Latest news with #Levac
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Snapping Tel Aviv: Alex Levac on capturing the city that never sleeps
Israel's city that never sleeps was founded over Passover, 1909, during the counting of the Omer leading up to Shavuot. Photographer Alex Levac sees things the average person on the street doesn't catch. When we meet up at his Tel Aviv apartment, a stone's throw away from the beach, I ask the evergreen octogenarian, who was awarded the Israel Prize for his groundbreaking photography 20 years ago, where the notion of snapping incongruous yet complementary overlaps first emerged. 'I don't know. Perhaps I got it from the French photographers, like Robert Doisneau and Henri Cartier-Bresson,' he suggests bringing the lauded humanist documentarists into the philosophical equation. 'But, it was mostly a British photographer called Tony Ray-Jones.' Those men were powerful sources of inspiration, who shined a bright light on his own path to visual expression, Levac says. 'I didn't invent anything. You know, you see something you like and you think, 'I'll try to do something like that.'' The above lauded trio may have sparked the young Israeli's imagination and sowed the seeds for one of his main lines of thought and endeavor, but it was something of a slow burner. 'I left Israel for London in late 1967,' he says. 'I left Israel for a year and stayed 14 years. But I came back from time to time, to visit family and friends.' And snap a few frames, he may have added. Levac studied photography in London in its Swinging Sixties heyday, and subsequently worked in the field in Britain. But the time and, in particular, the place were not aligned with Levac's native cultural continuum. 'I don't think, then, I looked for these [idiosyncratic] confluences. That didn't interest me outside the Israeli context.' But the idea of getting into that after he returned here to roost was gestating just below the surface. 'I thought that it was more interesting to do in Israel because I am more familiar with the culture and the visual language.' Evidently, there is more to what Levac does than observing quotidian jigsaw pieces align themselves and pressing the shutter release button at exactly the right happenstance microsecond. 'It is not just a combination of all sorts of anecdotal elements. There is, here, also a statement about the Israeli public domain.' The dynamics of human behavior, of course, can vary a lot between differing societies. In Israel, we are much more physically expressive than the average Brit or, for that matter, Japanese. ONCE RESETTLED in the Middle East, the mix-and-match line of photography soon took on tangible form, without too much premeditation. 'I don't remember exactly when it started but I took one of the first shots one day when I was in Ashkelon. I lived there at the time with my first wife. I started seeing a lot of contrasts on the street, coming together at the same time.' It was around that time that still largely conservative Israel got its first tabloid newspaper, Hadashot, which shook up the industry and Israeli society, and introduced it to risqué material and full-color photographs. Levac was soon on board and, before too long, also found himself in hot water as a result of the now-famous news picture he took. 'That was Kav 300 (Bus 300),' he recalls. The said snap was of a terrorist being led away from the scene after IDF soldiers stormed an Egged bus in which passengers were being held captive. The initial official IDF report was that all four Palestinian terrorists had been killed in the attack. However, Levac's picture provided irrefutable evidence that one of the terrorists was still alive after the operation was over. 'They shut the paper down for a while after that.' Brief hiatus notwithstanding, Levac had, by then, established himself as a bona fide photojournalist here. 'I had a regular column in a Hadashot supplement called 'Segol' (purple). They had very visual-oriented editors at the time, so photographers were given a lot of column space. Then I got my regular weekly spot. I've been doing that for around 40 years, every single week. That's crazy!' That may be wonderful, but it comes with a commitment to produce the visually left-field goods, week in and week out. 'Sometimes I can just pop out and I'll find something really good, very quickly. Other times, it can take a while, and there are times I come back without having taken a photograph,' he says. After all these years, Levac's sixth sense is constantly primed and ready to pick up on some unexpected sequence of events that could fuse into an amusing or captivating frame. Anyone who has seen his candid snaps, which have been running in the Haaretz newspaper for the past three-plus decades, will have a good idea of his special acumen for noting and documenting surprising, and often humorous, street-level juxtapositions. 'By now, I see those kinds of things more than I see the ordinary stuff,' he smiles. 'I also look for that, like Gadi.' GADI ROYZ is a hi-tech entrepreneur and enthusiastic amateur photographer. Levac recalls that 'Gadi came up to me one day and told me he'd attended a lecture of mine and began taking photographs,' he recalls. At first, Levac wasn't sure where it was leading. 'You know, you get nudniks telling me how much they like my photographs and all that,' he chuckles. 'You have to be nice when people do that, but it can get a bit tiresome.' However, it quickly became clear that Royz was in a different league and had serious plans for the two of them. 'Gadi didn't just want to be complimentary; he said, 'Let's do a book together.'' Producing a book with high-quality prints can be a financially challenging business. But, it seems, Royz didn't just bring boundless enthusiasm and artistic talent to the venture; he also helped with the nuts and bolts of putting the proposition into attractive corporeal practice. In fact, the book, which goes by the intriguing name of A City of Refuge, is a co-production together with Royz, who, judging by his around 40 prints in the book, also has a gift for discerning the extraordinary in everyday situations, and capturing them to good aesthetic and compelling effect. The city in question is, of course, Tel Aviv, where Levac was born and has lived for most of his life. 