WHO?
My name is Orna Naor, I am from Israel. I was born in Jerusalem and for the last 40 years have lived in Tel Aviv. I used to travel a lot before Covid, and was teaching street photography in Alon Kira’s Photography school. These days I focus much more on documentary projects.
WHAT?
In previous years, I have enjoyed taking pictures in and outside Israel. Israel is a very interesting place to photograph; the population is diverse, with many religious ceremonies of all 3 major religions. The beaches and the markets are all colorful, and with their own beauty.
I like giving a new meaning to the banality of reality; by using lights and shadows, signs and graffiti, juxtapositions and different angles, I’m creating stories. Sometimes I use flash but in most of my work I try to use natural light.
Lately I have been more focused on documentation; my Sea Days project with Palestinian children, Balfour demonstrations, Bigger than Life project about children with cancer, and the Israeli occupation.
WHERE?
Everywhere I can.
I’ve been traveling a lot; Cuba, Guatemala, Brazil, Romania, Vietnam, China, Philippines, India, the United States, and many countries in Europe.
My goal in my photography is humanitarian. To show, that in spite of being different people, from different cultures, with different beliefs, in the end we are all humans with equal rights.
WHEN?
Beginning in 2013, I was out almost every day taking pictures in Tel Aviv. Until the end of 2019, I was traveling, exploring and shooting, while at the same time I took workshops in Israel and abroad, continuing learning and being exposed to different photography approaches and techniques.
During the pandemic, I covered the lock downs, with all its implications. In the last 2 years I’m doing more projects than single images. Some are completed, most are still ongoing.
WHY?
I found my voice and a way to express myself. Whether it’s classic street photography or an ongoing documentary project, photography made it possible for me to express myself; my emotions, my beliefs, my values and my dreams, all are being reflected in my work.
Nowadays, I’m working on projects related to the occupation in Israel. I hope that by showing people as people–mothers, children, elders–some of the fear from both sides will reduce while some trust from both sides will be built, and contribute to ending a very complicated and unbearable situation.
