Ilan Bresler Photography

Jewish Penicillin

2012-01-22T22:49:00.000+02:00

Saturday morning - A beautiful morning.
How was your weekend?

Light and Shapes

2011-12-02T16:13:00.000+02:00

It's been more than six months since last update.
I miss this...

Pffffff

2011-05-09T15:32:00.000+03:00

I need a rest. I really miss Barcelona. Italy next? Or maybe somewhere in Germany? Paris?
Where would you go?

La Familia

2011-03-15T15:37:00.000+02:00

They look dangerous, don't they?
But they were having fun.
Photo lies ;)

Camera loves you!

2011-03-01T21:02:00.000+02:00

I really needed this photo to lift my spirits. Hope it does the same to you :)

(Late) Summer Lovin'

2011-02-03T16:23:00.000+02:00

2011. Cool :)
And now I'm 29 years old. Also cool. Although now I feel the burden of years :)

Serenity

2011-01-01T19:09:00.000+02:00

Happy (and serene) 2011!

Faith

2010-11-23T22:42:00.000+02:00

Tired.
How you doin'?

We Have a Winner!

2010-11-13T17:54:00.000+02:00

Thank you guys for participating in the SUPER DUPER ONCE IN A LIFETIME GIVEAWAY

I won't hold you in suspense. Here are the winners -

1st Place!

Tommie Lehane (aka @EyeBlinks) with his tweet - "I love to do it from the hip!..." - I can totally relate to that :)

2nd place!
Paul Roberts and his "I love it first thing in the morning" message on my Facebook page. And boy, can I relate to that :)

I will contact you both for your mailing addresses.

Thank you all again! Have a great week!

Giveaway!

2010-11-02T14:49:00.004+02:00

I know it's been awhile. But I've got a good reason and few things to tell you that (hopefully) will smooth the long wait and won't compromise our relationship. I know I haven't called, but... let's be honest, when was the last time you brought me flowers?

Ok, foolishness aside :)

What we got here today is a

"SUPER DUPER ONCE IN A LIFETIME GIVEAWAY THAT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIVES FOR EVER".

I think I could have been a really good salesman.

So, what are we talking about here?
The first prize winner will receive the perfect (street) photography kit that includes:
1) The ultimate guide - The Digital Photography book (volume 1) by Scott Kelby (Kelby Training)
2) The awesome street photography must have book - PUBLICATION #1 Inspiration by Nick Turpin Publishing
3) The amazing "VisionMongers: Making a Life and a Living in Photography" by the talented David duChemin
AND!!
4) An exclusive copy of his latest book - DISORDER by one of the most talented photographers I know -Tim Topple

Of course, I won't neglect second place and the second place winner will receive:
1) The Digital Photography book (volume 1) by Scott Kelby (Kelby Training)
2) "VisionMongers: Making a Life and a Living in Photography" by David duChemin

Now that we know what's the prizes are, how do you win them?

Easy.

Remember that campaign on Facebook? "I like it on the floor", "I love it on the chair" statuses women had on their walls for the Breast Cancer awareness months? Well, I know my 'cause' is not as serious, but the result might be funny -

If you are on Twitter, just tweet your favorite place or surrounding for taking photos followed by a hashtag #TogsBooks (for me to find it later for the prizes) and a URL back to this post.
For example - "I love it when there are old people around me! #PhotogsBooks http://bit.ly/a1d7s0"

If you are on Facebook, just add your favorite place/situation as a comment to the post on my Facebook page

And of course, you can always comment on this post, here on my blog leaving your favorite place/situation as a comment.

RULES -
ANYONE can participate. From any place on the globe. You can post/tweet as many messages as you'd like on all platforms (Twitter/Facebook/my blog) - The more you post, more chances of winning.
The most original/funny messages will win the first and the second places.
The contest starts today (2/11/10) and will end on (10/11/10). Winners will be published here and prizes will be sent immediately.

Good luck and have fun!

I would like to thank Kelby Training, Nick Turpin Publishing, David duChemin and Tim Topple for supporting this giveaway!

Calmness

2010-09-08T17:49:00.000+03:00

Someone told me once - "Taking a good photo, doesn't make you a good photographer. Selecting to show the correct one does."

I'm not saying that all the photos I choose to present are 'good'. But once I knew I'm over the technical side of photography, all is left is to know how to choose the best photo from a photo session I had.

