Auckland portrait photographer

Faces of Jerusalem Exhibition

The Streets of Old Jerusalem

Ilan Wittenberg, Faces of Jerusalem: An Interfaith Journey, as installed at Te Uru. Photo: Sam Hartnett

 Ilan Wittenberg

20 February – 1 May 2016

A suite of 27 photographs that look at some of the personalities who operate as vendors in the four quarters (Muslim, Jewish, Armenian, Christian) within the Old City of Jerusalem, Ilan Wittenberg’s images are characterised by density of detail, spectacular acuity and lots of tonal midrange. Almost everything is in focus, there is very little bright white, and the eye is caressed as it wanders across the print’s surface. Even with the deep perspective of (say) receding shelves, the plethora of detail flattens and accentuates the picture plane.

For those of us who have never visited this city, these photographs pack in a lot of information, such as the types of product being sold, the market being pitched to, the ethnic traditions of the shopkeepers, the architectural backgrounds around each stall and materials used. We see (for example) pistachios, hookahs, oils, prayer beads, gas cylinders, images of saints, plates, busts, incense, brass gongs, bells, tobacco, tea, tunics, smocks, lamps, and plaques – a vast range of easy-to-transport (instantly purchasable) merchandise. Here is a selection of Wittenberg’s images with this link.

It is the fineness of the detail, an intricacy of each particular documented element that fascinates, a compactness that is without graininess or blur, that density providing clarity.

While about three-quarters of the images feature vendors (most indoors, one outside), there are also a few street shots of people out and about, like a boy with a cart, or a nun crossing the street. The titles however are pretty non-descript and it is a shame they don’t include the subjects’ names, so that the cultural mix is made even more immediately apparent and we can get more specific information about their stories.

Somehow there is something missing with this show. These are terrific images that are loaded with information you can extract (if you are familiar with the city), but a few details in the titles – identifying each person and each site – would have made it so much richer for a New Zealand audience. Less touristy and shallow. Less voyeuristic. More contextual.

John Hurrell


Ilan Wittenberg — Faces of Jerusalem: An Interfaith Journey

by on design assembly 11/03/2016 Recipient of the 2015

Auckland Photographer of the Year award, Ilan Wittenberg is currently exhibiting at Titirangi’s Te Uru Waitakere Contemporary Gallery.

Faces of Jerusalem — An Interfaith Journey runs from February 20th until 1st May.

Ilan says: “Faces of Jerusalem is a compelling collection of photographs. This documentary portfolio offers a journey to the Old City through its people. Their proud portraits reflect the rich culture and turbulent history of Jerusalem. Created during January 2015, it presents a glimpse into their lives. The different merchants are surrounded by their products. The souvenirs are intended for tourists and pilgrims who walk the ancient, narrow streets while visiting some of the holiest and most sacred religious temples in the world.

In many cases I was able to talk to the merchants so they are looking straight at me with a natural expression. I find that this results in more engaging portraits than candid photography. Most photos were taken in ambient light without flash or tripod so to create a more authentic scene.

The images are presented in monochrome which emphasizes shape and form. The sepia tone creates a timeless atmosphere while eliminating distracting colours. This makes the set more uniform regardless of the light or the time of day. It helps in focusing viewers’ attention on the people, their body language and their facial expressions. It also gives me the opportunity to create dramatic images using contrast and structure.

My goal in creating this portfolio is to show an authentic view of a foreign land. I aim to demonstrate a clear style, to tell a story while being imaginative and thought-provoking. I wish to inspire people with distinct images that are crisp and sharp, to be creative and artistic, to evoke emotions and to show a personal vision.”

Te Uru states:  “The turbulent politics affecting prominent cities like Jerusalem can often have depersonalising effects, whereby the people who live there become secondary to the tug of war over the spaces they occupy. In this series of photographs, Ilan Wittenberg provides us with a rehumanised look at the Old City of Jerusalem, which occupies less than one square kilometer. The images feature proud merchants from across all four quadrants of the Old City: the Muslim Quarter, the Jewish Quarter, the Armenian Quarter and the Christian Quarter. Together, they offer a portrait of the city as one occupied by real people eking out a living from day-to-day transactions in places densely packed with culture and history. 
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Wittenberg was awarded the title of 2015 Auckland Photographer of the Year by the New Zealand Institute of Professional Photography for this body of work.”


Ilan Wittenberg – Faces of Jerusalem – An Interfaith Journey
February 20 – May 1, daily 10am to 4:30pm
Te Uru Waitakere Contemporary Gallery
420 Titirangi Rd, Titirangi
www.FacesOfJerusalem.co.nz

You can find our more about Faces of Jerusalem and Ilan’s work at:

Good Magazine

95bFM Interview


This article showcasing Faces of Jerusalem has been brought to you by mychillybin.


Don’t miss the compelling new monochrome-style photography exhibition from Auckland photographer of the year, Ilan Wittenberg

Ilan Wittenberg’s collection of monochrome, documentary-style images are on display now until May 1 at West Auckland’s Te Uru Waitakere Contemporary Gallery. Earlier last year Wittenberg, who was born in Israel, made a special journey to Jerusalem to capture on film portraits of some of the many residents and merchants of the Old City who had captivated him on previous trips.

It is this collection of photographs from Wittenberg’s visit to the UNESCO World Heritage site that contributed to him winning the NZIPP 2015 Auckland Photographer of the Year award.

Wittenberg spent days exploring the winding, cobbled streets and tiny, dimly lit shops of the Muslim, Jewish, Armenian and Christian quarters and capturing a range of people going about their daily lives.

It was the city’s merchants that Wittenberg was particularly drawn to. Explaining why, Wittenberg says “many people are not happy, you can see that, 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.”

But Wittenberg was welcomed by the merchants after introducing himself as a Kiwi – (he has been a New Zealander since arriving in 2001). He 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.

Wittenberg has only been in the photography industry since 2011, but has already won both coveted national and international awards.

Faces of Jerusalem Gallery Notice


 

Faces Of Jerusalem Exhibition


 

Portrait Photographer Auckland



 

Portrait Photographer Auckland


 

Portrait photographer Auckland

Faces of Jerusalem

Auckland portrait photographer

Faces of Jerusalem – An Interfaith Journey

20 Feb 2016 – 30 Apr 2016

 

Experience rich culture and turbulent history at the Faces of Jerusalem exhibition.

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’.

This unique documentary portfolio offers a journey to the Old City through its people – their proud portraits reflect the rich culture and turbulent history of Jerusalem.


Te Uru Waitakere Contemporary Gallery

ILAN WITTENBERG: FACES OF JERUSALEM

The turbulent politics affecting prominent cities like Jerusalem can often have depersonalising effects, whereby the people who live there become secondary to the tug of war over the spaces they occupy. In this series of photographs, Ilan Wittenberg provides us with a rehumanised look at the Old City of Jerusalem, which occupies less than one square kilometer. The images feature proud merchants from across all four quadrants of the Old City: the Muslim Quarter, the Jewish Quarter, the Armenian Quarter and the Christian Quarter. Together, they offer a portrait of the city as one occupied by real people eking out a living from day-to-day transactions in places densely packed with culture and history.

Wittenberg was awarded the title of 2015 Auckland Photographer of the Year by the New Zealand Institute of Professional Photography for this body of work.

20 February – 1 May 2016

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