You have captured much more than the places and people in Israel. You have captured it’s soul. That is what we photographers do !
Guenter
April 9, 2018 5:18 am
Hi Nasim,
thank you for your very interesting, in-depth information on photographing in Israel.
I would be very grateful if you could briefly answer some additional questions about choosing appropriate photographing gear when travelling to Israel:
On my trip to Israel, I will take my D750, a standard zoom (2.8/24-70 VR or 3.5-4.5/24-85 VR, more on this below), and some more lens with me.
My main focus is landscape and nature photography, and a bit of architectural photography. But in Israel, especially Jerusalem, I would like to do some street photography and, of course, a lot of architectural and interior photography. I admit that I am a bit moreshy than you to enter people’s personal sphere.
In combination with the D750 camera (wich isn’t a really quiet camera), I consider to take with me either the 2.8/24-70 VR lens, which is a phantastic, but heavy and obtrusive lens, or the 3.5-4.5/24-85 VR which is lightweight and for sure less obtrusive, but not as sharp and fast focusing compared with the other lens. For all the beautiful architectural and landscape themes, and at dark places, e.g. in the Jerusalem Old Town, and in churches, the 24-70 would surely be preferable technically. Did you have the feeling that bigger / noisier equipment would have been a real disadvantage on your trip through crowded places and inside historical buildings? Which combination of the above would you herefore recommend?
The second question relates to your observation that tripods are not allowed when passing checkpoints. Is this often the case in Jerusalem (e.g. when entering churches)? Do you think it is allowed to take a Joby Gorilla Pod instead through the checkpoints?
By the way, Photographylife.com is my preferred photography website. Very informative and interesting!
Thank you in advance!
Guenter
Carsten
September 9, 2017 1:23 pm
Nasir, I just spotted your site by chance while looking in the internet for photospots in Israel. I’ve been living here for more than three years and I have to say that you did a really great job. I am glued to your site now for more than an hour or so (actually I lost my sense for time while I was doing it) and got some very good pictures to see. Well done!
Abe
July 16, 2017 3:27 am
I was born and raised in Jerusalem, yet it doesn’t seem like a special place for me, more like a nasty hole full of extremists on all sides and never-ending conflicts. if you like street shooting than Jerusalem is a great place since you never run out of weirdos to shoot. I find the desert to be stunningly beautiful, as well as the mountains throughout the west bank. But then, I’m more of a landscape shooter. Living in New York City for the past decade, I can say it’s the best place for street photography.
Rodrigo
June 15, 2017 4:16 am
Nasim
I follow your posts on Facebook and this is the first time I decided to take a few minutes and write to you. Thanks for sharing your work and experiences; the time you invest on writing and editing. You have made me consider visiting Israel.
I am originally from Mexico and have seen a post about the east of the country. I do not know how much time you spent there, but cities like Merida and Campeche are worth spending more time to take photos of the colourful architecture…maybe cenotes, lagoons; those natural colours are simply amazing!
Cheers!
Akiva Shapero
June 13, 2017 9:12 pm
As a photographer myself, I have been to Israel many times, but I must confess that at times I would missed a shot because I was so busy just looking in awe at some of the views that I would forget to hit the shutter. Kudos on some great shots and your beautiful narrative. The world can be so crazy that we forget the beauty and intrigue all around. Great job.
Waldemar Kruk
June 13, 2017 12:31 am
Nasim,
You FORGOT TO REMOVE 10.1 YOURS and 10.1.1 Motti these comments are not about Photography but POLITICS!! Please remove them too. THANKS!!
Waldemar Kruk
June 12, 2017 11:55 pm
WOW! I read the article and looked at the GREAT PICTURES Nasim made in his trip to ISRAEL AND then I read comments and can say one world. WOW!!
Muhammad Omer
June 12, 2017 6:26 am
I have now seen the dome of the rock photographed from 3 sides. Have not seen masjid al aqsa in any of the photos. Why is that. Arent they supposed to be close to each other?
See page 5 of the essay ‘The Muslim Quarter’ paragraph 17 ‘Al Aqsa Mosque’. There Nasim talks about this mosque and explains how he was unable to photograph it from all sides because of trees and other obstacles. :)
Muhammad, looks like Elaine already answered your question. Yes, the two buildings are close, but Al-Aqsa is problematic to photograph due to obstructions and there was all kinds of junk on its side to make a nice picture. I walked around the building and decided to focus on the building details and interior rather than the exterior look of it. Al-Aqsa also needs renovation – some sections don’t look very good.
