10 Iconic Photographs by Harry Benson

[bholas]

Harry Benson is a photojournalist that I recently became familiar with. Born in Scotland, Harry Benson was introduced to the United States when he landed with the Beatles when they toured America in 1964. His work has not only spanned decades but he has also photographed a wide variety of places and people. Some of his more notable work includes photographing every U.S. president from Eisenhower to Obama.
He has been in the right place (or the wrong place) on many occasions allowing him to capture some of the most poignant moments in America history. He was just a few feet away when Bobby Kennedy was assassinated; he was in the same room when Nixon resigned and was there during the Meredith march with Martin Luther King, Jr. He was there when the Berlin Wall separated a country and was there to photograph it when it fell.


Among is many accolades, his photography is on permanent collection at the Scottish national Portrait Gallery and the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery in Washington, DC.
He gained most of his fame as a photographer for LIFE magazine from 1970 to 2000 and currently works for Vanity Fair Magazine, and photographs for Architectural Digest, Newsweek and other major magazines.
If you have not heard of Harry Benson then you are in for a visual treat. He has taken many wonderful photographs that run the gamut from the light-hearted and fun to the tragic and haunting. I have chosen what I feel are 10 photographs that capture the depth and beauty of his work across a wide scale. You can see more of his work at his website: http://www.harrybenson.com and get a more ******** look at this legendary photographer when you read On the Road with Harry Benson.
When I could find his own words about a photograph, I included them under the photo. If not, I gave some commentary on the subject matter. In no particular order, the photography of Harry Benson…
Michael Jackson at Neverland


One could see how Neverland could take Michael’s mind off all his worries and transport him from the reality of his stressful life. He had everything he wanted there. I got the impression that in no way was Michael a recluse. He read the papers and kept up with the news. Once he asked me what I thought of the Reagans, who were in the White House at the time. He was also curious to know what the Russian author Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn was like, as Michael had seen my photograph of him. Michael made a point of knowing who was who, while all the time those sad eyes were searching, looking closely at me. Occasionally he would break into a laugh, but mostly he was just looking. Harry Benson, Photographer
I also like this photo of Michael Jackson taken by Harry Benson. It is more introspective and I believe captures the other side of his personality.

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[bholas]

KKK Mother with Child, Beaufort, S.C., 1965


I couldn’t find any commentary by Harry Benson and this photograph more than any other piqued my interest into what he might have to say about it. The visual is startling in many ways. The KKK brings to mind violence, burning crosses and bigotry so to see a woman caring for her child is contrary to my perceptions. When I think a moment longer, it saddens me as I realize this innocent child will have little choice but to follow their parent’s short-sighted and prejudice way of life.

[bholas]

Frank Sinatra and Mia Farrow, Truman Capote’s Black and White Ball, New York, 1966


“To this day it was the biggest party I ever shot. Capote’s ball was unique. Everyone wanted to be there. People who weren’t invited went out of town. I was at the top of the stairs at nine o’clock and caught Sinatra as he was walking in. He couldn’t get past me. He felt really stupid in that mask. Someone had just yelled to him, ‘Hey, there’s Frankie Batman.’ You can see the anger in his eyes behind the mask. He was this tough guy thinking, ‘What the hell am I doinig here?’ Mia Farrow had that precious, elfin look, but she was tough as nails too

[bholas]

Robert Kennedy Assassination, Los Angeles, 1968



At the victory party following the California Democratic presidential primary, Senator Robert F. Kennedy made his way down from the podium, through the crowd, and out into the kitchen of Los Angeles’ Ambassador Hotel. Benson trailed at his heels. But within seconds, the victory chants were replaced by screams. Kennedy had been shot in the head with a .22 caliber gun, and lay dying at Benson’s feet. “A Kennedy is literally shot in front of me,” Benson said. “I’m saying to myself, ‘Don’t **** up today. **** up tomorrow.’ This is it. This is what I came into the business for.” Benson, the only photographer on the scene, didn’t hesitate, and snapped now-iconic images of Kennedy on the floor, and a fear-stricken Ethel Kennedy turning around to scream: “Give him air!” Benson shot five rolls of film of the assassination, and put each roll in his sock, “in case a policeman with a gun asked me for my film.” He says: “I’d rather photograph for life than die for it

[bholas]

President Richard M. Nixon Resigns, Washington, D.C., August 1974


Nixon resigned the presidency on August 9, saying farewell to his Cabinet and White House staff with his family by his side. You can really see the pain in the faces of his family. I truly believe they are suffering with him.