Yair Palti, an Israeli activist photographer and engineer, has specialized in drone photography, especially since the anti-government protests began in Israel in 2020. According to him, the drone is a remarkable tool because "it can go anywhere and reach diverse angles, allowing for high-quality photos."
"For Yair, 'a picture is worth more than 100,000 words,' referring to the protesters at Kaplan against Benjamin Netanyahu's government, as well as to the likes and shares he receives on social media. Yair Palti's artistic work went viral when one of his 8-second videos was featured in a report on the organization 'Ahim Laneshek' (a unit of the IDF operating within the protest movement against judicial reforms) in '60 Minutes,' an American news magazine produced by CBS News and broadcast on the CBS television network since 1968."
"It was a great honor for me to appear on this prestigious television program; if someone had told me this five years ago, I wouldn't have believed it," says Yair.
Following the judicial reform project in 2023, protests multiplied across the country, with participants carrying large signs, banners, and placards, which they hung on bridges and at various intersections. This was a windfall for Yair, who participated in the protests and captured images that circulated throughout the country.
"I thought about the best way to document the protests and realized it was a shame there weren't helicopters photographing the demonstrations from Kiryat Shmona to Eilat, and then I thought of using a drone. I formed a group of photographers from all over the country, whom I found on Facebook. In the end, there were about thirty of us, and we were able to take some great photos," explains Yair.
"These photos that we later posted on social media caught the attention of the media, as the images circulated widely. The phenomenon gained momentum and encouraged citizens to join the movement, as they understood the importance of the protests. As a result, thousands of people came out to demonstrate every Saturday," he continues.
"Leh" from the sky
One of Yair's major projects has been to launch the "leh" movement (meaning "go" in Hebrew), referencing the slogan "leh" chanted by protesters demanding the Prime Minister's resignation. Yair published a call for witnesses on Facebook to create several giant "lehs" on the ground using cars, tractors, bicycles, and more in various locations across Israel, so he could then capture aerial photos with his group of photographers.
"We created a unique video montage that opened with the parasha 'Leh Lekha,' followed by aerial photos of all the 'lehs' we had gathered. It was a very original concept; some formed the 'leh' in water, others with letters on fire, while some did it in fields, for example. The drone is a beautiful instrument that helps us document our cause in an accurate way," explains Yair.
Unlike photojournalists, activist photographers are much more present on the ground and flexible. "We can respond at any moment; we don't have schedules or constraints. Time and again, we have initiated projects because we are living at the sites of the events," claims Yair.
"One of the most significant photos for me was that of the protesters who walked from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem to demonstrate in front of the Knesset; it reminds me of the Exodus from Egypt. The drone photo provides an overall view and general context that is impossible to achieve with a regular photo. The drone also allows for the identification of cases of police violence during the protests that they might want to conceal. The drone enables us to have eyes everywhere," says Yair
Several of Yair Palti's photos have made the front pages of major Israeli and international newspapers, a source of pride that motivates him to continue on this path.
Caroline Haïat
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