An exhibition of works by photographer Leonid Padrul, entitled "The Shadow of Jerusalem", is currently showing at the PhotoSoyuz Gallery of the Russian Association of Photo Artists in Moscow.
The Israel that emerges from Padrul’s photographs is very different from the Israel shown in news reports about terrorist attacks, rocket fire and violent confrontations. In his photographs Padrul, a member of the Federation of International Art Photography (FIAP), shows Israel as a special place in the universe with a magical magnetic power. In the photos on display at the PhotoSoyuz Gallery, time seems to stand still in its immensity.
The Chair of the Russian Association of Photo Artists, Mr. Andrei Baskakov, said, "This exhibit shows us a different Israel. As can be seen, the world view of the artist is unusual and original. During his years in Israel, Leonid Padrul has succeeded in finding the special magic of this historic place and conveying to us, the viewers, the feelings that inspired him to do this project, on which the artist worked for ten years."
All 40 of Leonid Padrul's photographs included in this exhibit were created without any computer manipulation. Every photograph is unique in the Biblical story it tells about the conflicts, the urges and the searching for eternal values.
Born in the Ukraine in 1950, Leonid Padrul immigrated to Israel 14 years ago, in 1994. From his early twenties he focused his interest on artistic photography, with a great passion for landscape and nature - first in the Ukraine and then in Israel. Both periods are characterized by a special interest in landscape from a personal point of view. He won global recognition after taking part in an international project to save the Dead Sea. The Dead Sea is a unique site which, alongside Jerusalem and the Judean Desert, has in the last few years become the main focus of Padrul's photography.
Leonid Padrul is head of the photography lab of one of the biggest archaeological museums in Israel, in Ramat Aviv. He also works for National Geographic magazine. His work has been displayed abroad under the auspices of FIAP, the international federation of artist-photographers. In 2002 the Federation, operating under UNESCO, awarded Leonid Padrul the international title of excellence in artistic photography EFIAP.