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 [206] | View Smaller Image

#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.

#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.

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#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.

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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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