7 Reasons Why Photographers Fall in Love with Israel
October 4th 2018
Israel is a perfect vacation destination for photographers, whether professional or amateur. Many people who visit Israel quickly fall in love with the scenery and features of this vibrant little country. There’s so much beauty to be viewed, wherever you look. From the rolling hills of the Golan to the stunning Mediterranean coastline, there’s an amazing scenic backdrop to every photograph.
Here are just 7 reasons why photographers fall in love with Israel.
Ancient Cities
Given Israel’s ancient history, it’s no surprise to find beautiful old cities and ruins throughout the land. From the awe-inspiring religious buildings and cobbled streets of Jerusalem, Safed, and Yaffa to the ravaged remains of ancient cities like Megiddo, Qumran, Caesarea, and Tel Maresha. These locations are a paradise for history-loving photographers.
Modern Architecture
Modern Israel also encapsulates the best of modern architecture. Much of Tel Aviv was built within the last 60 years and has a myriad of different architectural styles. From the complex of skyscrapers known as the Azrieli Towers to the magnificent Tel Aviv Museum of Art and incredible Peres Peace House, there’s many a contemporary building to be photographed.
Stunning Landscapes
For such a small country, Israel has many varied and highly photogenic landscapes. In the north, there are snow-capped mountains and in the south there’s a scorching desert. In between these two there are pleasant coastal plains, a volcanic plateau, hilly limestone valleys, forests, vineyards, and the lowest point on Earth – the Dead Sea. There are also amazing geological anomalies such as the Ramon Crater in the Negev and stalactite caves in the Avshalom Nature Reserve.
Diverse Wildlife
With such diverse landscapes comes a diverse range of wildlife. Animals are wonderful photographic subjects and Israel certainly doesn’t disappoint in this regard. You’ll be able to take snaps of mountain gazelles, deer, striped hyenas, golden jackals, ibex (wild goats), rock hyrax, colorful reptiles, birds of prey, and numerous other bird species (migratory and otherwise). And of course, there are the friendly dolphins in Eilat.
Bustling Markets
The hustle and bustle of markets in Israel – known as “shuk” – present a wonderful opportunity to photograph daily life in this vibrant land. Israeli markets are loud and colorful places, filled with delicious foods, crafts, art, religious ornaments, textiles, and just about anything else you can think of. In Jerusalem, there’s the Machne Yehuda market. In Tel Aviv, you can enjoy the Carmel Market and the more artsy Nachlat Binyamin Arts and Crafts Fair, while nearby is the famous Jaffa Flea Market.
Religious Scenes
Israel is a center of focus for the three Abrahamic religions, most notably Judaism. Religion has played an integral part in the narrative of this ancient land and continues to do so today. Wherever you look, there are religious influences, whether architectural, cultural, or in the way people act and dress. From the Western Wall and Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem to the mosques in Jaffa and Bahai Gardens in Haifa, there’s a plethora of religion-inspired scenes to be photographed.
The People
And finally, and perhaps most important of all, are the people of Israel. Modern Israel is a diverse, exciting, and multicultural country. There are people of many different faiths and denominations, and of many different races, ethnicity, and cultural influences. As well as Jews, there’s a large Arab population which includes Muslims and Christians, as well as minorities such as Druze, Circassians, and Assyrians.
All these people and cultures, including the huge diversity of the Jewish people, provide amazing opportunities for visiting portrait photographers.
