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BIO | ABOUT

Portrait of Israeli photographer Ziv Koren

Ziv Koren has been a professional photojournalist for over 25 years. He began his career as a photographer in the Israeli army.
Today, Koren works for the Hebrew daily "Israel Hayom" and represents "Polaris Images" photo agency in Israel.

Koren's documentary-projects focus mainly on humanitarian issues in Israel and around the world such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, poverty, the tsunami in Southeast Asia, the earthquake in Haiti, AIDS in South Africa and more. In addition, he has documented the Israeli Defense Forces for more than two decades including military operations such as the withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, the Second Lebanese War, military operations "Cast Lead", "Pillar of Cloud", "Protective Edge" and more.

His award-winning photographs have contributed to many solo and group exhibitions worldwide at the Metropolitan Museum of Tokyo, the Memorial Museum in Spain, and the War Museum in Croatia, in the project 'War/Photography: Images of Armed Conflict and Its Aftermath," at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, to name a few.

Koren's photographs have been widely published in the international media including Time Magazine, Newsweek, The Sunday Times Magazine, Stern, Der Spiegel, Paris Match, Le Figaro, Corriere Della Sera Magazine and others.

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In 2000, Koren’s 1995 photograph of an exploded Israeli bus was selected as one of the 200 most important images in the last 45 years by World Press Photo. He is also the frequent recipient of prestigious prizes such as the "Photo District News Award" (4 times), "Yann Geffroy Award", "International Color Award" (twice) and "Picture of the Year" (POYi).

 

Koren was the subject of the documentary film "More Than 1000 Words" which was widely screened at film festivals around the world, garnering a dozen awards. He regularly lectures at workshops and universities worldwide. Koren has published 20 photography books thus far.

 

Recently Koren launched in association with Travelog Company the project "Around the World with Ziv Koren" – professional workshops for photographers around the globe focusing on the human condition aspect of the world we live in today.

Experience

  • 2002 to date - "Polaris Images" photo agency - Representative in Israel

  • 2018 to date - "Yedioth Achronot" daily newspaper – Contract photographer

  • 2009 to 2018 - Contract photographer for "Israel Today" newspaper

  • 1998 to date - Leading Israeli magazines - Freelance photographer

  • 2000 - 2002 - “Gamma” photo agency - Representative in Israel

  • 1995 - 2000 - “Sygma” photo agency - Representative in Israel

  • 1992 - 1998 - “Yedioth Achronoth” daily newspaper - Staff photographer

  • 1992 - Governmental Press Office, Prime Minister’s Office – Staff photographer

  • 1989 - 1991 - Israeli Defense Forces - Military photographer (awarded sector honorary soldier)

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Endorsement

  • 2021 to date - Canon Israel presenter

  • 2019 to date - Canson Ambassador

  • 2008 to 2017 - Canon Ambassador for EMEA

  • 2006 - 2007 - SanDisk presenter in world-wide campaign

  • 1997 - 2003 - Kodak sponsorship

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Awards

  • 2019 - "Local Testimony" (Israeli Photojournalism Contest) - 2nd prize - Society and Community.

  • 2019 - "Lens Magazine" – Most influential photographer for 2018

  • 2018 - “Local Testimony” (Israeli Photojournalism Contest). 2nd prize - News.

  • 2018 - Special award by SID ISRAEL for exposing the Israeli public via photography to issues in developing nations

  • 2017 - "Local Testimony", Israel - Series of the Year, 1st Prize - Society and Community

  • 2016 - Picture of the Year International (POYi) – Finalist of Best Photography Book Award for "Writhing With Light"

  • 2016 - Rendez-vous Image Award, France - best photo book for "Writhing With Light"

  • 2015 - Photo District News (PDN) Award, USA – best photo book for "Writhing With Light"

  • 2014 - Scholarship from the National Lottery Council for Arts and Culture for "Writing With Light"

  • 2013 - “Local Testimony” (Israeli photojournalism contest), 1st prize - Art & Culture, 3rd  prize – Portraiture

  • 2012 - “Local Testimony” (Israeli photojournalism contest), 2nd  prize - Daily Life

  • 2011 - “Local Testimony” (Israeli photojournalism contest), 1st prize - portraits, 3rd prize - news

  • 2010 - “Local Testimony” (Israeli photojournalism contest), 3rd prize - daily life

  • 2010 - Photo District News (PDN) Award, USA – best photo story for "YAMAM".

