“When I saw Lior’s photographs for the first time, they revealed a talented photographer who is able to capture moments, landscapes and people.

“And I saw something else in there too. The photos that stood out were those that contained the “almost”; some would say those photos were missed – blurry shots that would usually be deemed “not good” and removed during the editing and design process. They moved me, because in my opinion, they captured the most sincere, genuine, and grubby moments”, writes Sapir Feldbaum – a fourth year student at the Department of Visual Communication – in the book Beterem, which she designed in memory of Lior Ziv.

Following his death on April 20, 2003, while documenting a Givati Brigade military operation to locate tunnels in Rafah, Lior’s family received around 4,000 of his photos from the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit – a huge amount for one year of service. Feldbaum organized these photos into a new book which features Lior’s photography from his time in the military.

“In the content design and editing course, taught by Galit Gaon, the students were given all 4,000 photos. In a way all of them took Lior home with them, studied his photographs and understood them in their own way”, recounts Dekel Bovrov, who assisted with preparing the book. “There’s a lot of power in photography. It's more than just a single picture that was taken at a certain time, but a collection of photos that different people looked at and selected to compile into a book.”

“The book Beterem introduces us to Sapir’s skills as a designer in placing and organizing Lior’s photos with a mature sensitivity using a gradual continuum containing two shots. The first is visual, a transition between black and white, and the second is conceptual – using the gradual continuum to observe the life of a young man who used photography as a medium to observe and define visual snapshots on a given timeline. Snapshots of charged and dangerous physical and mental spaces that are so defined by the soldiers’ lives and conduct”, he writes in the book.

Mimi Ziv, Lior’s mother and a lecturer at the Department of Fashion Design, said during the book launch on Monday January 10, 2022, that “the photos we received from the IDF Spokesperson's Unit are the greatest gift. These photos, one camera and the helmet that was on top of it, are a treasure that we’ve cherished ever since. This is the most valuable thing for us. Many thanks to the IDF Spokesperson's Unit, who became a family to us, and to Shenkar, that these 4,000 photos are showcased in scholarships, exhibits, and more. This book was our dream and the family’s dream.”

Photography was always a meaningful leisure activity in Lior’s life and it filled up a lot of his time. Lior’s engagement with the camera, with the photos, capturing the moment, and his constant development as a photographer made this his single biggest hobby and passion. His talent and love of photography developed into a profession when Lior enlisted in the IDF.

During his military service, Lior’s photography skills improved and he broadened his horizons and acquired immense experience. As part of his job as a military photographer, Lior was required to document the IDF’s activity during routine and emergency situations.