Smoke and Colors is an ongoing series I started shooting in February 2022 and continued until August 2024. This series is different and far scarier for me to publish than any other series I’ve ever worked on. Not only does it expose the most private photographed moments from the past two years of my life, but it also reveals how beautiful it can be to showcase a completely raw and unplanned version of oneself.
Each photograph holds a pure memory of love, passion, and spontaneity. This is a series of short stories from my colorful late teens, spanning the ages of 19 to 21.
Smoke and Colors tells the tales of my youthful experiences, lovers, and closest friends through my lens, exclusively on film.
Every image is a different experience, a short story from my personal life.
A series by Michaela Mira Plesner
Daphne – A blue-eyed redhead with her ponytail braided, sitting in my backyard, wearing a white top and a pearl necklace.
These three photos were taken two years ago, around March of 2022.
Yaniv – A guy hiding his face with his hand, lying shirtless on his bed, with my leg in the lower-left side of the frame.
This image tells the story of a romance—the first true heartbreak I ever experienced.
This was the greatest love I’ve ever known. The moment documented in this photo is one of many passionate moments we shared together.
Us, in his bed, the whole house asleep, but not us—we’re talking and laughing all night.
Dea – A girl with butterfly tattoos on her hand, sitting on a couch on her porch at sunrise, smiling, wearing a black strapless top and colorful pants.
This is a moment before a unique encounter with a lover.
In another photograph with Dea, there are three very different-looking girls at a lesbian party, smiling and dancing. A ray of purple light shines into the photo from the top right corner.
From left to right in the photo: Dana Shohat, Mika Drory, Bar Dicovski, and Dea Raskin.
Les Filles Désir – An image of two girls kissing at a concert. In the photo, you can see Dhara and Daphne (from left to right), passionately making out, surrounded by colorful lights and the atmosphere of a smoky, loud Israeli rock concert, filled with beautiful people.
Dhara and Daphne are very close friends and showed their platonic love through this beautiful kiss.
Another photo from the same concert shows the audience dancing in a mixture of purples and blues.
Hili – Three photos of a tall, exotic-looking 21-year-old brunette-blonde girl. One is of her collarbone area with three necklaces, another is of her standing in a building lobby with her back to a mirror, and the last shows her blowing bubbles, wearing a brown leather jacket.
Hili is my best friend, a true ride-or-die. She’s the friend you see yourself growing old with.
She’s the smartest person I know—always witty and radiating an addictive energy. I had to include at least a couple of photos of her; she is the moon to my sun.
Wearing Denim to the Beach – Four photographs of two guys and two girls at the beach in the winter, all soaked in water and as happy as seagulls, laughing nonstop.
That was a crazy day.
I went to shoot a girl’s jewelry line, and she brought some friends, while I brought some of mine. In the photos, you can see Dhara, Hila, Yuval, and Avshalom.
This was shot at Olga Beach in Israel.
We started shooting by the water in different locations, but suddenly it began to rain. My first reaction was to tell everyone to jump into the water fully clothed.
It turned out to be one of the best sessions I’ve had as a photographer and creative director—everyone laughed and had such a great time.
Tomer – A brunette guy wearing two earrings, two rings, and a flannel coat, blowing bubbles like a happy child, deeply focused on how they turn out.
Days by the Pool – Three photos taken at my pool with my closest friends.
The first is of Noam Avraham, a very special girl who holds a unique place in my heart. She’s one of my best friends, a true sister, and soulmate.
The second is of a guy lying on his stomach, sunbathing in his black underwear. This is Yuval, my best (male) friend—I call him Yuvi. He’s hilariously funny and wise beyond his years.
The third is of Hili and Noa Levy, sunbathing by the pool on a beautiful Israeli summer day. These were all taken this past June.
The fourth photo is of Raz Gordon, taken at a friend’s house two years ago. We met in the army, and it was a wonderful day with friends.
Yoga – This is a very powerful image for me. The photograph was taken during a yoga session at Sidney Alley Beach in Herzliya.
The moment when everyone is in sync, relaxing and fully present, is priceless to me. Yoga is an essential part of my life, connecting me to my body, mind, and the present.
Noga and Itay – A photo of a couple kissing on the beach, a dramatic yet delicate setting. They’re both wearing denim, gazing passionately into each other’s eyes.
I loved them as a couple so much. Noga is the sister of one of my best friends from the army, and Itay was her boyfriend at the time. The photo was taken in the fall of 2022.
Photography: Michaela Mira Plesner @michaela.plesner
Style: Michaela Mira Plesner
Hair & Makeup: Models’ own
Models:
Daphne Atlas @daphne_atlas
Dhara Noham @dharanoham
Hili Hibsh @hili.hibsh
Dea Raskin @dearaskin
Bar Dicovski @bar.dicovski
Dana Shohat @danas___
Mika Drory @mika_drory
Yaniv Yefet @yanivyefet__
Yuval Alon @yuval_alon
Hila Ovadia @hilaovadia_
Avshalom Kedem @avshalom_kedem
Tomer Peleg @tomerpele
Yuval Gottschalk Yair @yuvalgott2110
Noa Levy @noalevyy
Raz Gordon @razgordon
Noga Nir @nogittttt
Noam Avraham
Itay Charitan
