Street Photography in Israel: A Complete Guide
Street photography is becoming increasingly popular in Israel, with a growing wave of new photographers roaming the streets to capture daily life scenes. The unique light conditions and vibrant culture have sparked interest among photographers worldwide, drawing many to experience Israel's dynamic street photography scene.
This guide explores the top locations in cities like Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Haifa, and offers tips for approaching street photography in Israel.
CAN YOU PHOTOGRAPH PEOPLE IN ISRAEL?
The general attitude toward street photography here is somewhat mixed. It's much better in Tel Aviv and the Old City of Jerusalem, but it worsens in popular tourist spots and Orthodox Jewish neighborhoods. In tourist areas, you might get shouted at, while in Orthodox neighborhoods, you might just get uncomfortable looks.
With that in mind, it is absolutely possible to photograph here, but it might be a bit more challenging If approaching strangers is what holds you back, I've written a full guide on photographing people on the street. In most cases, you can always play the tourist, apologize, and, in the worst case, delete the photograph. Just don't get yourself into tense situations, people in Israel can be a bit hot-headed, so try to avoid conflict.
WHAT THE LAW SAYS
In Israel, as in many other countries, photographing people in public places is generally allowed. However, there are legal and ethical considerations to keep in mind.
The Protection of Privacy Law in Israel prohibits photographing a person in a way that infringes on their privacy. This includes photographing people in situations where they have a reasonable expectation of privacy, such as in their homes or private gatherings.
Harassment: continuously photographing someone against their will can be considered harassment, even in public spaces.
So, generally speaking, you can photograph people in public spaces, but don't harass them if they don't want to be photographed, and don't publish photos that could cost them their dignity.
For detailed and specific legal advice, it's always best to consult a legal professional or review the full text of the Protection of Privacy Law, 5741-1981.
WHAT MAKES ISRAEL WORTH PHOTOGRAPHING
Since Israel is the birthplace of three major religions, it naturally offers a wealth of photographic subjects. The diverse religious traditions and holidays mean there are months filled with event after event. In places like Jerusalem, Nazareth, and Haifa, these religious elements often intermingle, providing unique photographic opportunities.
Tel Aviv, in contrast, is Israel's modern hub, and if Jerusalem is all about religion, Tel Aviv feels like any other city in the West, with a sense of unlimited freedom, coffee shops, and a huge party scene, including the famous annual Pride Parade, which attracts more than 100,000 participants.
All these aspects make Israel a fascinating place for photographers, offering a diverse range of subjects to capture.
## BEST LOCATIONS FOR STREET PHOTOGRAPHY IN JERUSALEM
Jerusalem is one of the most interesting cities, culturally and from a photographic point of view. The places worth visiting are:
The Old City of Jerusalem , with its Muslim, Christian, and Jewish Quarters, each different, each with its own vibe and feel. Don't forget to get into the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, visit the Western Wall, and if the Dome of the Rock is open, visit there as well.
The Mount of Olives: there isn't much street photography there unless you hang out near the churches, but it does give you an interesting look at the Old City.
Around the Old City wall, especially the area near Damascus Gate: it's busy throughout the day, especially on Fridays and Saturdays, and can be interesting for photography.
**Mea Shearim**, a Jewish Orthodox enclave in Jerusalem, offers a glimpse into a unique and culturally isolated community. Stepping into Mea Shearim can feel like entering another world, where traditions and customs are deeply entrenched in daily life. Here, most residents adhere to traditional dress codes, often donning attire that harks back to bygone eras. Please remember to dress modestly (especially women), and don't go there to photograph on Shabbat (Saturday).
Machane Yehuda Market: the most famous and iconic market in Jerusalem. It's interesting during the day, but at night many of the market's eateries and bars open their doors to visitors, offering a diverse array of culinary delights and refreshing drinks, and it becomes one big party, especially on Thursdays.
Nahlaot: situated opposite the bustling Machane Yehuda Market, it offers a picturesque setting, especially during sunset. A particularly photogenic time to visit is during Hanukkah. Each evening, residents come together to light candles, and it's a beautiful experience, both culturally and photographically.
Jaffa Street : is the center of Jerusalem, boasting numerous shops, boutiques, and restaurants lining its sidewalks. Visitors can explore a wide variety of stores offering everything from souvenirs and handicrafts to designer clothing and jewelry. It often hosts street performers and various entertainment programs, adding to its charm. If you find yourself weary of religious heritage and want to photograph something different, Jaffa Street is the place to go.
