23 Photos of The Wailing Wall of Jerusalem
The Wailing Wall, Jerusalem, Apr 2023
During a recent business trip to Israel, I decided to extend my stay to capture the spirit of some of the most secretive places for Christianity, Judaism, and the Muslim world.
The Wailing Wall, also known as the Western Wall or Kotel, is a site of immense religious significance for the Jewish people. It is the holiest site in Judaism and is considered the closest accessible point to the Temple Mount, where the First and Second Temples once stood.
For centuries, Jews from all over the world have come to the Wailing Wall to pray, mourn, and offer their hopes and dreams to God. Men and women pray separately at the wall, and visitors are encouraged to write down their prayers on small pieces of paper and place them in the crevices of the wall. The site is also a popular spot for Jewish celebrations.
I exclusively used my Leica MP camera, along with a couple of rolls of CineStill XX film, to capture the spirit of prayer at this iconic location. These photographs have a timeless quality, with the grainy texture and stark black-and-white contrasts lending an air of solemnity to the scenes depicted.
From the locals, I have learned that the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem is a shrine built atop the Temple Mount, believed to mark the spot where Prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven, and is located adjacent to the Western Wall, which is the only surviving remnant of the Second Temple built by King Solomon. I have used Kodak Portra 160 color film to show its beauty.
NOTE TO SELF: Amidst the fast-paced world of digital photography, choosing to shoot with film may seem unconventional, but it allows for a deeper level of engagement with the process, resulting in more rewarding and inspiring photographs. Take a step back, slow down, and discover the magic of film.
