Comments on: julia komissaroff – kitab al-balad http://www.burnmagazine.org/essays/2009/07/julia-komissaroff-kitab-al-balad/ burn is an online feature for emerging photographers worldwide. burn is curated by magnum photographer david alan harvey. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 23:17:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: OZ http://www.burnmagazine.org/essays/2009/07/julia-komissaroff-kitab-al-balad/comment-page-1/#comment-47245 OZ Mon, 03 Aug 2009 11:05:23 +0000 http://www.burnmagazine.org/?p=3823#comment-47245 First of all it seems that the pictures was all taken in Palestine and not in Israel (Lol: to Bob), even the country doesn't exist officialy. I would tell this highly to help people beeing usefull with that name:Palestine This report could have been taken in a American indians camp... Second, football, Tsahal control, baker, cards, etc... She seem to be honnest, get lost from the safari photo and just take in pictures what everybody see when we go there... Newspaper always goes to the same place and call all plastinian a "terrorist" all kids are "chebabs" and throw stones, even you have , like in Gaza more than 60 % of the population that fit the Chebabs category, wich make around 600000 kids....and never more than 1000 kids who throw stones...it's the proportion of our occidental press which is showing the reality there. They lie but it's like that since the begining of photography...two century ago... So this work is great and honnest, in that way it will never be published like that but it's also time to start to shots what people don't see and more go into the feeling of what going on there... Photography is a medium that can allow us to go deeper... Keep up the destination, all wall are full of blood there, even rocks have an history...and shot shot everything you feel...not see... First of all it seems that the pictures was all taken in Palestine and not in Israel (Lol: to Bob), even the country doesn’t exist officialy. I would tell this highly to help people beeing usefull with that name:Palestine
This report could have been taken in a American indians camp…

Second, football, Tsahal control, baker, cards, etc… She seem to be honnest, get lost from the safari photo and just take in pictures what everybody see when we go there…

Newspaper always goes to the same place and call all plastinian a “terrorist” all kids are “chebabs” and throw stones, even you have , like in Gaza more than 60 % of the population that fit the Chebabs category, wich make around 600000 kids….and never more than 1000 kids who throw stones…it’s the proportion of our occidental press which is showing the reality there. They lie but it’s like that since the begining of photography…two century ago…

So this work is great and honnest, in that way it will never be published like that but it’s also time to start to shots what people don’t see and more go into the feeling of what going on there…

Photography is a medium that can allow us to go deeper…

Keep up the destination, all wall are full of blood there, even rocks have an history…and shot shot everything you feel…not see…

]]> By: jope http://www.burnmagazine.org/essays/2009/07/julia-komissaroff-kitab-al-balad/comment-page-1/#comment-47200 jope Sun, 02 Aug 2009 16:48:13 +0000 http://www.burnmagazine.org/?p=3823#comment-47200 In response to people who do not feel Julia's work is "deep enough" or "just touching the surface of things"... "many don’t go beyond what one would expect from a touristic photographer" I'm not sure why anyone would say this. These photographs are pure.. they have an essence of the medium. Julia has an eye for what will look good in a photograph. It might not be her intention to go "beyond the surface." "11 years of holiday snaps from the troubled land are powerless" Powerless? What power do you want these photographs to have? Maybe you're looking in the wrong place, these photographs may not have an "intention" or "message" as people would so like to believe. For me I enjoy these photos immensely for what they -are- ... individual moments in time.. no message..no intention behind them... This is one of the best compilations of photographs I have seen on BURN. A "Book of the city" "the story how we became the -one-. 
Some time ago conflict and politics where -important to me-, now I just
 enjoy good tea with menta leaves, looking at old men and children. Doing what I do the best – my photography." These photos show exactly what Julia has written in her statement.... nothing about "politics" nothing about "conflict" ... just the MOMENT of these happenings. Pure photography in my opinion. Thank you Julia -JP In response to people who do not feel Julia’s work is “deep enough” or “just touching the surface of things”…

“many don’t go beyond what one would expect from a touristic photographer”

I’m not sure why anyone would say this. These photographs are pure.. they have an essence of the medium. Julia has an eye for what will look good in a photograph. It might not be her intention to go “beyond the surface.”