## BEST LOCATIONS FOR STREET PHOTOGRAPHY IN TEL AVIV
Carmel Market; is the most famous market in Tel Aviv and probably the most popular place for street photography. Several renowned photographers visit the market almost daily. You never know what you'll encounter there.
Nachalat Binyamin Street; just near Carmel Market: every Friday and Tuesday, there's an art fair that attracts different types of people, many of whom photograph really well.
Tel Aviv Beach is another never-ending stream of subjects for photography. All year round, you'll find people exercising, and during the summer, swimming season is open, with all the beach bars open and people engaging in various activities.
Old Jaffa; is at the end of Tel Aviv's beachfront. It's quieter than the beach and has a small harbor with boats and a small fishing market. It's another place worth visiting for those who enjoy a slower pace of photography.
Tel Aviv Flea Market; gets busy in the early morning when people bring various belongings and sometimes weird merchandise for sale. You can find beautiful light there in the morning hours, but be aware that this is one of the places where people don't like to be photographed.
Tel Aviv Museum of Art; is another place worth visiting, especially during the hot summer days. You can enjoy a few hours in a cool environment, capturing minimalistic street photos with clear compositions and lines.
Rothschild Boulevard, Dizengoff, and Shenkin Streets are the most active areas.
You might also want to visit the Florentine neighborhood, known for its graffiti-covered walls and busy nightlife. All these locations offer great photography opportunities.
## BEST HOLIDAYS AND EVENTS FOR STREET PHOTOGRAPHY
Pride Parade: once a year, usually in June, Tel Aviv turns into a celebration of color, drawing a crowd of 100,000 people who want to do one thing only, party. Regardless of your skill level, this is a day when you'll most likely capture dozens of beautiful photographs.
Lag BaOmer is a joyous occasion marked by bonfires. I won't get into the celebration in depth here [ADD LINK: Lag BaOmer explainer], but from a photography point of view, it means fire, and it means a lot of people wearing traditional Chasidic outfits, and all that photographs really well.
Passover Chametz Burn; the ritual, known as "Bi'ur Chametz" in Hebrew, is a traditional Jewish practice performed on the morning of the day before Passover begins. Families go through their houses to gather every wheat-based product (chametz), which is then burned in a controlled manner.
Kaparot; is a traditional Jewish ritual performed before Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. It involves swinging a live chicken (or sometimes a bundle of coins) over one's head while reciting prayers, symbolically transferring one's sins onto the chicken. For some, it's a difficult subject to photograph, since it basically means the chicken will be sacrificed at the end.
Purim : one of the happiest times in Israel, it's similar in a way to Halloween, where people dress up in costumes. During this time, there are specific days for celebration in religious communities, and for the rest, there are multiple events like street parties and parades.
The Orthodox Christian Holy Week: the week before Easter, featuring Palm Sunday, Good Friday, and the Holy Light ceremony on the final day. During these days, Jerusalem is filled with pilgrims, and, honestly, it can be challenging for photographers to move around due to the crowds and numerous police blocks. However, if you approach it with an open mind, you have the chance to capture some of your most rewarding photography of the year.
## STREET PHOTOGRAPHY STYLES SUITED TO ISRAEL'S LIGHT
The light and shadow game: because of the extremely strong sunlight, Israeli photographers tend to adopt the chiaroscuro style of photography. You'll usually want to protect your highlights, otherwise they'll burn out. I've written a full article about it here [chiaroscuro article].
Flash photography: for the same reason, several Israeli photographers have integrated flash into their work. It started as an attempt to reduce the dynamic range but later became a creative tool in itself.
NOTABLE ISRAELI STREET PHOTOGRAPHERS
Ilan Ben Yehuda: one of the rising stars of street photography, he's probably the best when it comes to finding interesting stories in mundane, everyday life.
Barry Talis: famous mostly for his work with flash and longer shutter speeds, his work is powerful and abstract at the same time.
Gabby Ben Avraham: one of the top street photographers in Israel, working mostly with natural light and a master of chiaroscuro. His favorite place is the Carmel Market, where he visits several times a week.
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If you'd rather learn on the street with me, take a look at my upcoming street photography workshops
I hope to add Haifa and Nazareth to this list in the future.
If you have any other questions, feel free to ask in the comments.