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Harry Benson 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
Charlotte Ronson, New York

Charlotte Ronson, New York

By Harry Benson

Located in New York, NY

Signed by the photographer. Larger sizes also available.

Category

2010s Harry Benson Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Pierre Cardin, Paris

Pierre Cardin, Paris

By Harry Benson

Located in New York, NY

Signed by the photographer. Larger sizes also available.

Category

1970s Harry Benson Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Diane von Furstenberg

Diane von Furstenberg

By Harry Benson

Located in New York, NY

Signed by the photographer. Larger sizes also available.

Category

1990s Harry Benson Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

André Courrèges with Models, Paris

André Courrèges with Models, Paris

By Harry Benson

Located in New York, NY

Signed by the photographer. Larger sizes also available.

Category

1970s Harry Benson Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Yves St. Laurent with Models, Paris

Yves St. Laurent with Models, Paris

By Harry Benson

Located in New York, NY

Signed by the photographer. Larger sizes also available.

Category

1990s Harry Benson Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Yves St. Laurent and Kirat Young

Yves St. Laurent and Kirat Young

By Harry Benson

Located in New York, NY

Signed by the photographer. Larger sizes also available.

Category

1970s Harry Benson Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Christian Lacroix with Models, New York

Christian Lacroix with Models, New York

By Harry Benson

Located in New York, NY

Signed by the photographer. Larger sizes also available.

Category

1980s Harry Benson Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Karl Lagerfeld and Liz Tilberis, Paris

Karl Lagerfeld and Liz Tilberis, Paris

By Harry Benson

Located in New York, NY

Signed by the photographer. Larger sizes also available.

Category

1970s Harry Benson Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

John Fairchild, New York

John Fairchild, New York

By Harry Benson

Located in New York, NY

Signed by the photographer. Larger sizes also available.

Category

1980s Harry Benson Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Anna Wintour, Paris

Anna Wintour, Paris

By Harry Benson

Located in New York, NY

Signed by the photographer. Larger sizes also available.

Category

1990s Harry Benson Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Diana Vreeland, New York

Diana Vreeland, New York

By Harry Benson

Located in New York, NY

Signed by the photographer. Larger sizes also available.

Category

1980s Harry Benson Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Mortimer’s, New York

Mortimer’s, New York

By Harry Benson

Located in New York, NY

Signed by the photographer. Larger sizes also available.

Category

1980s Harry Benson Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Calvin Klein with models, New York

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 Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Ralph Lauren, New York

Ralph Lauren, New York

By Harry Benson

Located in New York, NY

Signed by the photographer. Larger sizes also available.

Category

1990s Harry Benson Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Ralph Lauren Backstage, New York

Ralph Lauren Backstage, New York

By Harry Benson

Located in New York, NY

Signed by the photographer. Larger sizes also available.

Category

1980s Harry Benson Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Ralph Lauren on Runway, New York

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 Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Ralph Lauren, New York

Ralph Lauren, New York

By Harry Benson

Located in New York, NY

Signed by the photographer. Larger sizes also available.

Category

1980s Harry Benson Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Donna Karan, Wall Street

Donna Karan, Wall Street

By Harry Benson

Located in New York, NY

Signed by the photographer. Larger sizes also available.

Category

1990s Harry Benson Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Donna Karan for Anne Klein

Donna Karan for Anne Klein

By Harry Benson

Located in New York, NY

Signed by the photographer. Larger sizes also available.

Category

1980s Harry Benson Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Donna Karan and Stephan Weiss, New York

Donna Karan and Stephan Weiss, New York

By Harry Benson

Located in New York, NY

Signed by the photographer. Larger sizes also available.

Category

1980s Harry Benson Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

James Galanos, Los Angeles

James Galanos, Los Angeles

By Harry Benson

Located in New York, NY

Signed by the photographer. Larger sizes also available.

Category

1980s Harry Benson Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

James Galanos, Los Angeles

James Galanos, Los Angeles

By Harry Benson

Located in New York, NY

Signed by the photographer. Larger sizes also available.

Category

1980s Harry Benson Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Geoffrey Beene, New York

Geoffrey Beene, New York

By Harry Benson

Located in New York, NY

Signed by the photographer. Larger sizes also available.

Category

1980s Harry Benson Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Geoffrey Beene, New York

Geoffrey Beene, New York

By Harry Benson

Located in New York, NY

Signed by the photographer. Larger sizes also available.

Category

1980s Harry Benson Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Geoffrey Beene, New York

Geoffrey Beene, New York

By Harry Benson

Located in New York, NY

Signed by the photographer. Larger sizes also available.

Category

1980s Harry Benson Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Halston with models, New York

Halston with models, New York

By Harry Benson

Located in New York, NY

Halston with models Alva Chinn, Chris Royer, Karen Bjornsen, Nancy North, Carla Araque, Pat Cleveland, and Shirley Ferro, New York, 1977. Signed by the...

Category

1970s Harry Benson Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Oscar de la Renta, New York

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 Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Iman in Oscar de la Renta, New York

Iman in 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 Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Bill Blass with Josie Borain, New York

Bill Blass with Josie Borain, New York

By Harry Benson

Located in New York, NY

Signed by the photographer. Larger sizes also available.

Category

1990s Harry Benson Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Bill Blass, New York

Bill Blass, New York

By Harry Benson

Located in New York, NY

Signed by the photographer. Larger sizes also available.

Category

1990s Harry Benson Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Emanuel Ungaro with Models, Paris

Emanuel Ungaro with Models, Paris

By Harry Benson

Located in New York, NY

Signed by the photographer. Larger sizes also available.

Category

1970s Harry Benson Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Cassius Clay and the Beatles, Miami, Black and White Photography, Fine Art Print

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 Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Alexander and Tatiana Liberman

Alexander and Tatiana Liberman

By Harry Benson

Located in New York, NY

Signed by the photographer.

Category

1980s Harry Benson Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Brice Marden

Brice Marden

By Harry Benson

Located in New York, NY

Signed by the photographer.

Category

1990s Harry Benson Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Jerry Hall (x 9), New York

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 Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Maurice Sendak

Maurice Sendak

By Harry Benson

Located in New York, NY

Maurice Sendak, 1970

Category

1970s Harry Benson Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Beatlemania, 1964

Beatlemania, 1964

By Harry Benson

Located in New York, NY

Beatlemania, 1964

Category

1960s Harry Benson Photography

Harry Benson photography for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Harry Benson photography available for sale on 1stDibs. If you’re browsing the collection of photography 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, 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 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, Gered Mankowitz, and Greg Gorman. Harry Benson 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 $12,000.