Anyone can take a camera today - and many actually do. Digital age brought a blizzard of pixels and our lives are being captured and archived in a mind-blowing rate. But to know how to choose the special moments, those unique glimpses of LIFE - That's art.

How do I rate a good photo? Take 100 'good' photographers and put them in the exact same place. How many will see and capture the moment I did? If 60 or more, then it's not a very special moment. if only 10 or less... Then maybe I got something here.

How do you select the photos you present?

P.S - I've decided to join the human race and now I too have a Facebook page :)
Check it out, leave comments and 'Likes' if you feel like it!

Shana Tova Everybody!

Light

2010-08-09T17:13:00.001+03:00

This photo is a part of a 'Shared Theme' project by Andrew Moore (my works can be seen under 'Light' category)
This photo is one my first attempts in film for the past... I don't know, 15 years? Probably more, my film camera died when I was in 7th grade or so.

Anyway, I usually write about photography here, but now I want to 'touch' some other topic although related.

Criticism.

For my works, I will always prefer a critical point of view than praise. There is very little I can learn from praise, and (good) critical comment might change and broaden my perspective.

The problem is that most people (or maybe it's just us, photobloggers? ;)) are easily offended, so every comment that include even the slightest touch of criticism must include an apology as well. Why is that?
Few weeks ago I criticized a photo. Not something too major just made an offer that in my opinion, could make the final result better. It ended up in an angry email and my comment was deleted. I mean... Come on! I'm sure even Ansel Adams could enjoy hearing other opinions.

Guys, please - Always feel free to criticize my works. In worst case scenario it will lead to a fascinating debate we can all learn from. No need to apologize :)

Marriage

2010-07-27T14:38:00.000+03:00

It's been long. Too long. I missed my blog and I missed you, dear visitors :)
I needed some time to sort things out in my life and I hope I'm past that now. Stuff feels kind of 'sorted' and I'm more... mature(?) now. Not sure it's the right word, but it sure feels like it.

Anyway, back to business - Photography!
I'm not a big fan of staged photography but David LaChapelle's exhibition is now in Israel and it got me in the mood. (Bonus - link to Jeff Wall's exhibition. If you are not familiar with his works, now it's a good time for a visit)
I always felt that staged photography is less challenging (than street photography, for example)- On the street you got only one chance to get the frame right - "you blink, you miss" and the moment will never occur again.
In staged photography even if you paying the models by the hour and it costs you your weekly salary, you still got at least a full hour of endless tries and re-shoots. Sure, you're still limited by your imagination, and as you can see from LaChapelles works in order to be successful in this 'niche' you need tons of it, but you can always try again (and again and again). Just doesn't feel like a challenge. Or maybe I'm not looking at it from the right angle?

What do you think about it?

P.S

I've been out from my 'social networking life' for almost a year. For the past few weeks, I'm trying to get back to it, and I went to visit my favorite blogs from my RSS list (just seems more polite to visit the neighbors first :)). I was saddened to find out how many of the blogs are just... gone. I had over 300 photoblogs on my list and I can say that about 10%-15% of them are no longer alive.
So please, if you got a link to a wonderful photoblog that you would like to share, don't hesitate to post the link in your comment ("Using our new and shiny comment system!") :)

Ha!

2010-06-21T14:57:00.000+03:00

Missed it.

Thanks guys for your supportive messages and comments.
Going through some rough time but I'm really trying to get back on my feet.

If you got funny photos to share, please add a link in your comment. Always helps the mood :)

Gold

2010-01-18T15:24:00.000+02:00

Nature photography.
It's not so hard to have 'good' photos when you take scenery shots, doesn't it?

The nature is always there. If the exposure is incorrect, just shoot another frame. It's tougher when animals involved, obviously, but scenery shots?

Ansal Adams is the THE master of nature/scenery/perfect exposure photography. But today, when we all use digital cameras and we have an instant results, where is the challenge in this (niche of) photography?

Well... It does looks good, no doubt about it.

2010!

2009-12-31T15:32:00.001+02:00

Wow.

Another year has ended. Another decade has ended!

And I would really like to... Thank you! :)

Thank you for visiting.
Thank you for coming back.
Thank you for following.
Thank you for commenting.
Thank you for your critics and thank you for your compliments.

Your comments and photos are my inspiration.

