"Local Testimony" exhibits news photographs taken from autumn 2006 to summer 2007, the year after the second war in Lebanon. It is not a year of war, but confrontation strengthened its' hold in the whole region. Between Lebanon, Gaza, Sderot and the West Bank, "Local Testimony" documents the civil meaning of the conflict, the presence of children, women and old people in a confrontation wrapping around many frontiers, fences and barriers.

 

"Local Testimony" combines the jury's choices and curator's work.  A team of nine judges went over more than five thousand pictures sent by over two hundred photographers in areas of news, society, religion, culture, sports and nature.  After three stages of reduction, the chosen pictures were graded.  The jury and curators made their choices at the same time. 

 

The documentary photography is closest to events of life and sees into the depth of human identity.  Photographers often act in dangerous arenas and are required to plan, think, feel, use intuition and be alert to chance in order to get to places and situations others would prefer not to go to or deny.

 

Ami Steinitz - Curator, 2007 Exhibition