Harry Benson Black and White Photography
Scottish, b. 1929
Iconic photographer Harry Benson has captured some of the most pivotal moments in modern history. Always in the right place at the right time, Benson used his camera lens to give the world a glimpse into events that rocked the globe. His black and white and color photographs include shots of celebrities, politicians, royalty, political upheavals and social revolutions. His contributions to photography are widely celebrated and recognized.
One of the first highlights of Benson's career was touring with the Beatles in February of 1964. While at the Hotel George V in Paris, he snapped the famous images of the band having a playful pillow fight. Benson stayed in America after the Beatles' first visit to the States and started working for Life in 1968. He was under contract with the magazine from 1970 to 2000.
Benson was on assignment for Life during the 1968 assassination of Robert Kennedy — just steps behind the senator when it occurred. After the shot rang out, Benson told himself, "this is for history, pull yourself together, fail tomorrow, not today," and documented the moment that Kennedy lay on the floor.
In 1989, Benson photographed the student protests in Tiananmen Square and the fall of the Berlin Wall. He was with President Clinton on his historic visit to Kosovo in 1999 and captured New York City in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. Benson has also photographed every president since Eisenhower and taken numerous images of Queen Elizabeth II.
Over the course of his long career, Benson's photographs have appeared in Town & Country, Vanity Fair, Time, GQ, Newsweek, Vice, Architectural Digest and more. His works are held in the permanent collections of the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery and the Scottish National Portrait Gallery.
Benson has earned extensive accolades for his work in photography. The National Press Photographers Association twice named him “Magazine Photographer of the Year.” He has also received several lifetime achievement awards, an Honorary Doctor of Letters from Glasgow University and The University of St. Andrews, and an Honorary Fellowship from the Royal Photographic Society.
On 1stDibs, find a collection of authentic Harry Benson photography.
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Artist: Harry Benson
Paul 1964
By Harry Benson
Located in Toronto, ON
4" x 5" Unframed
Closed Edition Photograph
MAGNUM Photography
Hand Signed by Harry Benson
Category
Late 20th Century Harry Benson Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
The Pillow Fight
By Harry Benson
Located in Toronto, ON
23" x 23" Unframed
Limited Edition 5/35
Hand Signed by Harry Benson
1964 printed 2012
"Harry Benson’s self-described “one photograph” is Beatles’ Pillow...
Category
1960s Harry Benson Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
We Shall Overcome (The James Meredith March Against Fear), June 1966
By Harry Benson
Located in Toronto, ON
4" x 5" Unframed
Closed Edition Photograph
MAGNUM Photography
Hand Signed by Harry Benson
Category
Late 20th Century Harry Benson Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
John Lennon
By Harry Benson
Located in Toronto, ON
11" x 14" Framed
Archival Pigment Print
Hand Signed by Harry Benson
Category
Late 20th Century Harry Benson Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
George Burns Visiting Gracie, Circa 1975
By Harry Benson
Located in Toronto, ON
16" x 20" Unframed
Limited Edition Silver Gelatin Print of 35
Hand Signed by Harry Benson
Category
Late 20th Century Harry Benson Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Harry Benson 'Ali in Training' Limited Edition Photographic Print, 40 x 40
By Harry Benson
Located in San Rafael, CA
American Heavyweight boxer Cassius Clay (later Muhammad Ali), training in his gym, 21st May 1965. (Photo by Harry Benson/Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
As an authorized Getty ...
Category
1960s Modern Harry Benson Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin, Photographic Paper
Harry Benson 'Ali in Training' Limited Edition Photographic Print, 30 x 30
By Harry Benson
Located in San Rafael, CA
American Heavyweight boxer Cassius Clay (later Muhammad Ali), training in his gym, 21st May 1965. (Photo by Harry Benson/Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
As an authorized Getty ...
Category
1960s Modern Harry Benson Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin, Photographic Paper
Harry Benson 'Ali in Training' Limited Edition Photographic Print, 20 x 20
By Harry Benson
Located in San Rafael, CA
American Heavyweight boxer Cassius Clay (later Muhammad Ali), training in his gym, 21st May 1965. (Photo by Harry Benson/Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
As an authorized Getty ...