'Gadi said he had the money to get the book done,' Levac notes. That sounded tempting, but Levac still wanted to be sure the end product would be worth the effort. 'We sat down together, and I saw some of his photographs. I liked them, so I said, 'Let's go for it.'' And so A City of Refuge came to be. There are around 100 prints in the plushly produced volume. All offer fascinating added visual and cerebral value. There is always some surprise in store for the viewer, although it can take a moment to absorb it, which, in this day and age of lightning speed instantaneous gratification, is a palliative boon. The unlikely interfaces, which can be topical or simply contextually aesthetic, may be comical, arresting, or even a little emotive. Every picture demands a moment or two of your time and, as Levac noted in the dedication he generously wrote for me in my copy of the book, can be revisited for further pondering and enjoyment. The book is great fun to leaf through. One of Levac's more sophisticated items shows a man sitting on a bench with a serious expression on his face, which is echoed and amplified by a childish figure on the wall behind him of a character with a look of utter glumness. There's a smile-inducing shot by Royz (following in Levac's photographic footsteps) with a young, heavily pregnant woman walking from the left, about to pass behind a spiraling tree trunk with a hefty protrusion of its own. Royz also has a classic picture of Yaacov Agam's famed fire and water sculpture, in its original polychromic rendition in Dizengoff Square of several years ago. The picture shows two workers cleaning the work, each on a different level. The worker on the top level is visible from his stomach upward, while his colleague, on the street level, can only be seen from his waist down. Together, they looked like an extremely elongated character, something along the lines of a Tallest Man in the World circus performer. It is often a matter of camera angle, such as Royz's shot of a wheelie bin in Yarkon Park with a giant hot balloon-looking orb looking like it is billowing out of the trash can. And Levac's delightfully crafted frame of an elegant, long-haired blonde striding along the sidewalk led by her sleek canine pal, which appears to have an even more graceful step, poses a question about the human-animal grace divide. I wondered whether, in this day and age if – when we all take countless photos with our smartphones, of everything and everyone around us – his job has become harder. 'Quite the opposite,' he exclaims. 'Now that everyone takes pictures, people notice me less, which means I can do what I want and snap with greater freedom.' Long may that continue. ■
Business Standard
24-04-2025
- Automotive
- Business Standard
Bolt.Earth Opens 13,000 Sq. Ft. Integrated Testing and Warehousing Facility to Fast-Track EV Charging R & D and Manufacturing
VMPL Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], April 24: India's largest EV charging network, today inaugurated its new 13,000 sq. ft. Integrated Testing and Warehousing Facility (ITWF) in Bengaluru. leadership and core team came together to inaugurate the new facility, led by CEO Raghav Bharadwaj. The new facility consolidates R & D, testing, warehousing, and final assembly operations under one roof. It marks a significant leap in the company's growth journey -- enabling faster product rollouts, reduced defect rates, and tighter control across the supply chain. It acts as the essential bridge between the supply chain and the customer, enhancing the company's responsiveness and delivery capabilities. "The ITWF serves as our central assembly facility for entire hardware portfolio -- from compact EV charging sockets for homes to high-capacity DC fast chargers," said Raghav Bharadwaj, CEO "This includes our Blaze DC chargers for two-wheelers, available in single and dual gun variants from 3 kW to 10 kW, Blaze AC chargers for four-wheelers in 7.4 kW, 11 kW, and 22 kW models, and the full range of compact 3.3 kW EV charging sockets -- Pro, Lite, and Levac. We'll also be assembling our Level 3 DC fast chargers here, ranging from 30 kW to 240 kW, built for large-scale commercial and fleet deployments. Bringing all of this under one facility gives us tighter control, faster throughput, and the ability to scale EV charging infrastructure with consistency." The facility also includes a high-efficiency warehouse for managing raw materials, critical components, and finished goods -- ensuring streamlined inventory flow and timely dispatch across national deployment network. The integrated R & D wing brings together engineering, design, and prototyping teams to develop the next generation of EV chargers -- focused on high performance, improved user experience, and long-term sustainability. With end-to-end control over inventory, testing, and final assembly, is doubling down on quality. Every product passes through a rigorous testing and validation pipeline: real-world simulations, stress testing, and compliance checks. "At our suppliers are more than vendors--they're integral business partners in delivering quality at scale," said Vijay N Pannalkar, Director - SCM. "We've built a system where collaboration drives consistency. By maintaining end-to-end control--from inventory to testing and final assembly--we ensure every product that leaves our line reflects the reliability and performance our customers expect." is also laying the groundwork for an on-site EV charging station, with the Blaze DC expected to power the first deployment. The new facility is set to play a central role in