Jews of Kharkov, Ukraine

I was given the opportunity to travel to Kharkov, north eastern Ukraine, with the charity World Jewish Relief- in order to document their efforts to regenerate and provide for an emerging Jewish community. When Ukraine left communism behind, people began to search for their roots; numerous elderly Jews remembering traditions that they kept as young children, returning to their heritage through new Jewish community centres, philanthropically funded schools and a full range of communal services and facilities.

Young girl at a centre for disabled children.

Typical accomodation in Kharkov.

Pupil at the Jewish Secondary School.

Housebound elderly woman, who receives home visits to help herself and her terminally ill grown up daughter.

More pictures are available on my website, www.blakeezracole.com and World Jewish Relief can be found at www.wjr.org.uk

Istanbul 2007

Some pictures here from a four day trip to Istanbul, a wonderful city that offers so much to the locals, the tourists, and visiting photographers- from the wonderful mosques that punctuate the skyline, to the rustic old charm of Balat and the uber-modern bars overlooking the city from Taksim.

I absolutely loved Istanbul, and would definitely go back again having met some amazingly welcoming people and absorbed plenty of fascinating culture.

Jerusalem Post

In early 2006 I experienced my first taste of professional press photography, self-organising an internship at prestigious daily The Jerusalem Post in Israel. As an aspiring photographer with absolutely no technical training or previous professional experience I was hopeful that during this four month internship, I would have a picture or two published.

Within a week I'd had three pictures published, and once they found out I was a sports fan, promptly made me their 'Chief Sports Photographer', otherwise known as their only sports photographer.


During my stint at the Jerusalem Post, I photographed two national football cup finals, European basketball, athletics and motor racing- alongside some non-sport features. It was a great experience, which taught me more about tenacity than any course could have done, and I would dearly love to live and work in Israel for a newspaper or an agency in the future- yes that is a hint if any Israeli newspaper editors or agency chiefs are reading!