OFIR BERMAN - A SPACE BETWEEN WHAT HAS BEEN AND WHAT IS YET TO COME.
In conversation with the Israel based photographer Ofir Berman.
‘Adi, playing with her friend and covering herself in the sand’. Ofir Berman
When I look at your work I notice that you return to a feeling of domesticity and of people going about their lives, why are you interested in documenting 'the everyday'?
I believe that the everyday moments of people can reveal profound insights about a society, its culture, and its values. These seemingly ordinary moments often hold hidden narratives, emotions, and stories that can be overlooked or taken for granted. I mean, It can't be more real and authentic than that.
Many of your published images focus on anticipation - whether individual or collective there is a real sense of the impending - why are you drawn to that specific state?
The state of anticipation holds a special fascination because that is where all emotions, possibilities, and narratives converge. Anticipation is a state of transition, a threshold between what has been and what is yet to come. It carries a sense of curiosity or even tension because when looking at a picture there is no way of really knowing what is about to happen or how the story will end, but one can imagine.
‘A Palestinian woman walking through a checkpoint between the West Bank and Jerusalem’. Ofir Berman.
Your style of image varies but there is a specific feeling of calm which is very pronounced visually within your work as a whole - why are you drawn to an atmosphere of stillness?
In recent years I started shooting with a medium format analog camera, which also dictates the way I photograph. For me, using a medium format film camera involves a more deliberate and calculated process, as it requires careful observation of the scene before capturing the image. It gives me the opportunity to fully immerse myself in the scene, noticing intricate details and capturing the essence of the moment. I feel that there is an intriguing contrast between the calmness and tranquility that the photos project, compared to the chaotic nature of modern life. Finding moments of silence, observation, and intimacy are precious or as the saying goes: STILL waters run deep - a bit like me.
The community is a central narrative within your imagery, why do you feel you are drawn back to documenting groups of people?
I believe that our identities and experiences are intertwined with the communities we belong to. Communities shape our values, traditions, and social interactions, and they play a significant role in shaping who we are as individuals.
As you can see in my work, I tend to photograph minorities, ethnic communities, and marginalized individuals or groups, with the intention of using this unique platform that I have as a photographer, to highlight social issues, support change and contribute to a more inclusive and equal society.
You have become a consistent voice from Israel with your work - how do you feel about this and do you feel a responsibility to communicate specific narratives?
When it comes to my work for media and newspapers, as a photographer, I don't always have control over the specific story that are being covered. This can be sometimes challenging when it comes to expressing my own creative vision.
Israel is both a complicated and controversial country, and being born and raised here has given me a deep understanding, or better say knowledge of the complexities and nuances of this place where I live. The responsibility I feel as a photographer stems from this knowledge and connection to the country and its people.
I have access to information and experiences that others do not have, and this drives me to approach my work, especially my personal one, with a sense of integrity, striving to create stories that convey reality in a more humane, equal, and compassionate way.
‘Women enjoying the last few hours before sunset at the beach. Ofir Berman
Ofir Berman is a contributing artist to issue two of M-A (A SPACE BETWEEN) Magazine - available now: shop