Rafael Ben-Ari

Rafael Ben-Ari (; born 25 September 1971) is an Israeli-born multinational photojournalist, documentary travel photographer, filmmaker, camera operator, and independent content creator based in Australia.

He is known for his documentary travel photography documenting cultures, landscapes, wildlife, and people around the world, as well as for his photojournalism and war photography covering conflicts in the Middle East, including the Arab–Israeli conflict, from 2004 to 2012.

In 2019, Ben-Ari was named one of the Top 10 Best Stock Photographers in the World by Pouted Magazine.

Life and career

Ben-Ari began his professional career in 1990 during the Gulf War, while serving in the Israeli Air Force as an imagery intelligence aerial reconnaissance photographic analyst and military photographer.

Following his military service, he worked as a photojournalist and travelled extensively, documenting cultures, landscapes, and social conditions across multiple continents. His work has appeared in international newspapers, magazines, books, television productions, and digital media.

His photography has been distributed through agencies including Getty Images, Shutterstock, iStock, and Adobe Stock. His images have appeared in publications such as National Geographic, Travel + Leisure, Lonely Planet, and The New York Times.

Ben-Ari has exhibited his work in Israel, Australia, New Zealand, France, Italy, Mexico, and several countries in Central and South America.

Over the past decade, his work has focused on documentary photography projects in the Oceania region, particularly Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands.

Awards

2016 – 3rd Place, Nikon Photo Day New Zealand 2016 – Pond5 Photography Ambassador 2014 – 1st place (crowd vote) and 2nd place (expert’s choice), "Crowds" photo contest, Nikon N-Photo magazine and Photocrowd 2007 – Featured publication in Doubletruck Magazine "World's Best News Pictures" 2006 – Excellent Artist in Photography Grant, Ministry of Education and Culture, Israel 2005 – Excellent Artist in Photography Grant, Ministry of Education and Culture, Israel

Exhibitions

2024 – A Call to Minyan, Brisbane, Australia 2011 – Unexpected Israel, Milan, Italy 2011 – Cultural Friends, Mexico City, Mexico 2010 – Stories of Israel: A Photographed Journey to the Country's Soul, international embassy exhibitions 2010 – Tel Aviv: The City that Emerged from the Dunes, Mexico City, Mexico 2008 – During the 60 years of Israel, Marseille, France 2003 – The Decisive Moment, Kerikeri, New Zealand 2002 – Group exhibition, Melbourne, Australia

Published work

Ben-Ari’s work has been published in books, magazines, and news outlets internationally. Selected publications include:

Fotografos En La Calle (2008) Scoop Magazine (2007) Camden Haven Local News (2025)

Education

2003 – Underwater photography and Rescue Diver certification, Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI), New Zealand 1999 – Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.), Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design, Jerusalem, Israel 1994 – Certificate in Photojournalism, New York Institute of Photography, New York, United States 1989 – Beit Hinuch High School 1983 – Henrietta Szold Elementary School