Revolution All Around: Documenting Israeli Identity in 2011 'Documenting my Documentation' (try saying that five times fast.)

My Photo scholarship 2011 entry

Worldwide | Saturday, October 22, 2011 | 5 photos

Last summer, I financed my own trip to Israel to cover the economic and social protests for my graduate thesis in mass communications. I am a professional amateur photographer who has never had a formal lesson in my life; I accidentally fell into doing a little freelance work last year.

These photos are of the August 13th rally in Be'er Sheva, a southern town in Israel that is often the target of Grad Missiles shot from the Gaza strip. In fact, one week after I took these photos, local residents were hit with missiles not far from where the rally took place.

Approximately 25,000 people attended this particular rally. Standing there had both its horrifying moments (we were located next to a gas station--which in Israel, can send chills down the spine of the most hardened IDF member) and its awe-inspiring moments (when the entire crowd sang Hatikvah, the national anthem, at midnight). Many famous musicians and actors spoke and performed alongside local representatives of various tent cities that had sprouted up all over the country. The crowd was filled with people of all ages and all nationalities-- although those who were young adults were in greatest attendance.

What struck me most about the rally (and the people I photographed and interviewed) was that despite the outward appearance of hope, everything was tinged with a sadness--I kept hearing over and over again that as wonderful as these peaceful protests were, nothing would really change until there was violence.

I found it amazing, that even in the face of such sentiments, people still came out, put themselves at risk (because anywhere where there are thousands of Israelis packed together in one space is risky), and stood up for what they wanted--the future they put their faith in.