Photo: Eitan Riklis
For quite a few years now, all of our lives have been moving through a state of uncertainty.
It began with COVID, continued with attempts at a judicial or governmental overhaul—depending on one’s perspective—and reached an unbearable peak on a date that will forever be etched in our hearts: October 7, 2023.
Since then, life has been unfolding within a fog, its density shifting according to circumstances.
Soldiers are killed and wounded. Hostages return. The fallen are brought home. And still, there are hostages and fallen soldiers being held in Gaza, their fate dependent on decisions made by people who struggle to make the right and necessary choices.
Many people find themselves in the streets almost every day—standing in solidarity with the families of the hostages, trying to release pain, to give voice to what hurts so deeply inside.
I, too, try to be in the streets as much as possible—both to stand in solidarity and to document.
My release, my anger, finds its way through my photographs.
I know it may not be enough, or truly make a difference, but this is my way. And I hope that now and then, one of my images touches someone, conveys a message, and perhaps even sparks a moment of reflection.
Photo: Eitan Riklis
There is no darkness without light, and no light without darkness. Life is made up of this interplay, and this is how I see the world photographically as well.
It is far more compelling to photograph an image that brings darkness (shadow) and light together—one that tells a story through the tension and balance between the two.
Photography has always been a source of light in my life, and it continues to be so even after many years—both as a profession, working in video and stills, and as a way of life, especially as a portrait, street, and urban photographer.
The camera is always with me when I wander through the urban environment, and most of my images are unplanned—moments that simply appeared along my path.
Photo: Eitan Riklis
Recently, as part of those points of light, I revisited many photographs from the past few years and gathered some of them on my website - both in agallery of works available for purchaseand in astreet photography gallery featuring images from around the world.
I am still in the process of reviewing and refining this body of work, and I hope to present some of these photographs in an exhibition at my studio.
Photo: Eitan Riklis
Another point of light is that after a long period, I’m planning to bring back my street photography workshops in Tel Aviv, followed by New York Frame of Mind — a five-day urban photography workshop taking place in New York during the last week of October.
New York is my favorite city, and wandering through it with a camera is pure joy for me. Tel Aviv is, of course, also a city I love. And despite the pain that is present on every corner these days, there are still points of light within it, and an ongoing attempt to live alongside the pain.
I hope I’ve managed to weave together darkness and light, to leave you with food for thought and a desire to keep following my work — and to encourage you to go out and do whatever you can so that everyone comes home.
Photo: Eitan Riklis