Category
1960s Modern Harry Benson Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin, Photographic Paper
"Ali In Training" by Harry Benson
By Harry Benson
Located in London, GB
"Ali In Training" by Harry Benson
American Heavyweight boxer Cassius Clay (later Muhammad Ali), training in his gym, 21st May 1965.
Unframed
Pa...
Category
1960s Modern Harry Benson Black and White Photography
Materials
Black and White
Francis Bacon by Harry Benson
By Harry Benson
Located in Cleveland, OH
Harry Benson was born near Glasgow, Scotland. The photographer was assigned to travel with the Beatles on their first American tour in 1964. His iconic photograph shows the band in a...
Category
1970s Harry Benson Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Beatles Pillow Fight by Harry Benson
By Harry Benson
Located in Cleveland, OH
Harry Benson was born near Glasgow, Scotland. The photographer was assigned to travel with the Beatles on their first American tour in 1964. His iconic photograph shows the band in a gleeful pillow...
Category
1960s Harry Benson Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Frank Sinatra and Mia Farrow by Harry Benson
By Harry Benson
Located in Cleveland, OH
Harry Benson was born near Glasgow, Scotland. The photographer was assigned to travel with the Beatles on their first American tour in 1964. His iconic photograph shows the band in a...
Category
1960s Harry Benson Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Berlin Kiss by Harry Benson
By Harry Benson
Located in Cleveland, OH
Harry Benson was born near Glasgow, Scotland. The photographer was assigned to travel with the Beatles on their first American tour in 1964. His iconic photograph shows the band in a gleeful pillow fight in a hotel room. Benson has photographed every U.S. president from Eisenhower to Barack Obama. He was feet away when Bobby Kennedy was assassinated; in the room when Nixon resigned; with Martin Luther King, Jr. on the Meredith march; and with Coretta Scott King...
Category
1990s Harry Benson Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Andy and Bianca at The Factory by Harry Benson
By Harry Benson
Located in Cleveland, OH
Harry Benson was born near Glasgow, Scotland. The photographer was assigned to travel with the Beatles on their first American tour in 1964. His iconic photograph shows the band in a...
Category
1970s Harry Benson Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
The Beatles Ed Sullivan Show by Harry Benson
By Harry Benson
Located in Cleveland, OH
*Without production cameras filming
Harry Benson was born near Glasgow, Scotland. The photographer was assigned to travel with the Beatles on their first American tour in 1964. His ...
Category
1960s Harry Benson Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Paul Hits John, Pillow Fight by Harry Benson
By Harry Benson
Located in Cleveland, OH
Harry Benson was born near Glasgow, Scotland. The photographer was assigned to travel with the Beatles on their first American tour in 1964. His iconic photograph shows the band in a gleeful pillow...
Category
1960s Harry Benson Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Ali Hits George by Harry Benson
By Harry Benson
Located in Cleveland, OH
Harry Benson was born near Glasgow, Scotland. The photographer was assigned to travel with the Beatles on their first American tour in 1964. His iconic photograph shows the band in a...
Category
1960s Harry Benson Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
The Beatles Ed Sullivan Show by Harry Benson
By Harry Benson
Located in Cleveland, OH
*With production cameras filming
Harry Benson was born near Glasgow, Scotland. The photographer was assigned to travel with the Beatles on their first American tour in 1964. His ico...
Category
1960s Harry Benson Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Warhol and Friends by Harry Benson
By Harry Benson
Located in Cleveland, OH
Harry Benson was born near Glasgow, Scotland. The photographer was assigned to travel with the Beatles on their first American tour in 1964. His iconic photograph shows the band in a...
Category
1970s Harry Benson Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Jackie Kennedy by Harry Benson
By Harry Benson
Located in Cleveland, OH
Harry Benson was born near Glasgow, Scotland. The photographer was assigned to travel with the Beatles on their first American tour in 1964. His iconic photograph shows the band in a gleeful pillow fight in a hotel room. Benson has photographed every U.S. president from Eisenhower to Barack Obama. He was feet away when Bobby Kennedy was assassinated; in the room when Nixon resigned; with Martin Luther King, Jr. on the Meredith march; and with Coretta Scott King...
