We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Yarden Amsalem a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Yarden, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

The story of Osher’s father, (the model) and the Ethiopian immigration to Israel through the deserts of Sudan .  I conducted a small research and found amazing facts and memories from his father Adis. When he was only 12 years old, in 1979, he was sent along with his two brothers and a neighbour as an experimental group in purpose of marching all the way to Israel. Back then, it has been never done before, and it held great meaning  because there were many Ethiopian Jews who hoped to arrive to Israel as well. The experience ended well as the group found the airplane that took them to Israel. Thus, it was learned that more can immigrate without their health and security harmed.
Another interesting fact that I have discovered during my research was an explanation about the tattoos many old Ethiopian woman have. Crosses on the neck or forehead and other signs of Christianity are popular among the unusual tattoos, the reason is that theses people have kept their Jewish identities by looking like Christians. Thus keeping their alive – it was very dangerous for their as Jews in Ethiopia. However, I have been told that by their arrival to Israel those tattoos become another obstacle along with many other difficulties. At the beginning Ethiopian people have encountered with discriminations regards their ethnic, color and etc. Ironically , those tattoos that kept them safe were the cause of contempt in Israel.

Yarden, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Yarden Amsalem, and I am an art & fashion photographer currently based in New York City. Photography has been a passion of mine since I was young, and it has continued to evolve and shape my life ever since. In recent years, my focus has primarily been on capturing portraits and stories, allowing me to delve into the depths of human emotion and expression.

When I first embarked on my photographic journey, I primarily worked with digital photography. However, as time went by, I found myself drawn to the allure of analog photography. This fascination not only deepened my technical proficiency with the camera but also added a unique charm and character to my work.

For me, my interaction with the world of art began out of curiosity. Photography became a medium through which I could push the boundaries of the rationality in which I was raised. It offered me a language to express my thoughts and ideas in an environment that may not have fully understood me. Art became a bridge that reduced the gaps and created connections where spoken language fell short. Above all, it allowed me to create a language that transcended the confines of society and the education I received, enabling me to gradually reveal my true self and build my own photographic and artistic language.

as a photographer, I am entirely self-taught. My knowledge is derived from a combination of intuition, years of experience, and continuous learning. However, it’s not just technical expertise that matters to me. The connection I establish with my subjects is equally important. Through deep dialogues and understanding, I strive to convey their stories in a clean and impactful manner. This connection helps me capture the overlapping lines of their lives with precision and authenticity.

Emotions, color, movement, and format play a significant role in my work. These elements hold immense meaning for me and serve as powerful tools for conveying the feelings I want to evoke. Whether I am telling a compelling story or exploring my own personal journey as an artist, I utilize these elements to focus and amplify the emotions I wish to express.

In essence, my art allows me to communicate and connect with the world in a way that goes beyond words. It is a vehicle for self-expression that breaks down barriers and enables me to share my perspective.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding part for me in the aspect of creating art is the process and construction of each project, drawing inspiration, working with clients and finding the overlapping lines and the challenge of building the visual and making it a reality, the ability to develop and be exposed to a variety of people with different life experiences, new cultures and to learn and take new insights that build me as a person .

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

The source of most of my clients in recent years is from social networks with the help of art and fashion content pages that allowed me wide exposure, with the help of which I was able to get many jobs. Another source is a way I worked with them or for them and they recommended me to people who were looking for the services I provide as a photographer and artist.

Contact Info:

• Website: working on a new one at this moment
• Instagram: yardenamsalem
• Facebook: Yarden Amsalem