“11 years of holiday snaps from the troubled land are powerless”

Powerless? What power do you want these photographs to have? Maybe you’re looking in the wrong place, these photographs may not have an “intention” or “message” as people would so like to believe.

For me I enjoy these photos immensely for what they -are- … individual moments in time.. no message..no intention behind them… This is one of the best compilations of photographs I have seen on BURN.

A “Book of the city”

“the story how we became the -one-. 
Some time ago conflict and politics where -important to me-, now I just
 enjoy good tea with menta leaves, looking at old men and children. Doing what I do the best – my photography.”

These photos show exactly what Julia has written in her statement…. nothing about “politics” nothing about “conflict” … just the MOMENT of these happenings. Pure photography in my opinion.

Thank you Julia

-JP

]]> By: Patricia Lay-Dorsey http://www.burnmagazine.org/essays/2009/07/julia-komissaroff-kitab-al-balad/comment-page-1/#comment-47196 Patricia Lay-Dorsey Sun, 02 Aug 2009 03:08:41 +0000 http://www.burnmagazine.org/?p=3823#comment-47196 Excellent view into day-to-day life in Jerusalem. So often the images that come out of that city are filled with conflict. In Julia's photos we see a city that is complex, yes, but obviously livable. And what rich and vibrant photos these are! Julia may be a photojournalist but she has an artist's eye. Patricia Excellent view into day-to-day life in Jerusalem. So often the images that come out of that city are filled with conflict. In Julia’s photos we see a city that is complex, yes, but obviously livable. And what rich and vibrant photos these are! Julia may be a photojournalist but she has an artist’s eye.

Patricia

]]> By: Kenji Arimura http://www.burnmagazine.org/essays/2009/07/julia-komissaroff-kitab-al-balad/comment-page-1/#comment-47195 Kenji Arimura Sun, 02 Aug 2009 02:26:10 +0000 http://www.burnmagazine.org/?p=3823#comment-47195 Amazing work! Really like the action shots! well done!! Amazing work! Really like the action shots!

well done!!

]]> By: Kenneth Dickerman http://www.burnmagazine.org/essays/2009/07/julia-komissaroff-kitab-al-balad/comment-page-1/#comment-47189 Kenneth Dickerman Sat, 01 Aug 2009 19:59:38 +0000 http://www.burnmagazine.org/?p=3823#comment-47189 The pictures aren't bad. But they don't hit me in the gut. With the exception of the second picture, I find most of them to be pretty predictable. DAH constantly talks about the importance of authorship here (and previously on roadtrips). I guess I dont see any real authorship here. I see descriptive pictures about a place but I don't get a sense of why this place is important for the photographer. Like I said, the pictures are fine, they just don't reach down into my gut. Maybe I've just seen too many pictures from Jerusalem (maybe it's because I've been there so many times...). I don't know, maybe I'm just more partial to work like Tivadar Domaniczky's on the city and that region (http://viiphoto.com/vii_network.html). At any rate, all the best. The pictures aren’t bad. But they don’t hit me in the gut. With the exception of the second picture, I find most of them to be pretty predictable. DAH constantly talks about the importance of authorship here (and previously on roadtrips). I guess I dont see any real authorship here. I see descriptive pictures about a place but I don’t get a sense of why this place is important for the photographer. Like I said, the pictures are fine, they just don’t reach down into my gut. Maybe I’ve just seen too many pictures from Jerusalem (maybe it’s because I’ve been there so many times…). I don’t know, maybe I’m just more partial to work like Tivadar Domaniczky’s on the city and that region (http://viiphoto.com/vii_network.html). At any rate, all the best.