Category
1960s Harry Benson Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
The Beatles Composing, Paris, 1964
By Harry Benson
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer on the recto
Category
1960s Harry Benson Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
The Beatles, Ed Sullivan Show, New York, 1964
By Harry Benson
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer on the recto
Category
1960s Harry Benson Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
The Beatles, Miami, 1964
By Harry Benson
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer on the recto
Category
1960s Harry Benson Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
The Beatles and Clay (Muhammad Ali), Miami, 1964
By Harry Benson
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer on the recto
Category
1960s Harry Benson Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
The Beatles: Pillow Fight, Paris, 1964
By Harry Benson
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer on the verso
Category
1960s Harry Benson Black and White Photography
Materials
Dye Transfer
The Beatles, Miami Beach
By Harry Benson
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
Category
1960s Harry Benson Black and White Photography
Materials
Photographic Paper
Beatles Composing Times Three, Paris
By Harry Benson
Located in Greenwich, CT
Edition of 35
From their time as the Quarrymen through to their final days as a group, the Beatles' creative heart was always in John and Paul who functioned as the group's primary songwirters and composers. Harry Benson was fortunate enough to be assigned to accompany the Beatles on their first trip to Paris where they stayed at the Hotel George V...
Category
1960s Harry Benson Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Beatles Pillow Fight, Paris, 1964
By Harry Benson
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Signed, titled and dated in ink on recto
Gelatin silver print
Image 14-7/8" x 14-7/8", Paper 20" x 16", Matted 24" x 20"
Category
1960s Harry Benson Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Coretta Scott King & Family, 1968
By Harry Benson
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Coretta Scott King & Family, 1968
Signed, titled and dated in ink on recto
Gelatin silver print
Image 21-7/8" x 14-1/4", Paper 24" x 20", Matted 30"...
Category
1960s Harry Benson Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
The Who, 1980
By Harry Benson
Located in Santa Monica, CA
The Who, 1980
Signed, titled and dated in ink on recto
Gelatin silver print
Image 16-3/4" x 22-7/8", Paper 20" x 24", Matted 24" x 30"
Edition 8 of 35
Category
1980s Harry Benson Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Beatles Composing, Paris, 1964
By Harry Benson
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Beatles Composing, Paris, 1964
Signed, titled and dated in ink on recto
Gelatin silver print
Image 16-7/8" x 17-7/8", Paper 20" x 24", Matted 24" x 30"
Edition 32 of 35
Category
1960s Harry Benson Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Jackie in London, 1962
By Harry Benson
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Jackie in London, 1962
Signed, titled and dated in ink on recto
Gelatin silver print
Image 17" x 17", Paper 20" x 24", Matted 24" x 30"
Edition 7 of 35
Category
1960s Harry Benson Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Diana Vreeland, 1980
By Harry Benson
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Diana Vreeland, 1980
Signed, titled and dated in ink on recto
Gelatin silver print
Image 18-3/8" x 18", Paper 24" x 20", Matted 30" x 24"
Edition 7 of 35
Category
Late 20th Century Harry Benson Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Arnold Palmer, 1974
By Harry Benson
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Gelatin silver print
Image 15-1/2" x 23", Paper 20" x 24", Matted 24" x 30"
Edition 10 of 35
Category
Late 20th Century Harry Benson Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
RFK St. Patricks Day Parade, NYC, 1968
By Harry Benson
Located in Santa Monica, CA
RFK St. Patricks Day Parade, NYC, 1968
Signed, titled and dated in ink on recto
Gelatin silver print
Image 15-5/8" x 20-7/8", Paper 17" x 22", Matted 24" x 30"
Edition 8 of 35
Category
1960s Harry Benson Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Ethel, Los Angeles, 1968
By Harry Benson
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Signed, titled and dated in ink on recto
Gelatin silver print
Image 19-1/4" x 15-7/8", Paper 22" x 17", Matted 30" x 24"
Edition 8 of 35
Category
1960s Harry Benson Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Greta Garbo, Antigua, 1976
By Harry Benson
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
Category
1970s Harry Benson Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Henri Langlois, Robert Guerra, and Eila Hershon
By Harry Benson
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer
Category
1970s Harry Benson Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Celtics vs. Rangers, Glasgow, Scotland
By Harry Benson
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer.