fast-charging expansion across India -- acting as a launchpad for upcoming urban and intercity deployments. With the ITWF, strengthens its position as India's most scalable, integrated EV charging company -- ready to meet the demands of a fast-electrifying nation. As India's leading EV charging solutions provider, offers end-to-end infrastructure for homes, businesses, fleets, and brands like Tata, Bajaj, Mahindra, American Express, SAP, Brigade Group, Sobha Realty--from hardware and installation to software and support. To book a FREE site assessment, visit the website or reach out to the team today at support@ or +91 84477 46385. About is India's largest EV charging network, with 37K+ charging points across 1,700+ cities, serving 224K+ active EV users. Its extensive charging network supports 2, 3, and 4 wheelers with both standard and fast charging options. The charging app, available on Playstore and iOS, makes charging seamless with a simple scan-pay-charge process. also offers a Charger Management System (CMS), EV charger discovery APIs for businesses, installation & maintenance support and 24*7 Customer Service. (backed by USV, Version One Ventures, Prime Venture Partners), designs, develops, and manufactures EV charging technology indigenously in India. As the only vertically integrated EV Charging Company in India, offers a complete ecosystem of charging hardware, software, and maintenance products and services. For more information, visit: (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Prime Drink Group moves for ‘functional' drinks brand Relax Downlow
Prime Drink Group has struck a deal to buy a majority stake in the company behind Relax Downlow, a Quebec-based 'functional' drinks brand. In a statement, the group said it signed 'a binding letter of intent' to acquire a 70% interest in Relax Downlow owner, 9375-4208 Quebec. Prime plans to carry out the transaction through a combination of shares and a cash payment to the shareholders of 9375-4208 Quebec. According to the terms outlined in the letter, Prime Drink Group plans to issue common shares valued at C$255,000 ($179,111), at a price equal to the ten-day volume-weighted average trading price, in line with Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) pricing policies. Additionally, the company will make a 'lump sum' cash payment of C$95,000 to the shareholders of 9375-4208 Quebec upon the closing of the deal. The Relax Downlow founders will retain a minority stake in the company. Relax Downlow founder and president Steven Levac – who is also a Prime Drink Group employee – said he is looking forward to working with Prime Drink Group 'to take Relax Downlow to the next level'. 'This brand, which I have wholeheartedly built with my partner Dario, is now well on its way to becoming a must-have in Quebec and beyond', Levac added. A 'recovery functional beverages' brand, Relax Downlow is developed in Quebec and approved as a 'natural health product' by Health Canada. The beverage line designed for athletes is "caffeine-free, sugar-free, and gluten-free". The drinks feature more than 20 active ingredients, including BCAAs, amino acids, electrolytes, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, and contain two calories per serving, the group said in a statement. The brand has launched its Citrus Iced Tea and Tropical Punch flavours in an unnamed Quebec convenience store chain and the 'upscale' hotel sector. Just Drinks has asked for more details. NHL player Lane Hutson is the official ambassador of the brand. In its 2024 investor presentation, Prime Drink Group outlined its goal of achieving C$100m in revenue within two years, driven by expansion efforts in Canada and the US. Prime Drink Group sees the acquisition as a strategic step into a 'fast-growing relaxation beverage market', which is projected to reach C$1.3bn by 2030 with a CAGR of more than 15%, the statement added. The group said the transaction does not qualify as a 'major acquisition' under CSE regulations and consequently, shareholder approval is not anticipated as a requirement for the deal completion. Meanwhile, the proposed acquisition is subject to the 'completion of due diligence by Prime, signing of a definitive agreement, the approval of the CSE and the satisfaction of conditions customary', Prime Drink Group added. Given that Levac is both an employee of Prime Drink Group and an officer of 9375-4208 Quebec, the transaction is expected to qualify as a 'related party transaction' under Multilateral Instrument 61-101, the statement said. Primeau said: 'This acquisition marks a new chapter for Prime, as we carry on our mission to innovate in the functional beverage sector by adding a revolutionary local brand with strong potential to our portfolio.' In February, Prime Drink Group announced the restructuring of its bottling subsidiary Triani Canada, which operates under the name Prime Bottling. Yesterday, the company said Roynat, Financement Agricole Canada and Banque Canadienne Impériale de Commerce have filed an application to have a receiver appointed with respect to the assets of Triani Canada. The applicants are Triani creditors. In a statement, Prime Drink Group said: "Triani intends to oppose the application from the creditors to pursue its restructuring plan and will continue to seek alternative solutions to the appointment of a receiver." Prime Drink Group CEO Alexandre Côté added: 'As we do not expect the hearing to be scheduled, we are currently engaged in discussions and negotiations with Triani's creditors as we work toward a solution that supports the long-term stability and growth of Prime and Triani. We remain committed to reaching an outcome that is in the best interests of all our stakeholders and resolve the legacy issues inherited from prior management.' "Prime Drink Group moves for 'functional' drinks brand Relax Downlow" was originally created and published by Just Drinks, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
