa

Dead Chickens – Morocco

The Garment Merchant – Jerusalem

The Paper – Jerusalem

Souvenirs Galore – Jerusalem

The Fist – Jerusalem

MAGGI – Morocco

Bric-à-brac Rwanda

Tutsi Girl – Rwanda

Men with canes – Rwanda

Woodwork – Rwanda

The Barber – Morocco

Arthur was sitting and waiting for customers in the same barber shop that his father established 60 years ago in Melbourne. It took three visits to the store and $100 to convince Arthur to have his portrait taken. I then had my haircut… AIPP Silver with Distinction Award.

Boys and Cart – Jerusalem

John and Rebecca – Auckland

Queen Deemi – Auckland

Just Bagels – Jerusalem

Essential Oils – Jerusalem

Wayne and Jennie – Auckland

Sitting on a Cart – Cairo

Man with a Beany – Jerusalem

Backgammon – Jerusalem

Man with a Ring – Alexandria

KAKAO – Jerusalem

SINGER – Jerusalem

Father and Son – Jerusalem

Three Brothers

Hubble-bubble – Alexandria

Bananas – Cairo

Two Men – Cairo

Sitting by the Cross – Alexandria

Scales – Jerusalem

The Department Store – Jerusalem

Money Changer – Jerusalem

Boy with a cart – Jerusalem

Souvenir Shop – Jerusalem

Mono Rhino – Jaffa

ITANGA – Rwanda

Dying the Wool – Morocco

Magazine Shop – Jerusalem

Delinquents – Auckland

Just Beads

Man with a leather Jacket – Auckland

The Donkey – Morocco

Brass and Copper – Morocco

Shoe Shining – Rwanda

The Fly – Egypt

All the presidents – Egypt

Man and his Dog – Auckland

Standing Proud – Morocco

Cowhide – Tanzania

The Hut – Tanzania

Timid – Tanzania

Standing in the Rain – Tanzania

Joy – Tanzania

Maasai Women – Tanzania

Sewing Machine – Cairo

Sitting by the hut – Tanzania

Sitting Down – Tanzania

The Look – Cairo

Shoe Laces – Cairo

The Maasai – Tanzania

Man with an Apron – Morocco

Focus on community magazine

June 2022 edition

Faces of Humanity

(c) Ilan Wittenberg

Faces of Humanity exhibition clip

Artist Statement

(c) Ilan Wittenberg

Faces of Humanity exhibition opening event

(c) Ilan Wittenberg

Faces of Jerusalem Artist Statement

Beggars and scholars, slaves and warriors have all walked the narrow streets of the Old City of Jerusalem. In early 2015, Auckland Photographer of the Year Ilan Wittenberg set out to capture the stoic nature of its inhabitants. The result is a compelling collection of portraits – ‘Faces of Jerusalem’ – which will go on display at Te Uru Waitakere Contemporary Gallery.

Born in Israel, Ilan has visited the UNESCO World Heritage site on numerous occasions. However, it was during a recent family trip that the idea to produce a portfolio of portraits (for his fellowship application to the Photographic Society of New Zealand) first took form. Not wanting to hold up the family, Ilan returned by himself in January 2015 and spent days exploring the winding, cobbled streets and tiny, dimly lit shops of the Muslim, Jewish, Armenian and Christian quarters.

While his collection of striking monochrome images captures a range of people going about their daily lives, it was the city’s merchants that Wittenberg was particularly drawn to. “Many people are not happy, you can see that,” says Ilan, “but that’s for good reasons: the economy is down. There are very few customers and very little foot traffic because there is a lot of stress in the streets. Wars, religious tension and the ongoing political conflict scare the tourists away.”

Wanting to create quick rapport and a relaxed environment, Ilan introduced himself as a New Zealander (which he has been since arriving in the country in 2001). “Oh Kiwi, welcome” would be the typical response, which cleared the opportunity to create a photograph. Where language permitted, he engaged his subjects in further conversation, to produce more engaging portraits than candid documentary photography usually does. “These photos were taken without a flash or a tripod, using ambient light only. I chose to present the prints in monochrome to eliminate distracting colours and help focus the viewer’s attention on the people, their body language and their expression. The sepia tone also provides a timeless atmosphere to the images, which reflect the rich culture and turbulent history of Jerusalem.

His journey as a photographer started relatively recently in 2011, but Ilan has already been given the honour of Fellow of the Photographic Society of New Zealand as well as a Master of the New Zealand Institute of Professional Photography. Selected prints from ‘Faces of Jerusalem’ portfolio contributed to the body of work that won Wittenberg the prestigious title of NZIPP 2015 Auckland Photographer of the Year. The collection also took first place in the Documentary Book section of the 2015 Moscow International Foto Awards, a competition that attracted entries from 84 countries.

