New Photography Page (Always Being Updated!!!)

[officialben]

Um so I have a new page due to peer pressure from a photo-friend of mine at school. I paid for a pro account at flickr, so now I've got that one too.

Here's my new site!

post-script: this site is a lot more light-weight than my parazz site, and I plan to only put my absolute fav's here. drop me a line!

[Megalobrainiac]

Great pictures dude!

I have my favourites on a Swedish web site, but you have to be logged in to see them, and at the moment I can't be bothered putting them up on a special site on my own server. I might do that someday so that I can show off a bit too Although my pictures are nothing compared to yours... (I'm sooo humble)

[officialben]

Hey thanks, man. Link us as soon as you can!

[oLO von B.org]

nice work ben, many of your shots carry a lot of motion, I like these non static pictures a lot.

oLO

[officialben]

I have like a million shots of those two little girls, probably the best photo-op of the whole music video. There's a ton more at my parazz page.

[Casey D]

very nice work ben, which do you preffer doing over the other, photography? or filmmaking (any aspect)?

[officialben]

It took me a year of film school - learning how to make motion pictures - to find out that I have a passion for still photography. But the beauty of it is, I love doing set photography. I can meet lots of people and the heaviest thing I have to lift is my telephoto lens. Film school has definitely prepared me for life in Hollywood, and I am confident I will put what I've learned to good use.

[Miller17]

Yea ben that site rules dude!!!!
I bet we will see more of you in the future:D:DBecause dude u have alot of talent

[officialben]

muchas gracias mi amigo

[officialben]

Hm... Lots of new photos, dudes. Go check it out! I've gotten two new lenses since I last mentioned the page. I can't stop spending my money on them. It's getting worse...

Checkiddouuut

[Stephanie]

I enjoy your pictures, Ben. I can't stand not knowing who these people are so I make-up stories to go along with them.

[officialben]

I'm glad to hear that you're making stories at all. The intention of my last shoot was to be able to tell a story of my day. It works best if you view the set I made with all the pictures in chronological order. Once I make a true photo blog about my day, I'll post a link.

[Mexican Coke]

That's a very interesting concept. I am fascinated by photography. Its really changed the direction art has taken since the camera was invented. I really would like to learn more about it and how it challenges artists. Good luck with it. What are some things you consider before you shoot?

I am so interested is several media I think I will try and persue a more museum or film direction with art. I'm an art major now, but I feel kinda torn on whether to further develop my studio art skills for a path in say, storyboarding or concept art for films or curatorial studies for a museum.

[officialben]

well my last shoot was friday, and I tried to keep in my mind that I want to be able to tell a story with the photos I take. And it sounds cliche, but I want the camera to be my eyes. I don't want to look at my pictures and be thinking about my camera. I want people to see my pictures as if they're seeing what I saw.

As far as when I'm shooting, I snap when I feel. When you start thinking like a photographer (or a filmmaker, for that matter) all the time, you can't help but imagine how you would capture a moment in whatever setting you're in. If I'm in a room with a lively conversation going on and I don't have my camera, the ideas still shoot through my mind. I'll see an expression and wish, "man, I wish I had my camera right now." I look around the room and figure out what my shot selection would be if I were to film this conversation. I can't help it now. I guess that's what a year in film school will do to you.

Anyway, my number one rule as a photographer is "If it looks good, shoot it." Chances are you'll go through your photos and dump a lot of them (I'm speaking as a digital photographer, I'll be getting into film in a couple months), but you'll find those few magic moments where you're truly impressed with yourself and will be glad you captured that moment. Another thing to remember is that other people are going to love some of the photos that you couldn't care less about. It happens a lot.

I'm done, ahaha.

[Mexican Coke]

Excellent insight!!

I suppose its even harder for photographers then for painters or sculptors to wait and find that perfect moment to shoot. But luckily, artists are blessed with immense patience, you must have that temperament.

I remember reading, one of the earliest artists to use your "the eyes are my camera" mentality was Monet and many of the later Impressionists. They new the camera could capture moments way better than a painter could with the most clarity. But Monet was looking to study the effects of light and its interaction with form. But therein lies the challenge. Light is always changing, and it forced painters to work faster and more impatiently.

Do you find that you wait around too long to wait for the right moment to shoot something or when you go back and look at what you shot, you find something that strikes you and it actually turns out to be something you were looking for in the first place? I don't know what its called for photographers, but have you ever set up a still life to shoot? I know a lot of people hate still life, and would rather be a more active shooter. (I know that sounds funny but I think you get my drift.)