My earliest memory of photography is a photo book of the 1967 Six Day War, between Israel and Egypt, Jordan and Syria. As a child I was intrigued by the black and white photos of the Israeli soldiers and their daily lives during the war.
I got the basics of photography during my three years of studying at the Hadassah College in Jerusalem. But my real education was outside in the field, learning frame by frame how to be a better photographer.
My first assignment was at the old Erez Crossing - the passage between Israel and the Gaza strip. It was my idea to go there, and I took the film to the Reuters office in Jerusalem. They took a few of my pictures and I was very happy. I learnt that all the time you have to take the initiative.
The story that left the biggest mark on me for sure was the Israeli disengagement plan from the Gaza Strip. I relocated to Gush Katif, a bloc of 17 Israeli settlements in the southern Gaza strip, for 8 months. It was different from other stories that I had done because I was living the story from the inside for a long time.
I’m excited by everything relating to human interest, communities and rituals that are very different to my own way of life. I like the opportunity to peek into different worlds.
As a photographer you need to be ready all the time. You never know when a picture will come.
I respect those journalists who take risks to get the best story.
I feel very lucky that this is what I’m doing for a living, - I get the opportunity to work with the best and most professional journalists.
