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.

ISRAEL | Saturday, 12 January 2013 | Views [160] | View Smaller Image

#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.

#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.

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#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.

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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.

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