Faces of Humanity
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
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.
Focus on community magazine
June 2022 edition
Faces of Humanity
Faces of Humanity exhibition clip
Artist Statement
Faces of Jerusalem Artist Statement
Additional Links
Dome of the Rock
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.
2021 Portraiture Seminar
Join portrait photographer Ilan Wittenberg
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
- Travel Photography
- Equipment
- Posing
- Lighting
- Composition
- Selecting the right lens
- Camera Settings
- Engaging your subject
- Post processing
- Creating a portfolio
- Entering Awards
What to bring
- SDHC memory card
- Hi resolution JPEG images that you’d like to print on EPSON’s wide format photo paper
- Cardboard tube for your new prints