19. February 2024
Latest News

Captured - Echoes of absence: hostages family photos recreated

by Natalie Neubauer & Sharon Derhy
Man in black sweater and jeans sitting on folding chair next to table with objects in front of white wall with markings and window shutters
© Sharon Derhy
by Sharon Derhy / Natalie Neubauer

The “Captured” initiative, advocating for the return of Israeli hostages, was launched by
Sharon Derhy, the daughter-in-law of Chaim Peri, who was abducted on October 7th by
Hamas from his home in Israel.

The initiative emerged when Derhy’s husband, Lior, visited his father's home in Kibbutz Nir-Oz and recalled a photo taken there a year earlier. In the photo, he and his father are seen at the doorstep of the house, reading weekend newspapers in a laid-back setting. Lior recreated the photo, now with his father absent and the aftermath of the October 7th massacre evident. He sent the recreated photo to Derhy, who juxtaposed both images, added the caption 'Waiting', and uploaded it to Facebook. The overwhelming response to the photos made her realize this could be the strong campaign she was seeking, connecting viewers immediately to the urgency of bringing the hostages back home.

Derhy collaborated with the Hostages and Missing Family Forum to lead the recreation of more family album photos where hostages are absent. The original and recreated photos, presented side by side, illustrate the void left in the families’ hearts, depicting their worry and excruciating pain as they await the return of their loved ones.

"Captured" transcends mere imagery. It serves as a powerful voice for families torn apart by kidnappings, their pain echoing through the silence of empty spaces. The absence of the persons in the photos draws you in, compelling you to want to complete the photo, reassemble the harmony and by that reunite the family.

By sharing these stories, we aim to draw attention to the human cost of the horrid events of October 7th, urging decision-makers to prioritize the release of the hostages and bring about their immediate release.

 #BringThemHomeNow
#bringthemhomevienna

Additional photographers: Michal Chitayat, Amiram Oren, Ari Folman
Production: Liba Ne'eman
Graphic design: Oren Vermus
Video editing: Michael Patrick and Roni Kleiner
PR: Gali Zander and Tammy Gorli
Thanks: Aurit Zamir, Noa Erenberg, Doron Lahav, Jill Burks, Adi Assaf, Aviv Fogel Special thanks to all the participating families and to the Hostages Families Forum.
Two photos of four people in front of green foliage, smiling in March 2023 above, serious with yellow ribbons in December 2023 below
Two photos of a man, April 2022 sitting with another man reading newspapers at a table outside a house, October 2023 alone on a cluttered patio with writing on the wall and a poster on the door
Two photos side by side show an elderly woman with gray curly hair and glasses next to a young boy. Above, an older man sits beside them at a table with food. Below, they sit at a table without food. The years 2021 and October 2023 appear in the top right corners respectively.
Top shows four young people outdoors in October 2021; bottom shows three young people outdoors in January 2021, both with green plants in the background
Elderly couple in room with piano in April 2023; below, destroyed and burned room in October 2023
Two photos of a woman in a wooded park, top with a man in April 2021, bottom alone in February 2024.
Two photos of a square with four people, differences in clothing and positions from July 2023 and January 2024
Three people in a living room; top photo shows a young man with two older adults, bottom photo only the older adults. Text states Edan Alexander, 20, was abducted by Hamas and is still held hostage in Gaza.
Top shows two young women and a young man hugging happily in front of glass doors. Bottom shows two young women hugging with serious expressions in front of the same doors. A colorful landscape picture hangs on the wall to the right.
Three men in front of a bamboo fence, two sitting and one standing behind. Below, a man kneels between two white plastic chairs against the same background.
Top: A man wearing sunglasses kneels in a tall green field. Bottom: Young green plants growing in sandy soil under a clear blue sky.
Older woman and two boys playing a tabletop game in two photos from 2021 and October 2023 in a blue room.