Gallery | Format | STREET PHOTOGRAPHY IN THE WORLD

Researched by Roberta Pastore

GABI BEN AVRAHAM

When did you start a passion for the photography?

It all started long ago but I did not know it was “it”. During the1980’s I photographed using film cameras. Even then I used towonder in the streets of Tel Aviv in search of the extraordinary andthe surreal. I then stopped and have not touched a camera for 20years until I received a digital camera as a gift for my birthday frommy wife 4 years ago. The rest is history.

What was your first camera?

I started with Nikon D-90 and Sigma 10-20 mm lens, then I switchedto Nikon D-800 with a 24 mm prime lens. Now I am using Fuji xt1. Ibelieve that SF needs wide lens and I work only with prime lens.

What is photography to you?

And what should not be instead? Photography for me is my way of looking at the world around me,whereby I can express my feelings and show the world from mypoint of view .

Which masters of photography inspires you ?

The most inspiring photographers for me are: Henri Cartier-Bresson, Alex Webb, Felix Lupa, Steve McCurry.

What is your the best shot and what does it represent for you ?

Knowing what will happen 5 minutes later. It is an adventure. I have my favorite places and I never come with the same photos. It is always different: the people, the light and shadows, the atmosphere.This is the fun part. The hard part is when I come home and try tomake a selection of the best photos. I try to make minimal editing in the post-processing stage . I can not point my finger at one specific shot. I attach a color seriesfrom my last visit to Cuba.

What is your relationship with the street and the people who are in your shots?

The street is not a studio. Sometimes I stand and wait for things toconverge – a cyclist, a dancer, a child – moving along. They are not aware that they are moving towards a certain object, but I am. Viathe camera lens I am constantly looking around me, searching forthat ‘decisive’ moment that will never return, unless I catch it. Whenpushing the button, I try to make some sense, restore order to thechaotic scheme of things in the composition. The components’speak’ with each other in a special dialogue, either by color, shape,or light. Capturing the elusive, special moment after which thingswill never be the same and making it eternal – that is my goal.Forgotten, transparent people in urban surroundings are beinggranted their moment of grace. The shadows, fragile outlines, reflections within daily lives that are not noticed in the busy and thick urban landscape and sometimes are even crushed by it – these are precious to me.