Gil Cohen-Magen | Photographic Communication (B.A), 1998

I didn't plan on becoming a photojournalist. I actually intended to become a studio photographer. But my experience at Hadassah Academic College gave me the confidence to take the plunge and let my career develop in an unexpected direction. The wide ranging studies at the College gave me the tools I needed to succeed in this exciting field.

I enjoy the power of photography in this area. And this transition from studio photography to photo journalism was made possible precisely because the academic program at Hadassah does not limit students to one particular field of photography. The College gave me the tools to understand the real world market for photographers, and it instilled in me a great deal of confidence. Today in my everyday life I use the academic knowledge I acquired at Hadassah- art history, history of photography, business management and more. The instructors at Hadassah are all real life photographers who work on the ground and make sure that students receive lots of both practical and theoretical learning.

Today I am a photojournalist working with newspapers and agencies in Israel and abroad. For example, I've worked with Reuters for the past ten years. Also, once a week I teach high school photography. I usually work on documentary projects. The scope of my projects can range from a single day of shooting to over a year of documentary photography following an individual, group or event. My flagship project is entitled "Hasidim" – it is a record of twelve years of Hasidic society in Israel. Last year I published a book on the project, and I also recently was honored by an exhibit of the project at the Israel Museum. I am currently traveling around the world with several of my exhibitions. Right now I have a solo exhibition in Poland, and in the future will also be showing my work elsewhere in Europe and the U.S.

I love the freedom and the ever changing variety of my work. Every day I'm shooting somewhere else, and I always have something real and tangible to show for my work. This is not an office job, or working in the studio – it is a job that takes me around the country and world.