Welcome to my Revamped, Refocused & Rejigged Smartphone-DSLR Photography Blog and Websites!

Me, along the Syrian border in Israel's Golan Heights, with Mt. Hermon in the background (Photo: Russel Harris)

Welcome, new visitors and old friends!

After more than a decade, I'm morphing my dusty, musty news and politics blog into a showcase and calling card for my SmartPhone and DLSR photography, both here in Israel, and elsewhere worldwide.

The changes here come in parallel with a two new websites (now under construction):

Thr first, a professional photographic sales and marketing site hosted at www.photoshelter.com/ will be hosting my photographic portfolio, and feature a built-in, easy-to-buy and print/frame or download my Israeli landscape, nature, event, and street photography,

The second, www.davidbrianbender.com, will focus exclusively on Smartphone Photography and host my latest exclusive photos, shooting tips, full-on lessons, photo essays, live shots, and much interaction with you, the viewer.

Lots more to say and display, but, for the moment, pardon our dust and stay tuned as we clean out the cobwebs, tune up the pages, and show you my best!

Israel Life: Jerusalem Cranes (photo)

Jerusalem construction cranes at sunset. (Photo: Pria Bender)

On Shooting Mickey Mouse in Beirut

A very intriguing discussion in the New York Times among press shooters and editors about a series of photos taken in the aftermath of an Israeli bombing run against Hizbullah targets in Beirut during the 2006 war in Lebanon.

Read the rest:
http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/03/it-was-all-started-by-a-mouse-part-1/ War archives:

I was dealing with just these questions from the Israeli side of the border, as well.

My war archives:

• Flickerstream

• Blog Linkdump

• Audio

• Video

Elvis Spotting: Israel - 'Blue Suede Jews' (multimedia)

"Memphis has Graceland. Vegas has impersonators. And Israel - yes, Israel - has the Elvis Inn, a bizarre desert Mecca for Middle East Elvis enthusiasts. It's the Holy Land, people, and the King has risen."

'The King in the Holyland' (Dave Bender, All Rights Reserved)

Click on the photo for more images from the series, "Blue Suede Jews," that accompanies an article I wrote for the (late, great) "Atlanta Jewish Life" magazine. A link to the full article, and entertaining video clip segments appear on my website: www.davebrianbender.com.

Exclusive Photos and Gifts From Israel!

David's Tower, Jerusalem. Dave Bender: All Rights Reserved

Photographs and related images of Israel: her people, places and events, that I've photographed all over the country, and available on assorted media, including calendars, posters, t-shirts mugs - you name it!

Choose from a wide array of exclusive posters, photos & souvenirs from Israel to decorate your Succa, or home for Channukah! Among the photos are my exclusive images from the IDF at war and training, stunning Israeli nature vignettes, photojournalism-style Jerusalem and Tel Aviv street scenes, and many, many more. Also available are greeting cards, embossed Flip-mini video cams, cups, clocks, tiles, keepsake boxes, and shoulder bags.

Safe and secure online purchasing, and standards, premium and 1-day shipping via CafePress: http://www.cafepress.com/davebender

I'm adding items all the time, so contact me directly for special orders, or to change the photos on the gifts: davebrianbender@gmail.com

Thanks, Dave

(Photography) Succot: Scenes from Jerusalem's Famous Open-Air Market

Readying for Succot: I shot these images of devout Jews searching for the best etrog (citron for my "covenentally-challenged" pals) at a stall across from Jerusalem's famous Mahane Yehuda open-air market. More photos are on my website photo page, accessible via the home page. All photos copyright: Dave Bender.


(Copyright: Dave Bender)


(Copyright: Dave Bender)


(Copyright: Dave Bender)

Seeking employers, colleagues and clients to partner on multimedia reporting, features, podcasting and, of course, photography: www.davebrianbender.com

Israeli Poet On Jerusalem & Exclusive Photography

'After Words. We'll Talk' (Dave Bender. All Rights Reserved)
---

'Curved Sky' (Dave Bender. All Rights Reserved)
---

'David's Silhouette' (Dave Bender. All Rights Reserved)
---

Yehuda Amichai | Tourists:

"Once I sat on the steps by a gate at David's Tower. I placed my two heavy baskets at my side.

A group of tourists was standing around their guide and I became their target marker.

'You see that man with the baskets? Just right of his head there's an arch from the Roman period. Just right of his head.'

'But he's moving, he's moving!' I said to myself: redemption will come only if their guide tells them, 'You see that arch from the Roman period? It's not important: but next to it, left and down a bit, there sits a man who's bought fruit and vegetables for his family.'"

'Amichai's Arch' (Dave Bender. All Rights Reserved)

---
(These and other photographs of Israel and other scenes are available for purchase at www.cafepress.com/davebender, and on my website photo page: www.davebrianbender.com )

Dave Bender: Journalist Seeking Stories, Clients

I am a veteran radio and television broadcaster, and a professional, independent journalist equipped and ready to work in the field, on-site and on-line.

I'm interested in continuing in multimedia journalism and reporting in the US, Israel and elsewhere abroad.

Here are a few samples of original coverage about the Israel Defense Forces, living with terrorism, and life in Israel:

Inside the IDF: A Soldier's Story

Hear: Surviving a Suicide Bombing

Hear: Novelist Naomi Ragen: Writing in the Shadow of Terror

Hear: The mother of slain IDF soldier Nachson Waxman speaks out

I have a rich and varied background in all aspects of radio and audio production, as well as reporting and producing for tv, newspapers and magazines for a host of clients, both in the United States and abroad.

Links to more audio airchecks and published content are available along the left side of this page.

Contact me for more details, my resume' and recommendations at:
davebrianbender@gmail.com
(US) 404-695-7246
MSN Messenger: dave_bender_3@hotmail.com
Skype: davebendertriplets

Shooting Israel

Pyramid Power. Click on the image for the hi-rez view. (Dave Bender)

Here are really, really, impressive "amateur" photographers of Israel by others.

Got any faves of your own? Send 'em to me for posting. I can't get enough of this stuff.