‘Faces of Jerusalem’ was exhibited at Te Uru Gallery from February 20 to May 1.

In August 2016, Ilan won the title Travel Photographer of the Year by the Cathay Pacific Travel Media Awards which are organised by Travcom (New Zealand Travel Communicators) to celebrate excellence in travel writing and photography.

The photography awards were judged by a panel of three; Rob Lile, director of One Shot image library, Jenny Nicholls, Art Director for North & South magazine and Tessa Chrisp, past winner of the Cathay Pacific Travel Photographer of the Year Award. The Travel Photographer of the Year is judged on the entire portfolio of published work.

Rob Lile said: “This year a clear and unanimous favourite appeared amongst the many images put forward for the scrutiny of a tough judging panel. While there were many images that caught our eye and invited second and third viewings, one series stood out, indicating the work of a master visual storyteller. Ilan’s images transported us to centuries-old locations to examine modern lives intertwined with layers of time. They displayed patience and sensitivity as a storyteller becomes immersed in the worlds of people going about their ordinary daily lives, as unobtrusively as possible. His presence is accepted; images are not overtly posed nor awkward and each subject is entirely comfortable with the interaction. The creative journey continued through careful post production, printing and mounting, all reflecting the skills of a professional determined to present his vision as perfectly as possible. This was a powerful series that will live in our minds for a long time.”

Additional Links

In April 2016, Faces of Jerusalem was featured is issue 53 of the prestigious f11 Magazine with 38 pages covering the portfolio.

Check out D-Photo magazine article from September 2016: Within the walls of the Old City

Listen to Standing Room Only with Lynn Freeman (10’51”): RNZ Interview

Photos from the exhibition Opening Event

(c) Ilan Wittenberg

Faces of Cairo exhibition layout

(c) Ilan Wittenberg

Dome of the Rock

Temple Mount – Dome of the Rock – Al-Aqsa Mosque – The old City of Jerusalem

located on the Temple Mount in the Old City of Jerusalem, the Dome of the Rock is an Islamic shrine at the center of the Al-Aqsa mosque compound, and one of the three holiest Islamic shrines in the world. It was initially built in 691 on the site of the Second Jewish Temple and destroyed during the Roman Siege of Jerusalem. The original dome collapsed in 1015 and was rebuilt in 1023. Being one of Jerusalem’s most recognizable landmark it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. According to belief, the rock inside the mosque is the spot from which the Islamic prophet Muhammad ascended to Heaven accompanied by the angel Gabriel. Usually packed with tourists and locals, I was the only one to visit the site early morning when the forecast was for snow. It was so cold that there was no one on site and I could get a beautiful reflection off the wet marble stones just before the storm.

(c) Ilan Wittenberg

Boy with a Smoke

Boy with a SmokeBoy with a Smoke

(c) Ilan Wittenberg

Faces of Humanity

(c) Ilan Wittenberg

The Maasai

Bronze medal for the Maasai at the 2021 North Shore National Salon of Photography – Digital Open category

Interview

(c) Ilan Wittenberg

Faces of Cairo exhibition setup

(c) Ilan Wittenberg

2021 Portraiture Seminar

Award winning professional photographer Auckland

About the event
Join portrait photographer Ilan Wittenberg on a three hour seminar on documentary travel photography. Wittenberg is NZIPP 2020 Auckland Photographer of the year and the Editorial prize winner of the 2020 Sony Alpha Awards. Wittenberg was a finalist at the 2020 NZIPP Travel category and a finalist of the STORIES category at the AIPP 2021 Silver Lining awards.

When
Saturday, May 15, 1-4 pm, $49 admission fee, Register Here

Where
Studio One Toi Tū
1 Ponsonby Road, Ponsonby, Auckland.

What’s included

We will review travel photography from Cairo, Jerusalem and Morocco. During this seminar participants will have plenty of opportunities to ask questions regarding Ilan’s camera technique, equipment, software, post processing, creating a portfolio, exhibiting and entering the Awards. Wittenberg will also talk about how to engage people in a foreign land when asking to create their portrait and how to use photos for storytelling.

You will also be able to try different printing papers courtesy of EPSON who will have an A3-A2 size photo printer available for us. You are welcome to bring your favourite 2-3 images on a USB or an SD card (JPEG format) so these can be printed during the seminar. Bring an empty cardboard tube so your print will travel home safely.

Techniques covered