Have a great New Year to you and your loved ones. May all your wishes come true and all your photos enter the next book of 'The Masters of Photography'. May each of your pixels be sharp, perfectly exposed and white balanced :)

I didn't prepare a '(My) Best 2009 photos' list, but I do have a new 'Gallery' link (and layout)! Just click the 'Gallery' link at the upper (or/and lower) left part of the blog.

And.......

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2010!!

And if the photo above looks familiar - check out the '2009!' photo ;)

P.S

Get ready... A HUGE surprise is coming to my blog and Twitter followers! ;)

Caged

2009-12-15T15:23:00.000+02:00

The rumor has it that 2009 is almost over.

Photography-vise I feel that this was a ... slow year.
I took only few hundred photos, most of them are not so good. I try not to feel disappointed though, because there is something to learn from every failed attempt.
The muse seems to take few days off and my creativity feels like that poor fella in the photo above. Caged.

The web/Twitter is full of 'Top [insert number] [insert topic] list!' summarizing this year. I can't make a list of 'Best Photos of 2009' (but I sure feel that I can make a 'Worst Photos of 2009' list *bad humor*) - so I'll ask you, dear readers - Please, share your best photo of the year in the comment box below - Whether it's yours or a photo you saw on another photoblog.

P.S

An interesting post I've read this week by the multi-talented @gallarotti - 'The Future of Photobooks' - Makes you think, doesn't it?

Kiss

2009-12-03T17:22:00.002+02:00

Maybe I was bit too blunt in my previous post.
My opinion about daily photoblogs is (except the fact that it's my opinion, and who am I to judge?) that if it's a stage to share your works with visitors – for their comments and criticism – You should also take in consideration the quality of the uploaded works.
There are different kinds of blogs; some tend to the artistic side others to more of a personal side. Reading your comments (specifically Asaf Karagila, Glenn, Daina, Mahbubur Rahman, Xavi Heredia and the Anonymous Lisa) – Made me realize that my words might have offended few of you and I sincerely apologize for that.
I never meant to hint that each photo I upload here is a piece of priceless art, but I do strive to choose the best photo I can for the weekly (now, most of the time it's bi-weekly) post. This weekly selection process of a photo, for me, is not less important that taking one.

Now, next topic – A real story about how few seconds changed my photo approach and made me spend few thousands shekels.

Imagine – Early sunny morning. Big crowd stands near a late to be opened bank. People grumble at the closed doors.
In the middle of all this fuss (just next to me) stands a guy - About 45 years old, unshaved, uncombed greasy hair, a hypnotizing smile with a mixture of black and gold teeth, dirty slippers, dirty pair of torn jeans and a 'grayish used to be whitish" t-shirt with a big "34" in front. So far, nothing unusual.

Suddenly. A shout from the back and our shining hero turns towards the caller. He raises his hands in welcome and a new figure approaches. A man about 40 with spotless white shoes, neatly ironed white pants, white blazer, cleanly shaved and with hair gel in his black locks. Perfect white teeth. And most importantly - a white t-shirt underneath his opened jacked with a big "35" number on it.

I though I was going to faint. I felt a huge bubble of laugh building up inside me while in the same time I felt like crying because I didn't had any kind of light capturing device on me. The meeting of these "versions" was a painful sight for a photographer without a camera.
On that date, I've made a promise to myself – From this day forward thy shell never roam the streets without a camera.

DLSR is way too bulky for this, so got myself a Ricoh GX200.

What missed frame caused you to curse the gods for forgetting your camera?

Long Week

2009-11-18T15:26:00.000+02:00

I won't muse about photography today. Today, it's all about the photobloggers.

For the last three weeks or so I was buried in work and college studies*. It's not easy to feel so disconnected - No Twitter, Facebook, Blog... oh, and that new kid in town - Google Wave.
So my only 'solace' was my RSS list - It doesn't expect an immediate response and I can go through my list every time I got few spare seconds. There are about 140 (magical number?) RSS feeds on my list and 90 of these are photoblogs.

I usually don't go over the photoblogs as I keep the feeds unread till I can comment the photos I enjoy. I left the photoblogs list untouched for two weeks. When I checked it during last weekend, I was sure something broke in my Google Reader counter - More than 1700 new posts. From 90 blogs. In 14 days. That's about 1.34 photos a day from each blog*!

