Born in Tel Aviv in 1973, Ran Bruchstein showed no artistic inclination and in fact felt he was an uncreative youth – "I couldn't draw a straight line, or even trace a drawing with a tracing paper."
He discovered photography by chance during military service, and fell in love. He learned the art, the techniques, and eventually a style began to emerge, a personal way of looking at things. "It was an amazing period. I photographed and developed at the expense of the army, and improved technically and in terms of artistic language. After being discharged, I kept on photographing, but the whole darkroom business and film and materials was too expensive. So it just ended, and my creative outlet was cooking, where I felt very comfortable."