Fallen soldier Itai Steinberger
צילום: איתי שטיינברגר ז"ל
Armed with camera
Photography exhibition to display works of IDF soldier killed in Second Lebanon War who attempted to show army experience through photos
May 10th will mark the birthday of First Sergeant Itai Steinberger, a soldier and photographer who was killed in military action two years ago, on the day before the Second Lebanon War came to an end. In honor of his birthday, his mother plans to release white balloons at the opening of an exhibition of his work in Tel Aviv.
Photo for which Steinberger was awarded IDF prize
One of his outstanding photos was taken in June 2006, during a drill in a southern IDF base. Five months after his death, his sister and his colleagues submitted the photo to an IDF photography competition. It was awarded first place, and Steinberger received the 2007 IDF Photography Award.
From the exhibition
"The exhibition allows me to touch Itai again," said his mother, Frida Steinberger. "He never imagined he would have an exhibition named after him." As an artist, she spoke about the artistic bond she shared with her son. "Itai told me, 'When I'm discharged I will teach you how to photograph'," she said.
From the exhibition
Today, Steinberger's mother studies photography at Bezalel Academy of Art and Design, and continues her son's legacy by photographing soldiers.
From the exhibition
Steinberger was praised by head of the design department at Bezalel, who commended the young photographer for his originality. "He photographed his friends through night vision goggles, and absorbed the scenery. He understood lighting well, and his sense of space was good," he said. "Itai understood the language of photography; there was great promise in his portfolio."
Steinberger was born in Jerusalem and served in the army as a camouflage expert. For two and a half years he photographed and documented his and his friends' army experience.