I guess I'm in minority but I don't think photobloggers should post on daily basis. Even 'regular' bloggers find it hard to keep up with a high quality posts and many of the daily blogs are ran by more than one author.
But photography? Photo a day? I mean, even that guy said -

"Twelve significant photographs in any one year is a good crop" - Ansal Adam

- And that surely makes me feel 'cheap' knowing that I've uploaded 52 photos a year (I got a weekly blog, yes?). But daily? I know some photographers upload their past works (most of my uploads are photos from the last 6 years) but some... How much quality works can one expect from a '365 project'?

The fact that we live in a digital world when there might be only few seconds from the shutter release to uploading new post shouldn't cloud our judgment when we chose a photo for our blog. Knowing to chose the best frame from hundreds of others might be even more important than having a great 'eye' for photography.

Plus, I really believe that each -selected- photo should get it's respect. Let the photo shine on your main page for more than few hours, let as many people possible to enjoy it and not getting lost in your archives. We, photobloggers, can't really generate that many keywords that will 'lure' new visitors from search engines. All we got to excel in, are our works.

Wow. For a photoblogger I sure blab too much*. Again.

Oh. And I'm featured in 'Artist Watch'! Thank you Lethe (@escapeintolife)!

----
* See how the photo fits here? :)

Lexus

2009-10-29T15:28:00.004+02:00

- Yes, it's Infinity, I know :) -

There are different layers in Street Photography photo - And the more layers (lets call them Dynamic Points of Interest? - 'DPoI' scale) there are in photo, the better it is. Or is it?

I'll try to explain this confusing theory of mine -
For example, the photo above. It's a story of two perfectly obvious and distinct DPoI's - The beggar (poor) in contrast with the Lexus (rich). Pretty simple, actually. Not the best of my works. What makes it 'blog worthy' is the fact that it's a 'moment'. Second later, the dimensions 'broke' - car left.
The fact that both are distinct and obvious, makes it's a rather plain photo. That's, by the way, the reason why we love taking photos of homeless people. They make a great DPoI ("Dynamic Points of Interest", yes?)

Now, let's observe this photo, I've encountered a few days ago on Twitter - "Metamorphosis" by Dave Taggart - No doubt it got a 'WOW!' factor, but it also got only one DPoI - The old man is dynamic, but the graffiti is static.
It means, that if you got a good (good = got a photo potential) location, all you need to do is wait for the right DPoI to arrive to complete the scene.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying it's easy or 'bad'. Dave's photo is great (one of those I wish were my photos) but I do say that if you can spot such locations, these photos are more easily achieved than photos with multi DPoIs'.

Having said that here is an ultimate single DPoI photo - iN-Public | Nils Jorgensen - That's location not many will identify is a 'good potential'.
His gallery is amazing, as I've mention numerous times on numerous posts in the past.

Of course, it has to be more complicated than that. See for example this classic photo by the Master Henri Cartier-Bresson - It got only one DPoI, yes, but the whole composition, every element in the photo, is there to support it. All the lines are connected in a dynamic movement - That's a level of street photography I will spend the rest of my life to achieve.

The examples above were given for black and white photography. When you add color to the mixture, it get's even more complicated - Here and here. Add light... You get the picture. Photo.

Maybe I'll switch to Macro photography :)

P.S - Last week my photoblog was added to the much dignified list of blogs featuring on Megapixeld.com - Thank you, Scott (@nuwomb)

Each to his own

2009-10-20T15:39:00.001+02:00

Not once we've talked about street photography.
I truly believe that it's the most interesting and satisfying niche in the world of photography - I'm not saying that to start that old debate all over again, I'm just stating my own personal opinion.

Looking at all the nature/scenery shots I keep wondering how many other photographers have the exactly same 'super-duper-colorful-macro' or how many others have the almost exact same 'self-posing-processing-ala-Polaroid' photos.

I judge a good photo by the probability that another photographer will take a similar one. A fleeing moment on the street, is not reproducible. Never. It's unique.

To a bit different but similar topic - Wanted to share with you list of photoblogs/galleries that are street photography related and I find them inspiring.

10 Street Photography blogs and galleries you probably weren't familiar with -

Davide Michaels
Felix Lupa
Elaine Vallet
Nils Jorgensen
Markus Hartel (@hrtl)
Julia Komissarof
Alex Glickman
Tommie Lehane (@EyeBlinks)
John Goldsmith (@waxypoe)
Robert M Johnson (@robertmjohnson)

Mwwaah!

2009-10-12T15:48:00.001+02:00

Welcome to my semi-new design!