  • 2009 - “Local Testimony” (Israeli photojournalism contest), 1st prize – Politics, 2nd prize – News,     3rd prize – Portraiture.

  • 2009 - International Color Award, USA, Photojournalism Honorable Mention

  • 2008 - Photo District News (PDN) Award, USA – best photo book for “More than 1000 words”

  • 2007 - Hadassah Collage, Israel, Award of Excellence for Outstanding Achievement

  • 2006 - International Color Award, USA, Photojournalism 1st place - Outstanding Achievement

  • 2005 - “Local Testimony”, 1st prize – Portraiture, 2nd prize – Daily Life, 2nd prize - News

  • 2005 - Luis Valtuena International Humanitarian Photography, Spain, Award for “Louai Mer'i, a sergeant, is going home”

  • 2004 - “Local Testimony”, Israel, 1st prize – Nature & Environment

  • 2004 - Simon Rockower Award, USA, 1st Place for Excellence in Photography
                (Magazine Division) for "Last Look: A new     Leash on Life"

  • 2004 - Photo District News (PDN) Award, USA, best documentary project for “Louai Mer'i, a sergeant, is going home”

  • 2004 - Yann Geffroy Award (Grazia Neri), Italy, honorable mention of documentary project
                carried out during 2003 for     “Louai Mer'i, a sergeant, is going home”

  • 2003 - “Picture of the Year” (POYi), USA, 3rd prize – spot news (single)

  • 2003 - “Local Testimony", Israel, 1st prize – portraits, 1st prize – stories

  • 2000 - “World Press Photo”, Netherlands, 1 of 200 best pictures in the last 45 years

  • 1997 - “Graphis”, USA, top documentary projects carried out during 1997 for “Jessica File”

  • 1995 - “World Press Photo”, Netherlands, spot news – Honorable Mention for “Bombed Bus #5”

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Accomplishments

  • 2004 - “The Holy Sepulchre Church” documentary acquired by the Vatican’s International Library

  • 2000 - “L'Express” journal, Picture of the year

  • 1998 - “Stern” journal, Picture of the year

  • 1996 - “Time” magazine, Picture of the year

  • 1996 - “El Pais” journal, Picture of the year

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Solo Exhibitions

  • 2019 - "Bringing life to the World" – Sorasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel.

  • 2018 - "Tmunat Matzav" – Urban Gallery, Tel Aviv, Israel​

  • 2018 - "Ge'avat Yehida" - The Artists of Eilat Gallery, Eilat, Israel

  • 2017 - "Writing with Light" – B&W Exhibition- Changjiang Museum of Contemporary Art, Chongqing China

  • 2017 - Israeli Documentary Photography – FROOTS Gallery, Shanghai, China.

  • 2016 - "Writing with Light" – B&W Exhibition- Deitta Gallery,Yangon, Myanmar

  • 2015 - "Writing with Light" – B&W Exhibition- The Exhibition Center, Hanoi, Vietnam

  • 2015 - "Writing with Light" – B&W Exhibition- National Gallery, Bangkok, Thailand

  • 2014 - "Writing with Light" – B&W Exhibition- Tel Aviv, Israel

  • 2014 - Audi Moment - Champion Exhibition space, Bnei Brak, Israel

  • 2014 - "Heartbeat" UN building – Geneva, Switzerland

  • 2013 - "Tel Aviv Moments"- Saint Petersburg, Russia

  • 2013 - "Tel Aviv Moments" - Riga, Latvia

  • 2013 - "Kumbh-Mela"- Jaffa, Israel.

