Omer Kaplan
Photography + Video
Narratives of the Afternoon
I found Gayle on Facebook. I’ve never photographed someone her age. I met Gayle and her partner Chuck at their place in Oakland, Queens. Gayle and Chuck live together, but they couldn’t get married because Gayle is afraid that she will lose her disability pension. They have a close relationship and it seems like Chuck would follow Gayle anywhere. Gayle collects stuff because she is afraid to become homeless again. Throughout her childhood, she was abused by her dad and has developed anxiety.
Something in the experience filled my soul with ripples of memories coming from a dream childhood.
I miss them. Something was comforting in their presence.
We all deal with the same feelings.
We speak different languages, but we know how to listen.
As I moved towards the door, they followed me and said goodbye.
I smiled to myself,
Wondering when will be the next time
I’ll
Come by
Omar Kaplan
Omer Kaplan is a visual artist who (b. 1994) was born and raised in Israel. In his practice, Omer uses a variety of film cameras to create an intimate space with his collaborators. By exploring the inner truth of his subjects he finds parts of himself. Omer finds working in the darkroom to be a meditative experience that enables him to bring his unconscious forward into his practice, allowing the unexpected to be fixed on image surfaces. In his work, Omer explores themes of mental health through psychological portraits and experimental videos combining elements of surrealism, dadaism and collage. His work was featured in international magazines including a photo essay in Vogue Italia, Exposure Haaretz and many more.
After he studied Professional Photography & Video at the Gavra studio school of photography, he moved to Tel Aviv to work in the fashion and commercial industry. He developed his lighting skills and studio practice while working on TV and commercial projects. Kaplan is an alumnus of the International Center of Photography and was awarded the Director's Fellowship.
Teaching and volunteering are a big part of his life and inspire him to establish meaningful connections with his subjects. Omer served as a volunteer, for one year, in marginal communities in Israel focusing on teaching art, dance and music. During his military service in the Field Intelligence Corps, Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Omer was the authoritative source of knowledge for anything regarding Operational Photography. Based on the special skills he developed, during his IDF service he built a special field photography course for combat soldiers.