Albin Foro
June 12, 2017 5:53 am
Very good scenes of Jerusalem. I volunteered at Rosh Haniqra for about a year in the early 70s. The dramatic coastline, sea caves and nearby Haifa are very picturesque. (At the time the West Bank was freely accessible, along with the occupied Sinai, and hitch hiking there instead of elbowing onto Israeli buses was free, faster and sometimes led to Arab hospitality.)
You have captured much more than the places and people in Israel.
You have captured it’s soul. That is what we photographers do !
Hi Nasim,
thank you for your very interesting, in-depth information on photographing in Israel.
I would be very grateful if you could briefly answer some additional questions about choosing appropriate photographing gear when travelling to Israel:
On my trip to Israel, I will take my D750, a standard zoom (2.8/24-70 VR or 3.5-4.5/24-85 VR, more on this below), and some more lens with me.
My main focus is landscape and nature photography, and a bit of architectural photography. But in Israel, especially Jerusalem, I would like to do some street photography and, of course, a lot of architectural and interior photography. I admit that I am a bit moreshy than you to enter people’s personal sphere.
In combination with the D750 camera (wich isn’t a really quiet camera), I consider to take with me either the 2.8/24-70 VR lens, which is a phantastic, but heavy and obtrusive lens, or the 3.5-4.5/24-85 VR which is lightweight and for sure less obtrusive, but not as sharp and fast focusing compared with the other lens. For all the beautiful architectural and landscape themes, and at dark places, e.g. in the Jerusalem Old Town, and in churches, the 24-70 would surely be preferable technically. Did you have the feeling that bigger / noisier equipment would have been a real disadvantage on your trip through crowded places and inside historical buildings? Which combination of the above would you herefore recommend?
The second question relates to your observation that tripods are not allowed when passing checkpoints. Is this often the case in Jerusalem (e.g. when entering churches)? Do you think it is allowed to take a Joby Gorilla Pod instead through the checkpoints?
By the way, Photographylife.com is my preferred photography website. Very informative and interesting!
Thank you in advance!
Guenter
Nasir,
I just spotted your site by chance while looking in the internet for photospots in Israel. I’ve been living here for more than three years and I have to say that you did a really great job. I am glued to your site now for more than an hour or so (actually I lost my sense for time while I was doing it) and got some very good pictures to see. Well done!
I was born and raised in Jerusalem, yet it doesn’t seem like a special place for me, more like a nasty hole full of extremists on all sides and never-ending conflicts. if you like street shooting than Jerusalem is a great place since you never run out of weirdos to shoot.
I find the desert to be stunningly beautiful, as well as the mountains throughout the west bank. But then, I’m more of a landscape shooter.
Living in New York City for the past decade, I can say it’s the best place for street photography.
Nasim
I follow your posts on Facebook and this is the first time I decided to take a few minutes and write to you. Thanks for sharing your work and experiences; the time you invest on writing and editing. You have made me consider visiting Israel.
I am originally from Mexico and have seen a post about the east of the country. I do not know how much time you spent there, but cities like Merida and Campeche are worth spending more time to take photos of the colourful architecture…maybe cenotes, lagoons; those natural colours are simply amazing!
Cheers!
As a photographer myself, I have been to Israel many times, but I must confess that at times I would missed a shot because I was so busy just looking in awe at some of the views that I would forget to hit the shutter. Kudos on some great shots and your beautiful narrative. The world can be so crazy that we forget the beauty and intrigue all around. Great job.
Nasim,
You FORGOT TO REMOVE 10.1 YOURS and 10.1.1 Motti these comments are not about Photography but POLITICS!! Please remove them too. THANKS!!
WOW! I read the article and looked at the GREAT PICTURES Nasim made in his trip to ISRAEL AND then I read comments and can say one world. WOW!!
I have now seen the dome of the rock photographed from 3 sides. Have not seen masjid al aqsa in any of the photos. Why is that. Arent they supposed to be close to each other?
See page 5 of the essay ‘The Muslim Quarter’ paragraph 17 ‘Al Aqsa Mosque’. There Nasim talks about this mosque and explains how he was unable to photograph it from all sides because of trees and other obstacles. :)
Muhammad, looks like Elaine already answered your question. Yes, the two buildings are close, but Al-Aqsa is problematic to photograph due to obstructions and there was all kinds of junk on its side to make a nice picture. I walked around the building and decided to focus on the building details and interior rather than the exterior look of it. Al-Aqsa also needs renovation – some sections don’t look very good.
Very good scenes of Jerusalem. I volunteered at Rosh Haniqra for about a year in the early 70s. The dramatic coastline, sea caves and nearby Haifa are very picturesque. (At the time the West Bank was freely accessible, along with the occupied Sinai, and hitch hiking there instead of elbowing onto Israeli buses was free, faster and sometimes led to Arab hospitality.)