  • 2012 - "Tel Aviv Moments"-  Yokahama, Japan

  • 2012 - "Heartbeat" - Tel Aviv historical train station, Israel

  • 2011 - "POSITIVE+", Urban Gallery, Jaffa, Israel

  • 2011 - "Israeli Identity", Art festival, Haifa, Israel

  • 2011 - "Shalom Inshallah", SCSC, Stockholm, Sweden

  • 2010 - "MILESTONES" Urban Gallery, Jaffa, Israel

  • 2010 - “Aftershock”, Tel Aviv historical train station, Israel

  • 2010 - “Brotherhood” project, touring exhibition in 6 main cities in the US

  • 2009 - “Tel Aviv Photographs”, Presso lo Spazio Krizia – Milano, Italy

  • 2008 - "More Than 1000 Words", BankART Gallery – Yokohama, Japan

  • 2008 - "Private Moments", Amiad Center, co-exhibition with David Rubinger – Tel Aviv, Israel

  • 2008 - "More Than 1000 Words", Tokyo Metropolitan Museum  –  Tokyo, Japan

  • 2007 - "More Than 1000 Words", Cicero Gallery – Berlin, Germany

  • 2006 - "Shooting for the Truth", Palm Beach Photography Centre –  Palm Beach, USA

  • 2005 - “Poverty in Israel”, Traveling exhibition

  • 2004 - “Louai Mer’i, a Sergeant, is Going Home”, Artist Resident Tokyo – Tokyo, Japan

  • 2003 - "Israeli-Palestinian Conflict" slide show, VISA Pour L’Imange festival – Perpignan, France

  • 2003 - “Louai Mer'i, a Sergeant, is Going Home”, Museum of Israeli Art – Ramat Gan, Israel

  • 2002 - “Stones & flags”, Riding gallery co-exhibition with Uri Lifshitz – Tel Aviv, Israel

  • 2001 - “HIV Positive Thinking”, “Habima” theater – Tel Aviv, Israel

  • 1999 - “Jessica File”, Museum of Israeli Art – Ramat Gan, Israel

  • 1998 - “A day at Har Meiron, night of decadence”, Tel-Aviv University – Tel Aviv, Israel

  • 1997 - “10 Bereavement Flashes”, Tel-Aviv University – Tel Aviv, Israel

  • 1995 - “A Day of a Press Photographer” one night street show  (1993, 1994, 1995) – Tel Aviv, Israel

  • 1993 - Dance photographs, Susan Dallal Center – Tel Aviv, Israel

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Selected Group Exhibitions

  • 2021 - "Lonka" Project - 70 years for Auschwitz Camp liberation in the Israeli President's residence, Jerusalem

  • 2020 - "Lonka" Project - 70 years for Auschwitz Camp liberation in the U.N. building, NYC, USA

  • 2019 - "Affordable Art Fair New York City" at the Metropolitan Pavilion

  • 2017 - "Writing with Light" – Cui Zhenkuan Art Museum, Xi'an, China

  • 2016 - Shanghai Art Fair 2016

  • 2015 - Ethiopia’s Ancient Salt Trade - MAXXI - National Museum of Arts in Rome, Italy

  • 2014 - War Photography- The Brooklyn Museum of Art, USA

  • 2012 - War Photography- Museum of Fine Arts in Houston, USA

  • 2009 - Lianzhou International Photo Festival 2009 (LIPH09) - China

  • 2009 - “Canon Ambassadors – Shooting for the Top”, Gettyimages Gallery – London, UK

  • 2008 - “War Stricken Regions of the Mediterranean”, Athens Photo Festival – Athens, Greece

