📸 Photo series #1: Purim celebrations in Jerusalem

5 minutes to read the first photo story by Viktor Gurevich.

Hey there! 👋

Today is the day, Sunday 14th of May, 2023, the first edition of StoryDrops is officially launched!

We are already more than 150 in the community while we haven't written anything yet. Thank you for your blind trust, it means a lot! 🙌

Before digging into today’s stunning street photography serie, a few words to briefly explain the purpose of StoryDrops for newcomers.

Why StoryDrops?

We believe that street and documentary photography has the power to capture the essence of our world, conveying emotions, stories, and messages that transcend language and cultural barriers. This newsletter will provide a means for individuals to explore new cultures or facets of the world that may be unfamiliar to them.

Up until now, we have not been able to pinpoint the perfect platform or format for displaying the exceptional work of street and documentary photographers worldwide. By sharing short photo stories, we aim to provide a fun and easy way to fully appreciate the art of photography and make it accessible to everyone.

Without further ado, make yourself comfortable with a good coffee and enjoy this first photo story! ✨

Photo story #1 by Viktor Gurevich

⏱️ Reading time: 4 min

Purim in Mea Shearim, Jerusalem

Mea Shearim is an ultra-Orthodox Jewish neighborhood in Jerusalem that follows strict religious guidelines. In Jewish tradition, the holiday of Purim commemorates the salvation of the Jewish people from Haman's plot to exterminate them in ancient Persia. On Purim, it is customary for Jews to engage in festive drinking and celebration.

The Adloyada is a Purim parade that takes place in Mea Shearim and other Jewish communities around the world. While alcohol is not explicitly prohibited during the Adloyada, the rabbis in Mea Shearim encourage participants to engage in the festivities in a responsible and respectful manner, consistent with the values of the community.

While the rabbis in Mea Shearim may discourage excessive drinking and rowdy behavior during the Adloyada, it is true that some young Orthodox religious people do get drunk during the festivities. This behavior may be seen as a way to express their joy and excitement during the holiday, or as a way to break from the strict religious guidelines that govern their daily lives.

Photos and writing by Viktor Gurevich.

Who’s behind the lens?

Describe yourself as a photographer

My name is Viktor and documentary photography is part of my identity.

Last twelve years I've been teaching History and Civics to High School students. All of my adult life I have been involved in literature and documentary films that deal with World, Israeli History and especially with the field of Human Rights.

In recent years, I have noticed that I was drawn more and more into documentary and street photography. I have discovered that I feel absolutely comfortable engaging in a conversation with strangers and making them open up to me and telling me their story. I believe that behind each person there is a unique story and many of the people that I photograph don’t feel intimated by my camera or my straight approach.

I'm a second generation of photographers. My father, Yuri Gurevich, was a well-known documentary photographer in the Soviet Union and had a successful exhibition in the museum of Islam in 1991 of his works in Uzbekistan, one year after we came to Israel.

Your favorite camera and lens

I shoot with fuji xt3 and my favorite lens is 16mm f1.4 by sigma art.

The last place you shot

Last place I shot was a burning leverage (biur chametz) ritual in Bnei Brak on the holy Jewish Holiday, eve of Pesach.

Your favorite moment of the day to shoot

My favorite moment of the day that I like to shoot is the golden hour before the sun sets, I like capturing the contrast of the light and the shadow on people's faces.

Portfolio and/or social media links

Instagram & Facebook : @viktor_gurevich

Portfolio : https://viktorphotography.pixieset.com/

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