Harry Benson

Birth : 1929-12-02, Glasgow, Scotland

History

Born in Glasgow and raised in Troon, Scotland, arrived in America with the Beatles in 1964. His pictures have appeared in Life, Vanity Fair, and The New Yorker. He took over a hundred cover shots for People. Harry has photographed every U.S. president from Eisenhower to Barack H. Obama; was just feet away from Bobby Kennedy the night he was assassinated; in the room with Richard Nixon when he resigned; on the Meredith march with Martin Luther King, Jr., next to Coretta Scott King at her husband’s funeral; on maneuvers with the IRA; was there when the Berlin Wall went up and when it came down; and covered the aftermath of Katrina in New Orleans.

Profile

Movies

Harry Benson: Shoot First

Self

What we know today about many famous musicians, politicians, and actresses is due to the famous work of photographer Harry Benson. He captured vibrant and intimate photos of the most famous band in history;The Beatles. His extensive portfolio grew to include iconic photos of Muhammad Ali, Michael Jackson, and Dr. Martin Luther King. His wide-ranging work has appeared in publications including Life, Vanity Fair and The New Yorker. Benson, now 86, is still taking photos and has no intentions of stopping.

Bobby Fischer Against the World

self

The first documentary feature to explore the tragic and bizarre life of the late chess master Bobby Fischer.

Bobby Fischer Against the World

Still Photographer

The first documentary feature to explore the tragic and bizarre life of the late chess master Bobby Fischer.

Smash His Camera

Self - Photojournalist

A film centering on the life and work of Ron Galella that examines the nature and effect of paparazzi.

America in Pictures - The Story of Life Magazine

Self

Life was an iconic weekly magazine that specialised in extraordinarily vivid photojournalism. In the 40s, 50s and 60s it caught the spirit of America as it blossomed into a world superpower and its influence on American people was unparalleled. Fashion photographer Rankin celebrates the work of Life's legendary photographers including Alfred Eisenstaedt and Margaret Bourke-White, who went to outrageous lengths to get the best picture. He travels across the USA to meet Bill Eppridge, John Shearer, John Loengard, Burk Uzzle and Harry Benson, who have shot the big moments in American history - from the assassination of Robert F Kennedy to the Civil Rights struggle and the Vietnam War. These photographers pioneered new forms of photojournalism, living with and photographing their subjects for weeks, enabling them to capture compelling yet ordinary aspects of American life too. Rankin discovers that Life told the story of America in photographs, and also taught America how to be American.