Additional sizes may be available upon request.
Category
1970s Harry Benson Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment, Photographic Paper
Float Like A Butterfly, Sting Like A Bee: Muhammad Ali, Miami
By Harry Benson
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer.
Additional sizes may be available upon request.
Category
1960s Harry Benson Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment, Photographic Paper
Katharine Graham and Truman Capote, “Black & White” Ball, New York
By Harry Benson
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer. Larger sizes also available.
Category
1960s Harry Benson Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Diana Vreeland, New York
By Harry Benson
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer. Larger sizes also available.
Category
1980s Harry Benson Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Calvin Klein with models, New York
By Harry Benson
Located in New York, NY
Calvin Klein with Shaun Casey, Patti Hansen, Lisa Taylor, and Janice Dickinson, New York, 1978
Signed by the photographer. Larger sizes also available.
Category
1970s Harry Benson Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Calvin Klein with Barbara Allen, Beverly Johnson, and Chris O’Connor
By Harry Benson
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer. Larger sizes also available.
Category
1970s Harry Benson Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Ralph Lauren on Runway, New York
By Harry Benson
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer. Larger sizes also available.
Category
1980s Harry Benson Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Oscar de la Renta, New York
By Harry Benson
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer. Larger sizes also available.
Category
1970s Harry Benson Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Cassius Clay and the Beatles, Miami, Black and White Photography, Fine Art Print
By Harry Benson
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Limited edition of fine art archival pigment prints, fiber-based
Edition of 35
Numbered and signed by Harry Benson
Glasgow-born Harry Benson has photographed every US President ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Harry Benson Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Jerry Hall (x 9), New York
By Harry Benson
Located in New York, NY
Signed by the photographer. Please inquire for additional sizes.
Category
1970s Harry Benson Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Helen Gurley Brown and her husband David in doorway, New York
By Harry Benson
Located in New York, NY
This print is signed by the photographer and is in an edition of 35. Please inquire for additional sizes.
Category
1980s Harry Benson Black and White Photography
Materials
Silver Gelatin
Muhammad Ali: Float like a Butterfly, Miami, 1964
By Harry Benson
Located in New York, NY
Muhammad Ali: Float like a Butterfly, Miami, 1964
Category
1960s Harry Benson Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
Andy Warhol at The Factory, New York, 1977
By Harry Benson
Located in New York, NY
Andy Warhol at The Factory, New York, 1977
Category
1970s Harry Benson Black and White Photography
Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali) and Sunny Liston, Miami, 1964
By Harry Benson
Located in New York, NY
Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali) and Sunny Liston, Miami, 1964
Category
1960s Harry Benson Black and White Photography
Beatlemania, 1964
By Harry Benson
Located in New York, NY
Beatlemania, 1964
Category
1960s Harry Benson Black and White Photography
Beatles, Boston, 1966
By Harry Benson
Located in New York, NY
Beatles, Boston, 1966
Category
1960s Harry Benson Black and White Photography
The Beatles, Ed Sullivan Show, New York, 1964
By Harry Benson
Located in New York, NY
The Beatles, Ed Sullivan Show, New York, 1964
Category
1960s Harry Benson Black and White Photography
The Beatles Composing, Paris, 1964
By Harry Benson
Located in New York, NY
The Beatles Composing, Paris, 1964
Category
1960s Harry Benson Black and White Photography
The Beatles reading their fan mail, Paris
By Harry Benson
Located in New York, NY
All editions signed by the photographer.
Category
1960s Harry Benson Black and White Photography
Materials
Archival Pigment
The Beatles, Ed Sullivan Show, New York, 1964
By Harry Benson
Located in New York, NY
The Beatles, Ed Sullivan Show, New York, 1964
Category
1960s Harry Benson Black and White Photography
Harry Benson black and white photography for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a wide variety of authentic Harry Benson black and white photography available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Harry Benson in archival pigment print, pigment print, silver gelatin print and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 20th century and is mostly associated with the modern style. Not every interior allows for large Harry Benson black and white photography, so small editions measuring 5 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Albert Watson, Sebastião Salgado, and Andreas H. Bitesnich. Harry Benson black and white photography prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $400 and tops out at $30,000, while the average work can sell for $12,900.