For the last year or so I was planning to move my blog from Blogger to Wordpress but failed to find a good enough designer for the mission (read - No budget).

So, I decided to stay on Blogger platform, but update my previous design.
The colors and the main features remained more or less the same, plus now it's possible to share the posts on social networks (it's a new and very hip thing, I heard)

Today's photo is just a big kiss to all my visitors. And another opportunity for me to say 'Thank you!' for coming back, taking the time to go over my works and comment my 'light doodles' (aka - photos) - Hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Update! Just found out that my blog been Bzzzz'd again! Thank you, Ron(@rtd13)!

Tractors Revenge

2009-10-01T10:07:00.012+02:00

I'm not sure why I enjoy this photo.
It's just looks... complete, somehow. All the elements (colors, shapes and the figures) appear in balance and even though the moment itself is not strong enough, something in this frame always catches my attention.
Not one of my 'best' works, but I kinda like it.

Such mundane moments always reminds me the works of William Eggleston. It took me a while to warm up to his style, but when I did, his way of seeing life around him, changed my perspective as well. Try it ;)

This week's favorite blog is actually two blogs and both are connected to the theme of the post (aka 'Mundane moments').
The first one is an excellent photoblog by David Lindley - "low revolution". David uses mostly film/lomo and he does that masterfully.
And the other is i.n.galbraith by @ingalbraith.
When I visit these photoblogs, I'm always amazed at how blind I'm during my daily routines and I just keep wondering why when I try to take such frames, they don't look as good.

If you got such mundane fragment, link them in the comments!

One last thing. I don't think I asked this yet, but.... Can you please vote for me? :)

P.S
If you were curious about the title - The red poster says Tractor's Revenge (Hebrew) - name of an Israeli music band.

Final Touch

2009-09-23T13:03:00.006+03:00

I know, I know. Flowers!

So many times I wrote on this blog how much I dislike 'Flickr's Explore kind of photos' and here I am posting one.

There is a perfectly good explanation for this, I swear!
First of all, it's been almost three months since I took my last photo and I got kind of rusty, but even more important - These flowers are the final touch in my new apartment. That's it, I'm done.
All in place, sitting on the couch, legs resting on the table, watching my big screen TV and these flowers were given to me by my new neighbors as a welcoming gift. Life is good.

Of course, that raises an interesting issue - How much are we affected by the feeling the photo raises in us when it was taken, when we come to test the result?
Photo (any other piece of art) suppose to reveal artists' inner world. But if the world is represented by something so mundane and cliche like bouquet of flowers? Or maybe the story behind this is just an excuse for me to upload such a ... bad(?)... photo?

To other matters - This weeks' favorite blog is of a very talented photographer that goes by the name - Francesco Gallarotti (or @gallarotti on Twitter). When looking at his photos, you must read his posts as well. Will always makes you think. And feel inspired. Plus - You can always enjoy his online photo magazine - Green Tea Gallery

Summer Evening

2009-09-16T10:19:00.005+03:00

Inspiration.
Artists' most important tool and the only thing that drives an artist forwards (money can do that too, I guess, but let's leave that for another discussion).

Sometimes I hit a 'dry season'. Going around with a camera almost like a blind person. Can't 'see' anything around me, the frames I take are weak and I hurry to erase them so I won't shame myself if someone else will see them.

As frustrating as it sounds, I actually learned to enjoy such times. When the 'dry' season is over, I always feel like I have broken through some kind of barrier, whether it's in the way I look at the world, or how I percept photography.

I don't fight the lack of inspiration. I adopt it as a tool, that eventually will pass and will sharpen/enhance/modify my photo results.

During this time, I enjoy looking on the works of others. And the whole point of the post was to say that I find inspiration not only in photography - One of my favorite artists and a true master of light is the painter Edward Hopper.

Observing his work, I just can't stop admiring the way he 'saw' light. In our digital world, we fight to bring out the dark areas, we create HDR images, we pray we had the same tonal range as film, but this painter - He embraced the harsh light. He used it as a tool. In many of my photos I try to imitate him.

And maybe it's the 'cure' for these dry times? Just try to imitate the masters?

What inspire you? Who is your favorite artist?

For this weeks favorite blog I will mention a great photographer I met on Flickr (yes, yes, after all my rant about the quality of photographers on Flicker, there are few very good ones). His name is Alex Glickman (Rundadar) and he is an Israeli street photographer with a rare quality that resembles many works of the Masters.

Enjoy!