]]> By: Herve http://www.burnmagazine.org/essays/2009/07/julia-komissaroff-kitab-al-balad/comment-page-1/#comment-47187 Herve Sat, 01 Aug 2009 15:42:21 +0000 http://www.burnmagazine.org/?p=3823#comment-47187 I have looked at the essay a few times, and I must say I pretty much agree with Nathaniel's take on the pictures. More derivative than insightful. It all seems like hapahazard scenes you fell upon or chose, strolling here and there, many don't go beyond what one would expect from a touristic photographer (nothing wrong with that, but it underlines the outside looking in, "surface of things" approach), even the ones with the gunned uniformed men, where you seem to have crossed the street to snap at, between shots of a kid with a ball, then old men playing cards. Jerusalem is a city that has much resonance nowadays, geographically and politically, relative to the palestino-israeli shenanigan, showing some of that complexity, tension, duality, thru visual means (not just camera-reporting an arrest, a scuffle) is paramount for vibrant docu, photojournalist essaying. Some of the shots do indeed arrest us, their mood, nervousness do convey a climate, which for being understated (a quality in P.), do lift a veil and poke our imagination. i think of the first shot of card-playing with all the hands, or the one with the man glancing away with a (blood?) red carpet acting as curtain to a stage, behind him. Often with the same shuttering sleigh of hand, what difference, what magic there can be between capturing an impression, gleaned off the surface of things, and a mere snap of that surface! I have looked at the essay a few times, and I must say I pretty much agree with Nathaniel’s take on the pictures. More derivative than insightful. It all seems like hapahazard scenes you fell upon or chose, strolling here and there, many don’t go beyond what one would expect from a touristic photographer (nothing wrong with that, but it underlines the outside looking in, “surface of things” approach), even the ones with the gunned uniformed men, where you seem to have crossed the street to snap at, between shots of a kid with a ball, then old men playing cards.

Jerusalem is a city that has much resonance nowadays, geographically and politically, relative to the palestino-israeli shenanigan, showing some of that complexity, tension, duality, thru visual means (not just camera-reporting an arrest, a scuffle) is paramount for vibrant docu, photojournalist essaying.

Some of the shots do indeed arrest us, their mood, nervousness do convey a climate, which for being understated (a quality in P.), do lift a veil and poke our imagination. i think of the first shot of card-playing with all the hands, or the one with the man glancing away with a (blood?) red carpet acting as curtain to a stage, behind him. Often with the same shuttering sleigh of hand, what difference, what magic there can be between capturing an impression, gleaned off the surface of things, and a mere snap of that surface!

]]> By: frank Michael http://www.burnmagazine.org/essays/2009/07/julia-komissaroff-kitab-al-balad/comment-page-1/#comment-47180 frank Michael Sat, 01 Aug 2009 02:49:44 +0000 http://www.burnmagazine.org/?p=3823#comment-47180 Beautiful images in a provocative and volatile city. Beauty seems to be be found whenever we look closely or long enough. Congratulations and all the best, Frank Beautiful images in a provocative and volatile city. Beauty seems to be be found whenever we look closely or long enough.

Congratulations and all the best,

Frank

]]> By: medford http://www.burnmagazine.org/essays/2009/07/julia-komissaroff-kitab-al-balad/comment-page-1/#comment-47178 medford Sat, 01 Aug 2009 01:49:52 +0000 http://www.burnmagazine.org/?p=3823#comment-47178 Julia You are an ambassador with a camera.....beautiful work.....don't stop.....ever. medford taylor Julia

You are an ambassador with a camera…..beautiful work…..don’t stop…..ever.

medford taylor

]]> By: abele http://www.burnmagazine.org/essays/2009/07/julia-komissaroff-kitab-al-balad/comment-page-1/#comment-47175 abele Fri, 31 Jul 2009 22:58:53 +0000 http://www.burnmagazine.org/?p=3823#comment-47175 thank you for sharing your vivid vision! most of the images are outstanding: I would just remove #12, #22, #29, #31 and #32, which appear weaker imo. Great work! thank you for sharing your vivid vision! most of the images are outstanding: I would just remove #12, #22, #29, #31 and #32, which appear weaker imo.
Great work!

