Orna Naor

Abhishek Deb
Jul 26
4 min read

Street Photography © Nathan Allen — Street Photography © Orna Naor

Orna Naor | Street Photographer

I have known Orna for a while now. We have been colleagues in Vivian Maier Inspired photography community once, for almost 5 years. As we found Orna is ready for an interview, I was expecting some of her celebrated images to come by (which made Orna Naor a known name worldwide). In SPG World’s 20th interview feature, we are glad to have Orna Naor speak to us beyond her images. If you are hearing her name for the 1st time, you must first take a look at her street work and then follow the conversation here. Here we go...!

When you look deep within, did street photography change you?

Orna: Yes, it gave me more confidence interacting with strangers that I meet while talking their pictures; it made me travel a lot searching for different places and people, different ways of life.

Dear Orna, why and when did street photography become your THE thing? What exactly inspired you?

Orna: About 13 years ago I started learning photography and immediately was drawn to Street Photography. I felt like the world was becoming a kind of theatre; the actors, the set, the lighting, and the location were given, and I, the photographer, like a director, created new meanings through compositions, plays of light and shadow, and perspectives.

How would you define your style of street photography?

Orna: I think I'm both a street photographer and a documentary one; i look for human faces, motions, reactions and interactions. I try to present the humanity in humanity, both in everyday life, all over the world, and also in documentary series.

Let's pick the Top 3 favourites of your own Orna!

Orna: Here are my top 3...

**1st** - is from the *Sea Days project*; for more than a decade, Israeli women helped bringing Palestinian children and mothers to the sea; for most of them it was the first time in their lives. Street Photography © Orna Naor

Street Photography © Mark Jonathan Cutting — **3rd** - Young orthodox Jewish people celebrating Purim on the streets of Bnei Brak Israel. The picture shows a natural way of their celebration. Street Photography © Orna Naor

Orna, what is more important to you - the people or the surroundings?

Orna: This question is a bit complicated; the people are the most important factor for me, but the background, conditions, and location allow me to emphasize the aspects of people that I want to show. I prefer photos with people, and I almost never take photos without a human element.

Ok - so is there any top list of tricks to succeed as a street photographer? Will you want to share some tips for people who are starting out on this genre . . .

Orna: First of all, understand that we are photographing people and treat them with respect and affection. Try to find special perspectives in banal situations; always check if you didn't miss something in the first shot, look up and see if there is something else you can add, spark a layer to the story. And most importantly, understand why you are taking the photo and what you would like the viewer to feel when looking at it. So it's more than an attitude than tricks.

For a street photographer, what beyond that camera?

Orna: Beyond that camera is a heart; and eye that sees what the heart feels and transform it into a picture.

Is street photography your primary source of bread & butter?

Orna: No.

Any shot you missed, and you must have taken?

Orna: I was driving, seeing a guy in a scooter, and 2 Husky dogs were tied to it, and he had two pigeons on his hands. It was impossible to stop on the way and take a picture of him, and this image is burned into my memory.

Which camera(s) do you use? And what about your lenses and other accessories?

Orna: I use Fuji xt-5, mostly 16-50mm, 18 mm.

Which other street photographers’ work inspires you the most?

Orna: Sebastião Salgado, Vivian Meyer, Dorothea Lang.

What NOT TO DO in street photography?

Orna: Do not ask people to pose.

You are reading the SPG interview of Street Photographer Orna Naor.

Do you believe that street photographers are travel photographers too?

Orna: Yes.

What's your perspective on the relation between Street Photography and Street documentary?

Orna: They are very close to each other.

Any project that you remember more than everything else

Orna: The Sea Days project.

That is street photographer Orna Naor for all of you as she opens up in this candid interview.

You can connect with Orna Naor on Instagram

If you are a street photographer and own a credible body of work, you can be featured in The Street Photography Gallery’s Feature section. You only have to hit the button below or email us on thestreetphotographygallery@gmail.com

Submit for Feature