Ilan Bresler Photography

UPDATE! - Read my interview on PetaPixel!

First of all - Sorry for the lack of updates (or any signs of life...) during the last two weeks - It's just that I'm moving out - and in! - to my own place and even though I knew there is much work between the 'out' and 'in' stages, I'm still surprised at how much energy it takes.

I really enjoyed your comments and the debate the last photo raised. Seems like most of you thought that the photo is good (or 'ok') but not many would try to capture such frame - Whether it's because you shy or because you think it's an invasion of privacy.

There is a good cure for being shy - Just face your 'fear', practice and work on it.

As the privacy issue, your comments made me think. We are the ones that set our own rules about privacy and it seems that we do that by imagining ourselves in the exact same situation - however, not as photographer - but as the photographed 'subject'.

I can't explain exactly why, but to me, this thought feels wrong. I don't encourage voyeurism in the illegal sense of it, but for those of us who 'roam the streets', as street photographers, I feel obliged (strong word, ah?) to present what I'm seeing with my eyes and if it's public - even more so.

I just Googled for the exact definition for the word 'Public'. Wikipedia supports my opinion :

Public - Pertaining to the affairs or official affairs of all people, not just those of a private group; contrasted with private.

But here is another question. The photo above was taken on a deserted beach. There was no one there except that guy and me. But it's a public territory. So what to make of it? Is it public or private?

I'm not sure about the answer, but I sure envy that guy right now, looks fun to float alone like that.


Last but not least - my recommendation for a photoblog.
I love wide angle lenses. It makes the viewer feel as participant in the situation unfolding in the frame. The effect pulls you in (if done right, of course).
This love was born after I saw the works of Russian-Israeli photographer Julia Komissarof. Her works always feel so... real. I can almost hear and smell the 'street' in her works. I really advise you to Google her works and visit her blog (translated from Russian)

Where is the line between legitimate photo and hurting the privacy of the person photographed?
The 'dry' rule says that everything that happens in public is by definition, well... public. But then there are restrictions for underage children and/or something that intentionally humiliates the subject.
Different countries got different rules and attitude towards our privacy and lately it seems that our right as photographers is under attack - The 'I'm a photographer and not a terrorist' uproar swept Twitter and the net only a few days ago. Although not directly connected to the question I asked at the beginning of the post, it's still got something to do with our rights (or obligations) as photographers with a freedom of "speech" - When this freedom is also bound to what we believe is right and wrong, both as a society and as individuals.
How do you decide if the photo is legitimate when confronted with the question?

Late addition - I can blame the late hour or my progressive (almost 30!) age. Forgot to add my favorite blog of the week!
Here it is - This week I would like to recommend a blog of a good friend of mine, Mahbubur (Mickey) Rahman. His blog excels in two (at least!) things that I enjoy very much - Photos... And posts that always makes me think and rethink my attitude towards photography or my works. Pay a visit to his photoblog - Learning to fly - and send him a warm hug from me. You can also find him on Twitter under @mickrhm.

P.S

I would like to thank all who left links to 'Still life' photos on the previous post! I had real fun going over the links, there are some incredible works!


... Late addition to the post.

Some of you might remember the photo-video project I posted here few weeks ago - Around the World, Street Photography in BNW.
Case you don't remember, here is a reminder -

Well, the thing is that it was published on one of the biggest Israeli news websites today - calcalist.co.il! (Translated link, scroll down for the video - Click 'ok' if error message pop-ups)


And another P.S :) -

Read David Bennett's reaction to this post - Photography After The Fact – A Glance And A Stare

So most of you thought that there is no need to 'look up' for your photo-language - You think it will emerge eventually. Well, point taken :)

Back to the photo above. I don't usually take such still-life photos. I love taking photos of people, I find more joy in the little Homo-sapiens nuances, but sometimes a good still photo might have a very strong impact.

One of such photos is by my favorite photographer (and my favorite blog of the week) - Nils Jorgensen. Here are two example for his genius 'photo-eye' - 'Closed' and 'World within a world' (advised to go over his gallery. Really inspiring stuff).

The first one ('Closed') struck me of how something so simple, so mundane, can be also so clever and strong. I honestly don't know if I would "see" something like this.

Do you have such 'still-life' photos, photos that had a real impact on you?
Please link then in your comment - Whether it's your own, or by other photographer.

Also, I would like to thank Ron (@rtd13) for featuring me on "The Weekly Bzzzzz"!

Street photography has many layers.
You can look on 'street' and see "moments" just like Cartier Bresson did. You can look at it and see the most mundane things like William Eggleston did. Or maybe you can find the bizarre and somewhat ridicules like Martin Parr is doing. (By the way, does anyone knows why he is wearing a keffiyeh on that Magnum profile of his? :)
Of course, each of the names above are not fixed on one specific 'trend' but I stated the ones they are more famous for.
For the last few days/months I'm trying to find my own photo-language. I'm not trying to limit myself, of course, but to find that "flavor" to my photos that will distinct my style and make a solid body of works, and not just a random collection of photos.
I wonder how to achieve it. Is it something we find in time/with experience? Or maybe, after years and years of photography, such undertone language reveals itself from our past works? Or maybe it a 'niche' we find comfortable at (I enjoy humor+light+nuance photos, for example) and strive to perfect ourselves in it?

I don't know. Sometimes it frustrates me, but then I find that after such periods of low, times of creativity come, so I'll just wait for it to be over and learn from your blogs and comments.


As promised last week, with each post of mine I will link to a blog I enjoy. It's very tempting to start linking my friends, but I'll hold the temptation a while longer and link to a wonderful street-photo blog I found few months ago, and can't stop admiring the man's talent - "Urban Views" by Markus Hartel (@hrtl). Hope you'll enjoy as I am!

Late addition -
A very interesting read about few of my also favorite blogs - Written by Simon Hawkings (@SiHawkings) from thedailycapture.com blog. Of course, it has nothing to do with the fact that my name also appears in the post. :)