Clock Square, Jaffa

During my browsing on the internet, I came across a photograph by photographer Giora Shor of Clock Square in Jaffa from a low angle that emphasizes the flowers in the square, and this immediately inspired me to create a panorama.

Clock Square, with its iconic clock tower, is one of the distinctive symbols of Jaffa, carrying a history built over the years. The clock tower, erected in the early 20th century as part of a series of clock towers throughout the Ottoman Empire, stands at the center of the square and recalls the golden days of Jaffa. It is a tall and stable structure, made of stone with arched windows and a clock at its top, projecting a sense of stability and nobility. Each side of the clock has a unique appearance that combines ancient architectural art with local uniqueness. This is not just a clock, but a landmark that symbolizes the essence of Jaffa – a city of integration between past and present.

But when I arrived to photograph it myself, I realized to my dismay that the square at the foot of the clock tower was desolate. The flowers had disappeared and the ground was bare, waiting for new planting. The sight was so unusual, almost empty, as if an essential part of its soul had been taken from it. After several additional visits and even an inquiry to Tel Aviv Municipality – which in its official response clarified that the flowers would be planted soon – I returned and continued to hope. Each visit was charged with renewed anticipation.

And then the moment came – the square bloomed again. The sight was breathtaking. The tower overlooks a magnificent carpet of flowers in a variety of colors: pink, purple, white and red, like a colorful blanket spread around it, bringing new life to the place. This visual splendor was exactly what I had yearned for – the meeting between the old and nostalgic and fresh newness full of color. Each color was like an exclamation point of joy, and everything under the sun that gazed upon the place from above.

And here is the result – a panorama that expresses the effort, the waiting, and the return of the square to its full bloom.