A Decade in Focus: The Heartbeat of Jerusalem Through the Lens of a Dedicated Photographer

The Old City of Jerusalem is a site truly unlike any other globally. A significant center for all three Abrahamic faiths, the narrow cobblestone streets are alive with Christians, Muslims, and Jews.

Photographer Ofir Barak, a resident of the area, has focused on the religious passion that pervades the Old City: chronicling Christians at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Muslims praying at Al-Aqsa Mosque, and Jewish individuals leaving notes in the Western Wall.

“This subject is intricately woven into the tapestry of my everyday existence. Be it witnessing religious parades en route to my work or engaging in local cultural festivities, the city’s profound religious legacy is a constant reminder,” he shares with PetaPixel.

Through his art, Barak aims to “provide a distinctive and personal” viewpoint of Jerusalem that may not be appreciated by the multitudes of tourists who flock there each year.

“I am a third-generation resident here, and by investing considerable time in understanding these varied worlds,” he continues. “I endeavored to uphold meaningful relationships and to depict a more complex representation of Jerusalem.”

Barak’s endeavor, Old City Jerusalem, which he has published in a book format, represents the result of a decade spent documenting the historic city, during which his technical abilities have developed alongside his viewpoint on common human experiences.

“Although the religious and cultural distinctions among Jerusalem’s varied communities are evident, there exists a more profound layer of shared humanity that surpasses these separations,” he articulates.

“The intricacies of faith, while anchored in unique traditions, frequently give rise to surprisingly comparable manifestations of devotion and selflessness, regardless of the underlying religion.

“By immersing myself in the daily lives of these groups, I discovered that empathy and comprehension were more widespread than I had originally expected. It became apparent that in spite of the obstacles confronting the city as a whole, there is a powerful thread of optimism and endurance, along with an individual’s yearning for connection and coexistence.”

Barak states that in order to evade the pitfall some photographers encounter, becoming so well-acquainted with a location that it loses its inspiration, he would concentrate on a small section of the Old City for extended durations allowing him to “forge a deeper bond” with that area.

Barak opted to pursue photography in 2014 after receiving a Leica M240 and a 50mm summicron lens as a present from his grandmother.

“In retrospect, choosing to utilize the rangefinder camera as a medium for my craft was a significant turning point, compelling me to accept its distinctive pros and cons,” he reflects. “For the most part, I have remained with this configuration ever since.”

Since then, Barak has also acquired the more advanced Leica M10 Monochrom, but notes that the camera “connects the analog essence with digital photography.”

Old City Jerusalem is currently available in hardback and can be acquired here. Further works by the photographer can be explored on his website and Instagram.

Image credits: Images by Ofir Barak