Harry Benson 📷
Scottish born photojournalist, Benson arrived in America with the Beatles in 1964. He is one of the most beloved culture photographers of the century, photographing people such as Donald Trump and Michael Jackson.
Photographs 📷
Benson is not phased by his famous subjects. His photos are candid and memorable. They are also very surprising and humanizing. Benson wants his subjects to be themselves and to look as though they are in their natural habitat. He wants each image to be real which can be extremely hard to do with celebrities. He uses each image he takes of his subjects to explain to the world who this person is and to argue that even though this person is famous, they are normal. He followed his subjects around and would catch them in a real and vulnerable state to get his desired image.
Benson told Rolling Stone Magazine:
"I hate studio pictures! I like everything out of control! Like myself!"
Examples
Photograph @HarryBenson
The Beatles
1964, Paris, France
This photograph was taken the night that the Beatles heard they were number one in America and the night that they had broken through. It shows a real reaction that the band had. Even though they were a world famous band they still got crazy excited about things and flipped out! Benson uses this image to show us the real side of the Beatles. They were a young group of friends with a giant dream and they had just made the big time.
Photograph @HarryBenson
Yoko and Sean Lennon
1985, Central Park, New York City
I think this photograph is particularly powerful. It shows Yoko and Sean in a real state. Mother and son missing a father and husband. The imagine on the ground represents their loss of John. Although this picture seems as if it could be more staged, I still think that it shows both subjects in the realest state. It is a glimpse of their life and their feelings, and Benson captured it very well. This subject choice is powerful as well as location. John had died and they were still living in the city where he had passed, missing him.
Photograph @HarryBenson
Dolly Parton
1976, Nashville, Tennessee
In an interview with Rolling Stone, Benson said he had been following Parton around all day trying to get a photograph that was real and captured her. He said she knew why he was there and it was difficult, but then he caught this real moment. I think this photograph captures the real Dolly Parton with her southern charm and girliness. She is a performer but still proper and elegant. She is in her home, getting ready to perform. You also can tell right away who it is, it is very self-explanatory. The big hair, dress and curves give it away. Benson uses contrast and black and white to add this self-explanatory feeling to this image.
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