]]> By: Nathaniel McMahon http://www.burnmagazine.org/essays/2009/07/julia-komissaroff-kitab-al-balad/comment-page-1/#comment-47172 Nathaniel McMahon Fri, 31 Jul 2009 21:04:55 +0000 http://www.burnmagazine.org/?p=3823#comment-47172 Ok, sorry but time for some criticism. 11 years in this place, which has undergone so much change been in and out of the news so often. This is great stock photography, every picture could be put to any number of different stories, viewpoints, dispositions. Ones pictures either bolster or dismantle viewers views, 11 years of holiday snaps from the troubled land are powerless. Nothing challenging the stagnant views pervading our media. Cliche irony says nothing about society, capturing Nice colours, very wide lenes that make us feel like we are there with the explorer, look good in print, on sunday, in our armchairs, traveling no to far, from the tv. I'm an angry young man, but what troubles me is that after 11 years you have not developed something beyond journalism, what I mean is that nothing seems to have changed your relationship with the subject. None of these photos for me go beyond the surface of things (and therfore remain purely journalistic in their approach). Photography is a powerfull weapon, mainly now though in coercion. I still long to see photography that is challenging something ridiculous buried deep in our minds. Sorry Ok, sorry but time for some criticism.
11 years in this place, which has undergone so much change been in and out of the news so often.
This is great stock photography, every picture could be put to any number of different stories, viewpoints, dispositions. Ones pictures either bolster or dismantle viewers views, 11 years of holiday snaps from the troubled land are powerless. Nothing challenging the stagnant views pervading our media. Cliche irony says nothing about society, capturing Nice colours, very wide lenes that make us feel like we are there with the explorer, look good in print, on sunday, in our armchairs, traveling no to far, from the tv.
I’m an angry young man, but what troubles me is that after 11 years you have not developed something beyond journalism, what I mean is that nothing seems to have changed your relationship with the subject. None of these photos for me go beyond the surface of things (and therfore remain purely journalistic in their approach). Photography is a powerfull weapon, mainly now though in coercion. I still long to see photography that is challenging something ridiculous buried deep in our minds. Sorry

]]> By: Harry http://www.burnmagazine.org/essays/2009/07/julia-komissaroff-kitab-al-balad/comment-page-1/#comment-47167 Harry Fri, 31 Jul 2009 20:33:41 +0000 http://www.burnmagazine.org/?p=3823#comment-47167 Very nice, I particularly like the depth of a lot of the photos. Very nice, I particularly like the depth of a lot of the photos.

]]> By: Gustav Liliequist http://www.burnmagazine.org/essays/2009/07/julia-komissaroff-kitab-al-balad/comment-page-1/#comment-47160 Gustav Liliequist Fri, 31 Jul 2009 17:58:12 +0000 http://www.burnmagazine.org/?p=3823#comment-47160 Beautiful pictures in every way. I just love it. Beautiful pictures in every way. I just love it.

]]> By: Danny Ghitis http://www.burnmagazine.org/essays/2009/07/julia-komissaroff-kitab-al-balad/comment-page-1/#comment-47148 Danny Ghitis Fri, 31 Jul 2009 15:36:12 +0000 http://www.burnmagazine.org/?p=3823#comment-47148 Julia, I think you've got some beautiful images here. The description suggests this is a piece about the Jerusalem's Old City, not just East Jerusalem as it says on your website. Having spent time in the Old City myself, I know it is an incredibly diverse place, a haven for several major religions. What is posted here looks like only the Arab-Muslim quarter, and shows Israeli soldiers bullying people. While that is certainly an aspect of the Old City's story, it is hardly the whole story. Titles and captions may be a small detail, but I believe it's important to label work appropriately to avoid miscommunication in a situation that is so hotly debated. That said, I really enjoyed looking at your website and the way you clearly organize various viewpoints in Israel/Palestine. Julia, I think you’ve got some beautiful images here. The description suggests this is a piece about the Jerusalem’s Old City, not just East Jerusalem as it says on your website. Having spent time in the Old City myself, I know it is an incredibly diverse place, a haven for several major religions. What is posted here looks like only the Arab-Muslim quarter, and shows Israeli soldiers bullying people. While that is certainly an aspect of the Old City’s story, it is hardly the whole story. Titles and captions may be a small detail, but I believe it’s important to label work appropriately to avoid miscommunication in a situation that is so hotly debated. That said, I really enjoyed looking at your website and the way you clearly organize various viewpoints in Israel/Palestine.