  • 2007 - "Israel/Lebanon 2006", Museum Memorial de l'Exili – La Jonquera, Spain

  • 2007 - "Israel-Lebanon", War Photo Museum –  Dubrovnik, Croatia

  • 2006 - "Disengagement", Tel Aviv Museum – Tel Aviv, Israel

  • 2006 - “Sensitivity & Determination”, International traveling exhibition – USA

  • 2005 - “Local Testimony”, Dizengof Center – Tel Aviv, Israel

  • 2004 - “Local Testimony”, Dizengof Center – Tel Aviv, Israel

  • 2004 - “Uniform Ltd. ”, Ben-Gurion University – Beer Sheva, Israel

  • 2003 - “Local Testimony”, Azrieli Towers – Tel Aviv, Israel

  • 2003 - “Big Small Moments” on Shimon Peres, Holon Museum, curator – Holon, Israel

  • 2003 - “Wandering Library”, the 50th Biennale – Venice, Italy

  • 2001 - "Israel" slide show, VISA Pour L’Image festival – Perpignan, France

  • 2000 - “A Century of Photography in Israel”, Israel Museum – Jerusalem, Israel

  • 1999 - “Yitzhak Rabin”, Einav Center – Tel-Aviv, Israel

  • 1998 - F.I.A.P International, Rishon Le’Zion Arts Center – Rishon Le’Zion, Israel

  • 1998 - “Flashback”, Jerusalem Theater (Israel Festival)  – Jerusalem, Israel

  • 1997 - “Memorial Map” in memory of Yitzhak Rabin, Eretz Israel Museum – Tel Aviv, Israel

  • 1996 - Photographers of the Governmental Press Agency in memory of Yitzhak Rabin,
                the “Knesset” (Israeli parliament) –     Jerusalem, Israel

  • 1996 - “The absent photograph”, Ramat Gan Museum – Ramata Gan, Israel

  • 1995 - “World Press Photo” world traveling exhibition

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Bibliography

  • 2021 - "Breathe"  - Life with Corona in Israel.

  • 2018 - "Tmunat Matzav" (HEB) / "Snapshot (ENG) - The IDF As Never Seen Before"

  • 2018 - "YAMAS Jerusalem - Border Police"

  • 2017 - "My Jerusalem – The Eternal City" – By Gefen Books                                                                                                     

  • 2015 - "40 Years for the Israeli Counter-Terrorism Unit"

  • 2014 - "Writing with Light"  (B&W Vol I + Vol II)  

  • 2012 - "Duvdevan"- IDF's Elite counter Terror Unit

  • 2012 - "Heartbeat" – 20 years for Shneider Children's Hospital

  • 2011 - "POSITIVE+" AIDS in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

  • 2011 - "Shalom Inshallah", Stockholm, Sweden

  • 2010 - "MILESTONES" collection of photographs from projects

  • 2010 - "Aftershock” – Aftermath of the Earthquake in Haiti

  • 2009 - "YAMAM"- The Israeli Counter Terrorist Unit

  • 2009 - “Brotherhood” – the Israeli Defense Forces

  • 2007 - "More Than 1000 Words” – decade of conflict

  • 2003 - "Louai Mer’i, a Sergeant, is Going Home” – wounded soldier coping with his injury

  • 2002 - “Stones & flags” with Uri Lifshitz – the Israeli Palestinian conflict

  • 1998 - “Jessica files” – Russian immigrant stripper in Tel Aviv

  • 1995 - “Reality” – news photographs taken between 1993-1995

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Editorial Clients

  • Time Magazine

  • Newsweek

  • New York Times

  • US News & WR

  • The New Yorker

  • Sunday Times Magazine

  • Vanity Fair

  • Stern

  • Focus

  • Der Spiegel

  • Gala

  • Paris Match

  • L’Express

  • Liberation

  • Point de vue

  • Le Monde 2

  • Le Nouvel Observateur

  • Le Figaro

  • Le Point

  • VSD

  • Colors

  • El Pais

  • L'espresso

  • Corriere Della Sera

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