Jerusalem

In Israel for the wedding of two great friends, I got to spend a day or two in Jerusalem- a city I love to explore.

Baltic Cruise

Some pictures I took whilst on a cruise in Scandinavia and the Baltics. Time is precious in each destination when on a cruise, spending a maximum of one full day in each city- so photography wasn't top priority on this trip. Nonetheless, I often can't help myself and usually need to take a few shots when visiting new (and not so new) places.

Dam Square, Amsterdam.

Synagogue, St. Petersburg.

Royal Guard, Stockholm.

Holocaust Memorial, Berlin.

Istanbul 2008

Exactly a year on from my last brief jaunt to Istanbul I headed back (this time with a fellow photographer) to build on the portfolio from the last trip, absorb more historic and cultural atmosphere in Sultanahmet, and generally explore the city further. Here are a few shots from my second trip to this amazing city.

View from the Galata Tower.

Farouq, a shop-keeper who I met last year. On this trip, we missed our flight home and couldn't get another for 24 hours. We headed back to the secluded courtyard where his shop is. He asked where we were sleeping that night, and within minutes he had brought out blankets, kilims (rugs), and pillows- making makeshift beds for us in the front of his shop. Farouq even recomended the best place for breakfast- a tiny cafe that opens early and makes only fresh lentil soup every day; when the soup runs out the shop closes. Having slept outdoors in the cold of the night, it was the perfect start to the day.

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.