Hi, I’m Ben - a photographer living and working in Los Angeles. When I was just a lad I dreamt of being a breakdancing ninja. That didn’t work out so well, so “I settled” for photography and I couldn’t be happier with the choice I made. I truly believe that the key to existence is what you make of it and oftentimes less is more; I try to keep my photography as simple as possible, using natural light and natural settings most of the time. I’m always trying to capture the various emotions of human life and bring out the most natural and genuine representations of the world around me, and thus I push myself to go beyond comfort and convenience. Beyond walls, there are amazing cultural differences and beliefs, attitudes and understandings, but also basic, fundamental similarities… there are incredible earthly formations, colors I never even knew existed, electric smiles and beauty in the most unlikely corners and crevices. And of course there is suffering too and it needs an outlet. I want my craft to expose truth when and where it can. I am always trying to illuminate the extraordinary in the ordinary and conversely, the ordinary in the extraordinary; there is magic all around if you keep your eyes open long enough (and that’s what I hope to capture with each click of the shutter)!
In addition to being a photographer, I am also a social coach/therapist for individuals affected by autism and I organize tours/events for Atlas Obscura, an online compendium of curiosity. Once upon a time, I was also the co-founder of the (now-defunct) literary/arts magazine, Two With Water (based out of Chicago). In my free-time, I enjoy visiting animal sanctuaries and hanging out with the residents. And as much as I love LA I’ll use any excuse to get outside of the city limits and breathe in some fresh air, hike, camp and swim in mountain lakes.
