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Harry Benson

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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$290
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The Beatles on the Road 1964-1966 (Signed)
By Harry Benson
Located in Toronto, ON
These photos convey a really happy period for them and for me. It all comes down to music, they were without a doubt the greatest band of the 20th century, and that's why these photo...
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21st Century and Contemporary Harry Benson

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Other Medium

Once There Was A Way (Signed)
By Harry Benson
Located in Toronto, ON
A collection of photographs taken by a photographer commissioned to document Beatles on their 1964 tour of America is presented in a beautiful large-format style capturing all the gr...
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21st Century and Contemporary Harry Benson

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Other Medium

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

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

Materials

Archival Pigment

Paul
By Harry Benson
Located in Toronto, ON
An intimate look at one of the greatest music legends of all time, by an iconic photojournalist. From the delirium of the Beatles’ 1964 U.S. tour to the heady, shaggy days of WINGS in the 1970s and the quiet idyll of life on the family farm in the early 1990s, Paul traces the evolution of a pop superstar and of the man himself through more than 100 photographs, many never seen before. Collector’s Edition (No. 101–700), each numbered and signed by Harry Benson Maybe I’m Amazed A personal portrait of Paul McCartney by Harry Benson Harry Benson began photographing the young Paul McCartney in 1964, a pivotal year for the Beatles when they took America by storm, toured the world, and made their movie debut with A Hard Day’s Night—all documented by the affable Scotsman. And when the Fab Four called it quits, it was Benson who was afforded intimate access to Paul and wife Linda, as Paul forged a new path creatively and personally. Through Benson’s lens, Paul traces the evolution of its namesake as an icon, performer, and a devoted family man. We follow the musician at the height of his fame with the Beatles; in the recording studio with Linda and their band, Wings; with the family; behind the scenes and on stage during the 1975–76 “Wings Over America” tour; dancing the night away at a star-studded party on the Queen Mary to celebrate the band’s newest album; and with Linda on the couple’s farm in the U.K. in the early 1990s—a fittingly soft landing after so many years of flying high. Featuring more than 100 color and black-and-white images by the legendary photojournalist, many never seen before, this collection is a window onto a one-of-a-kind artist, one who has remained somewhat enigmatic despite nearly a lifetime of being in the limelight. Collector’s Edition of 600 copies (No. 101–700), each numbered and signed by Harry Benson The photographer Glasgow-born Harry Benson has photographed every US President since Eisenhower, the Civil Rights movement, and was next to Robert Kennedy when he was assassinated. As well as The Beatles, he has shot some of the biggest personalities of the last 50 years, including Michael Jackson, Elizabeth Taylor and Her Majesty The Queen. In 2009, he was made Commander of the British Empire (CBE). The editor Reuel Golden is the former editor of the British Journal of Photography and the Photography editor at TASCHEN. His TASCHEN titles include: Mick Rock: The Rise of David Bowie, both London and New York Portrait...
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Late 20th Century Harry Benson

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Other Medium

Paul
Paul
H 15 in W 10 in
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

Materials

Archival Pigment

Being There: Photography of Harry Benson by Harry Benson & Roger Hargreaves
By Harry Benson
Located in Toronto, ON
Harry Benson has enjoyed an extraordinary and unprecedented career as a photojournalist gaining access to some of the key figures of the last fifty years often at decisive moments of...
Category

Late 20th Century Harry Benson

Materials

Other Medium

Her Majesty. Vivienne Westwood Edition No. 1-500. 'Royal Greeting'
By Harry Benson
Located in Toronto, ON
Born in 1926, married in 1947, crowned as Queen in 1953, Queen Elizabeth II has carried out her royal duty for more than six decades. This book tells her remarkable royal story throu...
Category

Late 20th Century Harry Benson

Materials

Archival Pigment, Other Medium

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Harry Benson art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Harry Benson art available for sale on 1stDibs. If you’re browsing the collection of art to introduce a pop of color in a neutral corner of your living room or bedroom, you can find work that includes elements of red and other colors. You can also browse by medium to find art by Harry Benson in archival pigment print, pigment print, paper and more. Not every interior allows for large Harry Benson art, so small editions measuring 8 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Albert Watson, Gered Mankowitz, and Elliott Erwitt. Harry Benson art prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $10,900 and tops out at $30,000, while the average work can sell for $14,900.

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