Orna Naor
Name: Orna Naor
Camera: Fujifilm X-T5
Favourite type of photography: Street and documentary
Location: Tel Aviv, Israel
Website: www.ornanaor.com
Instagram: @orna50
How did you get into photography?
I loved taking pictures all my life. 12 years ago I decided to learn and I haven't stopped since.
Do you have any photographic qualifications or accolades?
I am a professional photographer and I’ve won many prizes, in and out of Israel, and had solo exhibitions in Israel and Chicago. My work has also been published in various photographic magazines
What's the first photograph you remember seeing or shooting?
I don’t recall the first, but one of the pictures that influenced me and my photography is Migrant Mother by Dorothea Lange. It combines documentary photography with human aspects, which is one of the things I'm trying to do.
What do you love about photography?
The connections you can create with people, the different ways that photographers see things, and the personal point of view that makes ordinary things look unique.
Where is your favourite place for photography?
I love taking pictures in Cuba; it’s a wonderful place to take pictures and relate to the people.
Do you have a favourite photographic technique?
Not really.
Can you briefly outline your approach to image processing?
I only use Adobe Photoshop for a bit of cropping (because I shoot wide angle) and converting to black and white. That's all.
What's your favourite lens?
What's your favourite lens?
I love to use my Fujifilm X-T5 with my XF 18mm F1.4 R LM WR. It’s equivalent to 27mm on a full-frame camera, so its great for a wide-range of subjects.
Do you have a favourite accessory?
I don’t.
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Have you found the perfect camera bag yet?
I don’t use a camera bag and I’m, not looking to get one.
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Which photographers have influenced or inspired you, and how or why?
Sebastião Salgado, Vivian Maier, Diane Arbus, Dorothea Lange and Henri Cartier Bresson; for the humanity in their images.
Please recommend 2 or 3 female photographers to follow on Instagram.
Dina Alfasi @dinalf, Yael Guisky abas @yael_guisky and Dafna Yosha @dafna_yosha
Is there a camera, lens or accessory that you don't have yet but you'd like to buy at some point?
Not at the moment
Is there a genre of photography that you love but that you haven't tried yet?
Not yet. I really enjoy street and documentary photography. When I’m photographing people, I like to get close if the moment calls for it. I don’t hide – I engage. I’ll talk, smile and always try to make sure I’m not hurting, upsetting or humiliating anyone.
I also enjoy playing with elements like juxtapositions, signs, graffiti, décor and street lighting to create layers of meaning, often ones that go beyond what’s immediately visible.
What's your proudest photographic moment?
I can't put my finger on one moment. However, when I was working on my ‘The Sea days’ project that documented Israeli women who helped bring Palestinian women and children to the beach for the first time in their lives, I was very happy while I was shooting it and proud of the results.
If you could have one superpower that could help you with photography, what would it be?
Flying.. so I can take pictures from above
Your favourite baked goods are?
Coconut cake.
Tell us a little about yourself.
My name is Orna Naor and I’m a street and documentary photographer from Tel Aviv. In my work, I focus on human moments and gestures, on touch, looks and human interactions.
I shot all around the world and I try to show the faces of people, wherever they are; be that behind different ceremonies, in different cultures, in everyday life and on holidays - human faces and emotions are revealed.
Over the past few years, I’ve been focusing more on documentary projects that feel personal and meaningful to me. Since 2017, I’ve been photographing anti-government protests, from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv, as well as recent war-related events, the families of abductees and the broader social and political shifts happening in Israel.
Another ongoing series is Women of the Sea, where I explore the idea of peaceful coexistence by showing women enjoying the sea together, regardless of background.
In I’m Just a Child, my aim is to rehumanise the so-called ‘enemy’ by focusing on the experiences of Palestinian children.
Larger Than Life is a long-term project documenting events for children living with cancer, while Transparent sheds light on the lives of homeless people in Tel Aviv.
The thread running through all of these is the same – I want to bring humanity back to humanity.
If one of my images resonates with even one person, that’s enough. And if it sparks any kind of change, even better. As I often say, I’m simply trying to restore humanity to humanity – and I hope my photographs can help do that.
