The latest free exhibition at the Scottish Parliament is a collection of Harry Benson’s photographs taken in America over the last 50 years.
The Edinburgh Reporter NEWS – Harry Benson : Seeing America from Phyllis Stephen on Vimeo.
Benson was a press photographer in Glasgow and was asked to go to the US with The Beatles. He was about to set off on a trip to Africa and was not enthusiastic, but he never came home, and in 1998 gained US citizenship.
His work includes photos of all recent American presidents as well as photos documenting racial issues in America in the 1960s.
The photos tell the story of his life and work, but they are also a documentary of recent history in the States.
Now in his eighties it appears that he has not yet retired. He said proudly that he had recently photographed Donald Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, for Time magazine.
To a hushed gathering of photographers this morning at Holyrood he explained that he very much hopes that it will be Hillary Clinton who becomes the next President.
Deputy Presiding Officer Christine Grahame explained: “Harry Benson has had an extraordinary career as a photojournalist spanning over six decades. During his career he has been given unparalleled access to some of the world’s most well-known faces in the worlds of politics, entertainment, culture, sport and fashion.
“Harry’s credentials in photographing decisive moments in American history are unrivalled and this exhibition tells an illuminating story of American history through his eyes.”
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
