05/07/2026
Sometimes the best photograph begins with the decision to throw away the original plan.
That was exactly what happened when I photographed Phyllis Glazer, who was widely known in Israel as the country's "healthy food guru." She hosted TV shows, wrote books, and inspired thousands of people to embrace healthier living.
The photoshoot took place in her home, in a kitchen that felt like an extension of her personality. It was full of fresh vegetables, cookware, spices, colors and endless little details that reflected her passion for food.
Like most portrait sessions, I started with the obvious approach. I used a classic portrait lens, carefully composed the frame, and created a series of clean, flattering photographs.
They looked good.
The problem was... they could have been photographs of almost anyone.
Phyllis wasn't "almost anyone".
She was energetic, unconventional, colorful and wonderfully eccentric. The photographs needed to feel that way too.
So I put away the portrait lens and reached for an ultra-wide lens. Normally, it's the last lens you'd choose for photographing people because of the distortion it creates.
This time, the distortion became part of the story.
Instead of hiding the overflowing kitchen, I embraced it. Instead of minimizing the perspective, I exaggerated it. The vegetables became larger than life, the kitchen became part of the portrait, and suddenly everything felt unmistakably... Phyllis.
This was long before AI could generate anything with a prompt. Everything happened in-camera. The only thing I added later was a little Photoshop smoke... mainly because setting her kitchen on fire didn't seem like a great career move.
Looking back, this shoot reminds me that creativity often begins at the exact moment you're willing to question your own first idea.
Sometimes the safest approach produces a good photograph.
But taking one step outside your comfort zone is what turns a good photograph into one that people remember.
