Death & Rebirth, Neve Tzedek, Israel

Posted by dj.tigersprout (New York City, United States) on 24 June 2008 in Cityscape & Urban.

A follow-up photo of my enchanting exploration of Tel Aviv's first neighborhood clutched in the throes of 110 plus years of urban decay. Here a weathered strand of 'Israeli Day' flags garnish an ornate and semi corroded steel gate that serves as a back entrance to this privately owned Neve Tzedek apartment property. Above and beyond, at the current edge of new construction, 2 giant cranes loom over the rapid building site of a new and very grand business center. The juxtapositioning of new and old was almost too much to resist -- and the iconic Stars of David on the white and blue mini-flags grounded the composition in such relevant cultural / historical significance, i simply had to take the shot.

all work protected by Creative Commons

vfxy Photoblogs

Comments (20)

Michael Skorulski from Cigel, Slovakia

An excellent crisp composition showing some decay but the intention to rebuild!

24 Jun 2008 5:33am

@Michael Skorulski: G'day Michael! Is it morning for you? Must be... Such a trip - that i am just about to hit the sack when i get your comments (thanks by the way!). Yep, i am slowly working up this urban decay thing... more to come! Have a good one mate! :)

Florence from Paris, France

Totally agree with the former comment. Huge cranes ! Wow !

24 Jun 2008 6:14am

@Florence: Hehe... Thanks Flo! Yes, Tel Aviv is growing fast -- and they mean business! :)

Mike from Lichfield, United Kingdom

Another cracking good shot. You would not catch me up in one of those cranes..... Not a chance!

24 Jun 2008 6:31am

@Mike: Thanks Mike, and hehe -- yeah, i most certainly would not be found anywhere near that high above the blessed ground!! Not for work, not for play -- no chance! :)

Rhys from Darlington, United Kingdom

the old/the new, classic theme well captured.

24 Jun 2008 9:57am

@Rhys: Cheers Rhys! :)

Shun from Mühlheim am Main, Germany

Absolutely phantastic motive. The colors are terrific. The picture is simple but has a lot of charme.

24 Jun 2008 10:02am

@Shun: Cheers mate! Thank you kindly! :)

Dhini from Dordrecht, Netherlands

Fantastic

24 Jun 2008 10:08am

@Dhini: Cheers Dhini -- thanks for the comment! :)

fcofont from Valencia, Spain

Terrific composition! it looks like a scene of the Steven Spielberg film "War of the worlds" with those 'threatening' cranes. I love it :-)

24 Jun 2008 10:38am

@fcofont: Thanks mate! Hehe -- yes these cranes are enormously big! I can't imagine anyone wanting to go up in them! But imagine the view -- and amazing the photos someone could take from there! :)

yiannis krikis from thessaloniki, Greece

I like the title for this beautiful image

24 Jun 2008 2:47pm

@yiannis krikis: Cheers mate! :)

Observing from Local, Gibraltar

Interesting view, rebuilding on a limited space. Nice sharp image.

24 Jun 2008 3:36pm

@Observing: Thanks Mike! Hope your day is good today!

lucie from san francisco, United States

great colors and textures and interesting angle.

24 Jun 2008 5:07pm

@lucie: Thanks Lucie -- enjoy Australia!! :)

Thomas Griffioen from Panama

Great perspective and the flags are working well!

24 Jun 2008 6:33pm

@Thomas Griffioen: Thanks mate! are you back from traveling? i have been enjoying your photographs! Do you actually live in Panama? How lucky are you? :)

Evelyne Dubos from Le Mans, France

Great symbol that image of rebuilding !!

24 Jun 2008 9:47pm

@Evelyne Dubos: Thanks Evelyne -- Yes, Tel Aviv is going through an IT boom! They are building many buildings and expanding the financial areas!

pedro alexandre from loures, Portugal

i can see what you meen, i like the contrast a rusty gate and some hope on the rebuilding cranes, strangely what can men do to another men it blows my mind.

24 Jun 2008 10:16pm

@pedro alexandre: Thanks Pedro - Great to hear from you and thanks for the sincere comments! :)

Takeshin from kanagawa, Japan

Great shot.focus is perfect.

24 Jun 2008 10:54pm

@Takeshin: Thanks mate! Thank you kindly! :)

Persian King from Tehran, Iran

Looks familiar, like any city in the Mid East. Well composed and thanks for the commentary. It's always better to know the about a shot.

25 Jun 2008 3:32am

@Persian King: Thanks mate! Yes -- it was strange for me since most of my experience is of 'new' things... nothing is too old here (100 years being almost the oldest -- but even then we renovate). But it was amazing to see a place where so much of the original city was in decay... and allowed to decay gracefully. I know that there are places in Europe and the rest of the world -- as you say, the middle east -- where is this much more common. It fascinates me. :) Thanks for the comment!

Jatin from New Delhi, India

nice juxtaposition

25 Jun 2008 4:26am

@Jatin: cheers mate! :)

bluechameleon from Vancouver, Canada

Great contrasts of old and what will soon be new. The cranes are great!

25 Jun 2008 4:53am

@bluechameleon: Thanks 'blue'! Looking forward to you posting for tomorrow! :)

Andrew Gould from Sydney, Australia

What a rich composition you have here. Full of interest.

25 Jun 2008 12:31pm

@Andrew Gould: Cheers Andrew! I love the ornate fence and the flags... the rest was a bonus! :)

Twelvebit from Victoria, United States

Interesting. I'm curious: in the context of photography and "terrorism," or just nutty moms, did you encounter any hassles when taking photos in Israel?

26 Jun 2008 10:27pm

@Twelvebit: hey mate -- hmm... none what so ever, actually. but i wasn't there very long. most kids don't necessarily 'hang' with their mothers. the kids often play and grow up hanging out on the street or in the alleys. there is an air of laid back parenting it seems -- kids will be kids -- and they will either survive and grow up -- or they won't make it. i don't think 'over-mothering' is as big of a problem there... :)

Twelvebit from Victoria, United States

I was thinking more of the hassle based on the terrorism pretext, since, after all, Israel is relatively easily accessed by terrorists, and does frequently suffer attacks. The point being, if the Israelis aren't hassling or restricting photographers on the pretext of preventing terrorism, then there's no rational justification for it here.

26 Jun 2008 11:08pm

@Twelvebit: yes mate -- well that is it exactly -- there is NO rational justification for the hassling... which is why it is supposedly illegal for them to do so. :)

Add your comment ...

next day →

Canon EOS REBEL XT
1/100 second
F/5.6
ISO 100
18 mm