Jerusalem Photography Tour

Our original Jerusalem photography tour, and still one of our most popular. Be guided by a native professional photographer from Jerusalem on this unique photo walk, as you discover this amazing city through your camera. Capture the history and beauty of it’s architecture and people, while improving on your camera and photographic skills. Soak up the atmosphere and be prepared to get inspired as you wander the ancient streets of the Old City.

As a private photography tour with one-on-one instruction, you will have the benefit of learning your specific camera settings and functions, how to create images with atmosphere and drama, as well as help you to perfect your composition and the use of natural light.

Our guests range from beginners to advanced amateur photographers, however we also tour with semi-pro and professional photographers that are seeking a location scout that knows the city from a professional photographer’s eye. Laurie Cohen, the owner and creator of Israel Photography Tour, will be your instructor and photo guide. Laurie was born in Jerusalem and specializes in environmental portraits and street photography.

Photography in the Old City of Jerusalem

 

In order to excel at photography in the Old city of Jerusalem, one should be prepared beforehand of how important the city is to followers of the three Abrahamic faiths. For over 3,000 years, travelers have been captivated by Jerusalem. Yet even today, the moment you step inside its ancient walled city, you will discover what makes it so captivating. More than beautiful, however, Jerusalem is a spiritual centre, holy to the three great monotheistic faiths, Judaism, Christianity and Islam. That three religions have assigned so much importance to a solitary city makes Jerusalem one of the most fascinating places you’ll ever visit.

Revered as the City of Gold, Jerusalem has long been depicted as the center of the world on ancient maps. It exudes a profound spiritual and mystical ambiance, drawing you into its captivating embrace. The tapestry of history is woven with a wealth of archaeological treasures, while the vibrant mosaic of ethnicities and communities adds to its charm.

Each street is alive with an array of tantalizing scents and flavors, complemented by the stunning architecture that towers above. Countless vivid tales echo through its ancient alleys, and the enchanting, cool climate creates an ideal setting for the passionate photographer. Jerusalem, the illustrious capital of Israel, promises an unforgettable experience at every turn.

Our Jerusalem Photography Tour is designed to immerse you into a world of creativity and artistic vision. You will learn how to assess a scene before capturing the critical moment. With our help, you will sharpen your awareness, create an eye for detail, learn what and what not to include in your frame, and how to anticipate how a scene will unfold in an urban environment.

The manipulation of natural light and learning compositional techniques play a large part in the shooting process. Together with overcoming the challenges of photography in a foreign environment, we will cover the various technical aspects and camera settings used in order to take control of your camera.

Our aim is for you to become more confident in your photography by mastering the technical features of modern DSLR and Mirrorless cameras, and knowing how and when to use your camera settings. Finally, we will emphasize the importance of practicing successful travel photography by avoiding the cliche and establishing your own photographic vision.

Best Photo Spots in Jerusalem

 

• Church of the Holy Sepulchre: The most important site in Christianity, and the site of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. Excellent for architectural and environmental portraits.
• The Western Wall: The retaining wall for Judaism’s most sacred site of the Second Temple. A highlight for photographing people at prayer, and exploring the Jewish Quarter.
• The Temple Mount: Housing the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa Mosque, this was the site of the Jewish Temple. Beautiful architectural details and good for people photography.
• Ramparts Walk: An ideal way to photograph the Old City quarters from an elevated vantage point. Stunning views over the Mount of Olives. A telephoto lens is recommended.
• Mahane Yehuda Market: A fun and bustling food market outside the Old City. Excellent opportunities for street photography and environmental portraits. Also great for foodies.
• Mea Shearim: A Jewish ultra-orthodox neighborhood offering photo opportunities for street photography. Modest, dark clothing should be worn to respect the local norms.
• Arab Souk: Since the Ottoman era, everything from spices and coffee to souvenirs are sold here. Good for slow exposures and photographing details of textures and colors
• Mount of Olives: Beautiful hillside orchards of Olive trees overlooking the Old City. Stunning views at sunrise and sunset. Significant to Biblical Jewish and Christian heritage.
• Church of the Dormition: Significant Christian site housing Jesus’ Room of the Last Supper. Rooftop views over East Jerusalem. Located next to the site of King David’s Tomb.
• Via Dolorosa: The path that Jesus walked to his crucifixion, and of major importance to Christian pilgrims. The 14 stations en-route end at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

Jerusalem Photo Tour Itinerary

 

Our Jerusalem photo tour is a full day itinerary lasting 6 hours. After meeting our guests at the entrance to the Jaffa Gate, we will start the itinerary by walking the Ramparts walk, circling Jerusalem’s perimeter at roof level. This is a great way for the adventurous photographer to get an overview of the Old City’s various highlights including the Arab market, the Lions Gate Plaza, the Church of the Dormition, and residential clusters of the Armenian and Muslim Quarters.

On returning to Jaffa gate, we will walk down the narrow lanes that house the Arab market – a fabulously photogenic maze housing traders selling everything from aromatic spices to Turkish coffee. The Arab Market [or Souk] dates back to Ottoman times.

Continuing down the market arrives to Via Dolorosa, the route that Jesus took between his condemnation by Pilate and his crucifixion and burial. For many Christians visiting Jerusalem, this is the most important and meaningful site to visit in the city. Photo opportunities abound on this route, ending at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, as worshippers practice their faith. Nearby is the Austrian Hospice, a unique vantage point to photograph the Old City from the rooftop. This is also one of the best views over the Dome of the Rock, with it’s shimmering golden dome.

Also on the itinerary, is a visit to the rooftop of the Aish HaTorah building, located directly in front of the Kotel. This s!ite offers spectacular 180 degree views over the Kotel, Temple Mount and Old City.

From here we will head the the Kotel [Western wall], Judaism’s most holy site located within the Jewish Quarter, and one of the main reasons that millions of people from around the globe come to visit Jerusalem. The last remnant of King Herod’s temple, it has had an amazing history since the destruction of the Temple in the year 70CE. During the Six Day War of 1967, paratroopers broke through to the Old City through the Lion’s Gate.

The Western Wall and Temple Mount were liberated, the city of Jerusalem was reunified, and the Jewish people were again able to come to the Western Wall to pray. We will spend time here in capturing the atmosphere, as worshippers come to practice their faith, where thousands of dreams are written down on notes and placed between the ancient stones.

Finally, The last site on the itinerary is the marvellous food and spice market at Mahane Yehuda. This is one of our favourite sites for street photography and environmental portraits. One of the most colourful spots in Jerusalem and a must visit for any tourist to the city, the vibrant Mahane Yehuda Market, or “The Shuk” as they say in Hebrew, makes for a great ending to our tour.

As with all of our photography tours within Israel, these are private, one-on-one photographic experiences. Likewise, the itineraries can be fully customized to the individual to suit their skill level and preferred photo genres. Street photography, architecture, cityscapes and environmental portraits are all subjects that we cover. Thanks to the nature of attending a private tour, the photographer has the benefit of capturing specific subjects according to their needs. Enquiries on our availability and price structure can be made through our contact page.