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    Jerusalem - Beneath the Sites The innocuous moments of daily life in the Holy City; the underlying tension, the contrasts, the joy, the innocence... Jerusalem, Beneath the Sites.

    Photos from Israel

    There are [5] photos from Israel

    #5 A Lone Guitarist, Beneath a Lone Star: The location of this shot won’t be found on any postcards, or in any tourist guides, but was one of may favourite places in Jerusalem. On the rooftops above the Old City markets, away from the hustle and bustle, you really get to absorb the eclectic nature of the city. By day it was secluded, by dusk it would be almost completely empty, aside from small groups in Orthodox Jewish clothing walking somewhere with purpose. At any given time, you would hear church bells chiming, multiple chorus’ of call to prayer being sung simultaneously, and on this evening, it was mixed with the sounds of a lone guitarist. Views[179] #4 A Moments Rest: It seemed wherever I was in Jerusalem, I was never far from soldiers. I’d seen a machine gun before, but never a large, neatly stacked pile of them. I was a little apprehensive about pulling my camera out, but thought I’d regret it if I didn’t. I was given a friendly nod from one of the soldiers, meaning approval was granted, and subsequently took the photo. I think this shot, taken in the old city, accurately reflects the mood and disposition of many of the young, off-duty soldiers I saw. They generally appeared relaxed and chatting, which always made for an interesting juxtaposition when cast against machine guns. There was also a strong sense of comradery between the groups of soldiers I saw, which seems to be typical of young Israelis today. It can be seen not only in the foreground, with the soldier smiling whilst chatting to those seated, but also further back in the shot, where soldiers are all laying down next to each other across their backpacks, limbs intertwined. Views[205] #3 A Perfect View from the Grandstand: Just outside the old city walls, I was lucky enough to get the perfect seat for this very important match, battled out alongside the sun-drenched hills at sunset. The crowd was disappointing for such an important match, but it didn’t affect the passion or brilliance exhibited throughout. The crowd was somewhat stunned when they noticed three Lionel Messi’s on the pitch. The opposing team subsequently remonstrated loudly with officials, ‘How can a 4 time Ballon d’Or winner appear on the same team three times?!’. The referee dismissed their calls and pressed on with the game. The match went on for much longer than the standard 90 minutes, eventually having to be abandoned due to low light and exhausted players. Unsurprisingly, the Messi’s won convincingly. Views[160] #2 A Weary Merchant: Taken after a day of hustle and bustle in the markets, this portrait captures the weariness of a senior citizen after a day spent shifting produce in the heat. His posture, his work-worn and sweat-varnished face, the slight glow from the setting sun, his dusty jacket, along with his subtle grin, make this one of my favourite shots. It’s almost as if he’s had to use his last bit of strength to acknowledge the camera, before he slumps for some well earned rest. I was pleased that his friendly nature was able to shine through in the shot. The juxtaposition of the Hebrew text and Arab attire adds an interesting footnote to the shot, somewhat suggestive of the region. Views[181] #1 A Congested Footpath: It could be argued that you don’t need the slightest photographic nous to take a decent shot in Jerusalem, such is aura of the city and its abundance of sites. Never really one for sites and attractions, I wanted to focus on the innocuous moments of daily life in the city; the underlying tension, the contrasts, the joy, the innocence. It didn’t take long before I witnessed my first key moment. I was exploring East Jerusalem, the Arab district, when swathes of young Israeli soldiers casually entered in separate groups, in their hundreds, walking through what appeared to be a fixed route. What struck me was how nonchalant everyone was, both the locals of East Jerusalem toward the soldiers, and vice versa. It was as if neither side knew the other was there. The sentiment is captured here, if you observe the lady in the shot, you’ll see she is looking at the ground, which she did until the soldiers had cleared. It was one of several fascinating scenes. Views[180]
     

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