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The Dead Sea

The Dead Sea has lost 40% of its volume in the last 60 years. It has been severely impacted by climate change, Read More…

The Dead Sea

As a photographer and visual storyteller, I am deeply committed to utilizing my art as a platform to shed light on significant environmental issues that require urgent attention. With my latest series I aim to capture the profound beauty of a dying natural wonder and provoke contemplation about the rapid pace of its demise. My goal is to create awareness of our fast depleting marine environment.

The Dead Sea has long been a captivating subject that has fascinated both travellers and researchers alike. However, beneath its enchanting surface lies a devastating ecological crisis. The alarming depletion of water levels and the consequential shrinking of the sea poses severe threats to the delicate balance of this unique ecosystem.

Over the last 60 years, the Dead Sea has been shrinking as its main water sources have been depleted – the Jordan River and the Sea of Galilee. Fertilizer and chemical companies evaporate its water to extract minerals. New dams are diverting water that would otherwise reach the Dead Sea. In addition, the amount of rainwater reaching the sea has also diminished since flash floods started pouring into sinkholes. As a result, its water levels have been dropping by more than 1.3 meters per year and its surface area has shrunk by 40%.

Thousands of sinkholes have resulted from the drying up of the water and the surrounding ground. Hotels and spas that once lined the waterfront are now hundreds of meters away from the shoreline while many resorts and beaches have been forced to close down. Fences with signs warning of sinkholes line much of the northern coast, whose dry brown expanse is also dotted with abandoned date palm groves, closed roads, and shuttered buildings.

In ‘The Dead Sea’ series I explore the dichotomy between the remarkable serenity of the Dead Sea and the impending devastation it faces. Through careful composition, juxtaposing elements of life and decay, I strive to communicate a sense of urgency and compassion towards the environmental challenges our world confronts.

By employing a combination of crispy post processing photography techniques, I reveal striking details and textures that offer viewers an immersive experience. Capturing the Dead Sea’s skeletal remains, salt-encrusted shorelines, and ravishing sunsets, I aim to evoke an emotional response that compels individuals to take action against the imminent danger that the Dead Sea confronts.

Through this series, I urge viewers to reflect upon plant earth dependence on our fragile ecosystems and the critical importance of preserving the natural wonders that define our its diverse beauty. While this body of work may initially appear melancholic, it also serves as a visual narrative that calls for collective responsibility and transformative action to prevent further ecological disruptions.

Ultimately, this collection is a heartfelt plea, encapsulated through visceral and thought-provoking imagery, to halt the rapid deterioration of one of the world’s most remarkable natural phenomena. It is my hope that this series ignites conversations, inspires conservation efforts, and galvanizes individuals to protect and restore our fragile ecosystems for generations to come.

© Copyright - Ilan Wittenberg 2022 | All Rights Reserved | Auckland Photographer of the Year - The New Zealand Institute of Professional Photography | T & C






    Congratulations on considering an original photographic artwork by Ilan Wittenberg
    • Prices are in NZ$, include GST and shipping world wide

    • Prints are available in limited edition (+2 AP)

    • Each print is hand signed by Ilan Wittenberg, all rights reserved

    • Prints are made on Epson Ultra-Premium photo paper luster

    • The artwork’s copyright is exclusively held by © Ilan Wittenberg

    • Please avoid displaying your artwork in direct sunlight

    • Each print has 1-2 inches of white border (which contains Ilan’s handwritten signature) and ideal margin for framing

    • Framing is a personal choice and should enhance the print while fitting the environment your artwork is to be displayed in

    • Your print will be shipped to you carefully rolled inside a cardboard tube

    • Please frame your artwork as soon as possible to avoid the risk of any damage.






      Congratulations on considering an original photographic artwork by Ilan Wittenberg
      • Prices are in NZ$, include GST and shipping world wide

      • Prints are available in limited edition (+2 AP)

      • Each print is hand signed by Ilan Wittenberg, all rights reserved

      • Prints are made on Epson Ultra-Premium photo paper luster

      • The artwork’s copyright is exclusively held by © Ilan Wittenberg

      • Please avoid displaying your artwork in direct sunlight

      • Each print has 1-2 inches of white border (which contains Ilan’s handwritten signature) and ideal margin for framing

      • Framing is a personal choice and should enhance the print while fitting the environment your artwork is to be displayed in

      • Your print will be shipped to you carefully rolled inside a cardboard tube

      • Please frame your artwork as soon as possible to avoid the risk of any damage.






        Congratulations on considering an original photographic artwork by Ilan Wittenberg
        • Prices are in NZ$, include GST and shipping world wide

        • Prints are available in limited edition (+2 AP)

        • Each print is hand signed by Ilan Wittenberg, all rights reserved

        • Prints are made on Epson Ultra-Premium photo paper luster

        • The artwork’s copyright is exclusively held by © Ilan Wittenberg

        • Please avoid displaying your artwork in direct sunlight

        • Each print has 1-2 inches of white space border (which contains Ilan’s handwritten signature) and ideal margin for framing

        • Framing is a personal choice and should enhance the print while fitting the environment your artwork is to be displayed in

        • Your print will be shipped to you carefully rolled inside a cardboard tube

        • Please frame your artwork as soon as possible to avoid the risk of any damage.






          Congratulations on considering an original photographic artwork by Ilan Wittenberg
          • Prices are in NZ$, include GST and shipping world wide

          • Prints are available in limited edition (+2 AP)

          • Each print is hand signed by Ilan Wittenberg, all rights reserved

          • Prints are made on Epson Ultra-Premium photo paper luster

          • The artwork’s copyright is exclusively held by © Ilan Wittenberg

          • Please avoid displaying your artwork in direct sunlight

          • Each print has 1-2 inches of white space border (which contains Ilan’s handwritten signature) and ideal margin for framing

          • Framing is a personal choice and should enhance the print while fitting the environment your artwork is to be displayed in

          • Your print will be shipped to you carefully rolled inside a cardboard tube

          • Please frame your artwork as soon as possible to avoid the risk of any damage.






            Congratulations on considering an original photographic artwork by Ilan Wittenberg
            • Prices are in NZ$, include GST and shipping world wide

            • Prints are available in limited edition (+2 AP)

            • Each print is hand signed by Ilan Wittenberg, all rights reserved

            • Prints are made on Epson Ultra-Premium photo paper luster

            • The artwork’s copyright is exclusively held by © Ilan Wittenberg

            • Please avoid displaying your artwork in direct sunlight

            • Each print has 1-2 inches of white border (which contains Ilan’s handwritten signature) and ideal margin for framing

            • Framing is a personal choice and should enhance the print while fitting the environment your artwork is to be displayed in

            • Your print will be shipped to you carefully rolled inside a cardboard tube

            • Please frame your artwork as soon as possible to avoid the risk of any damage.





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