]]> By: David Moses http://www.burnmagazine.org/essays/2009/07/julia-komissaroff-kitab-al-balad/comment-page-1/#comment-47138 David Moses Fri, 31 Jul 2009 13:31:22 +0000 http://www.burnmagazine.org/?p=3823#comment-47138 just wonderful. thanks so much for sharing it. i very much respect your approach to what you do, an inspiration to us all. just wonderful. thanks so much for sharing it. i very much respect your approach to what you do, an inspiration to us all.

]]> By: Anthony R.Z. http://www.burnmagazine.org/essays/2009/07/julia-komissaroff-kitab-al-balad/comment-page-1/#comment-47132 Anthony R.Z. Fri, 31 Jul 2009 11:13:48 +0000 http://www.burnmagazine.org/?p=3823#comment-47132 Great photography is great photography. What else to say. Great photography is great photography. What else to say.

]]> By: Ramon Mas http://www.burnmagazine.org/essays/2009/07/julia-komissaroff-kitab-al-balad/comment-page-1/#comment-47131 Ramon Mas Fri, 31 Jul 2009 07:31:57 +0000 http://www.burnmagazine.org/?p=3823#comment-47131 Incredible work Julia!! This is the kind of New Documentalism they tell you about at the school of photography, but that you don't get to see that often... Bravo! Incredible work Julia!! This is the kind of New Documentalism they tell you about at the school of photography, but that you don’t get to see that often… Bravo!

]]> By: vivek http://www.burnmagazine.org/essays/2009/07/julia-komissaroff-kitab-al-balad/comment-page-1/#comment-47104 vivek Fri, 31 Jul 2009 03:39:29 +0000 http://www.burnmagazine.org/?p=3823#comment-47104 Beautiful ..... Beautiful …..

]]> By: jasmine.lux. http://www.burnmagazine.org/essays/2009/07/julia-komissaroff-kitab-al-balad/comment-page-1/#comment-47102 jasmine.lux. Fri, 31 Jul 2009 01:44:23 +0000 http://www.burnmagazine.org/?p=3823#comment-47102 Beautiful images, moving, live, passionate, probably every day life... I love the vibrant colours, some images are stronger than others of course, but so well done. Beautiful images, moving, live, passionate, probably every day life… I love the vibrant colours, some images are stronger than others of course, but so well done.

]]> By: Gordon Lafleur http://www.burnmagazine.org/essays/2009/07/julia-komissaroff-kitab-al-balad/comment-page-1/#comment-47100 Gordon Lafleur Fri, 31 Jul 2009 01:22:04 +0000 http://www.burnmagazine.org/?p=3823#comment-47100 I'm speechless. You are an inspiration. Amazing work, masterful. amazing, I can't say enough. words fail. I’m speechless.

You are an inspiration. Amazing work, masterful. amazing, I can’t say enough. words fail.

]]> By: Bjarte Edvardsen http://www.burnmagazine.org/essays/2009/07/julia-komissaroff-kitab-al-balad/comment-page-1/#comment-47088 Bjarte Edvardsen Thu, 30 Jul 2009 21:44:21 +0000 http://www.burnmagazine.org/?p=3823#comment-47088 Everyday life is definitely what it is, the essay doesn't have a strict beginning -> conclusion progress, I like the way it just flows and covers a lot of the less obvious sides of the city. Nonetheless you get a lot of energy in the photographs from shooting in a city filled with that much contrasts... the pictures make me feel. Personally I never seem to get used to looking at wide-angle-lense-distortion, but it doesn't bother me too much in this essay. Looking forward to see how the book turns out. Everyday life is definitely what it is, the essay doesn’t have a strict beginning -> conclusion progress, I like the way it just flows and covers a lot of the less obvious sides of the city. Nonetheless you get a lot of energy in the photographs from shooting in a city filled with that much contrasts… the pictures make me feel. Personally I never seem to get used to looking at wide-angle-lense-distortion, but it doesn’t bother me too much in this essay.

Looking forward to see how the book turns out.

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