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Documenting Israel, Photographer Kevin Michael Schmitz Discovers the Real Middle East

A sonic boom rips through the air as I walk the streets of a small town near Tel Aviv. I watch the people around me as they react. Some are startled, looking scared, thinking that shelling will start soon, while most of the Israelis seem to go about their business as usual. This is everyday life in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in the West Bank and on up to the Golan Heights in the North.

As Ashkelon and Ashdod are hammered with rockets every day, Universities are closing, and people are starting to evacuate the area and head up to Tel Aviv. Just outside of the rocket radius from the Hamas in Gaza, Tel Aviv remains a safe place to explore. In fact, the city felt alive with culture. I proceeded through a street market and headed into south Tel Aviv, known as Old Jaffa. This ancient city dotted with Muslim Minarets and Jewish Temples was one of the most ancient ports in the world dating back to 7,500 BCE. I photographed the architecture of this magnificent city and captured the glow of light through a medieval fortress just before sunset.

I set out to create a photographic story of the Israeli people’s feelings and the day-to-day life of a nation constantly at war. This was a different view of Israel than what has been shown in the news.

The weathered face of the rabbi in front of the Wailing Wall exudes a sense of perseverance and acceptance of life in the West Bank. What I witnessed in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv as I traveled through the country of Israel was something more in-depth: I began to understand the Middle East.

believe it is of vital importance in understanding foreign cultures and conflicts to travel to them and see what is happening first hand. Civilians on the ground have a unique perspective that is often overlooked. The culture of Israel is so complex with such ancient history — it is vital to document in photographs, and tell the stories of the people.

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