I spent some time with T. Hassia, who was born in Odessa and was later to become a photographer to the Egyptian Court. We were in Jerusalem when she said "Here I began by taking snapshots in my mind, and went on to take snapshots with my camera".
We were strolling down sliperry steps past the third station of the cross, the heart of Via Dolorosa, on our way to the Wailing Wall. The sky was icey blue; towering walls dominated the space, at once majestic and oppressive. They were built by labourers to fortify the so-called "civilised space" within.
You could see the well worn footway which became an alleyway; a narrow street which led to the bizarre soul of ancient days, before the copper sky, tinged with winds from Siberia, sent forth a shimmering cloak of white.
In the ancient city, dazzled by sun upon well trodden snow which had become ice--bound during the night, I could smell the snow.
Better people than I, having been involved in this landscape from ancient times to modern, have always been amazed by the contrast, and drawn by curiosity for the known and unknown. The emotional impact on one's senses is both dream-like and inspiring. You know that when you sense this, you are a traveller through time.
On this occasion I was given valuable insights by my friend, who said "By using the camera, I am extending the interpretation of whatever is in front of me. People talk about the eyes of the onlooker - myself, I carry my obscure myth. I click! In the darkroom matters become clearer. I don't arrange; I am arranged through doing. When I look, I am not external - I belong too... Space, Time are elements. I am a partner with them. To be able to enjoy them one must discipline oneself."
When I study the life of a photograph, and photographs do have their own life, the best ones do catch the essence.
Usually, I am interested in taking advantage of chance for my photography. It is often the beginning of a new journey.
Ya'akov Boussidan
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| Portraits |
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| Rendering |
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| Landscapes |
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| Nudes |
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| Various |