About one of our street poets: Beniliam

[pesphoto]

Truly well deserved praise.

 

[ywenz]

i see quite a bit photos of children in his gallery. I can't imagine an adult male making those type of shots in America without being labeled as a pedaphile.

 

[raid]

Just yesterday I was going over some of Beniliam's work, and I critiqued it. He is an excellent street photographer and I told him "well done" over and over. I also offered some suggestions on how I would have taken the photo(s). Positive critiqueing is good.

 

[egpj]

I could not offer any critique of his photos. They are beautiful in my opinion.

ummm, one critique, post more please.

 

[Beniliam]

All this overflows me ... 😱

I do not know if I deserve these samples of affection but ...

Thanks.

I can't imagine an adult male making those type of shots in America without being labeled as a pedaphile.

In June I will be 21 years old. Why always thought bad? Five-three years later I was a teenager, now I am padaphile. I know that are bad people in the world... but do you think that are badness intentions in all the childrens photos?

 

[ywenz]

In June I will be 21 years old. Why always thought bad? Five-three years later I was a teenager, now I am padaphile. I know that are bad people in the world... but do you think that are badness intentions in all the childrens photos?

Lol, lost in translation indeed. I didn't make any comment about you. I just pointed out the fact that it is very difficult to acquire street shots of children without the aforementioned connotation. Sad, but fact of life in america. Your photos are very nice

 

[Beniliam]

Im sorry If I dont expressed well or I have understood badly Ywenz. 🙂

My message was more one ask aloud.

 

[Wayne R. Scott]

Street poet is an apt description of Beniliam's work.

His 'little girl running toward the big bird" photo (submitted for the RFF contest) still ranks as one of the best shots I've seen on RFF ... bar none.

Well deserved praise 🙂

Fyfisher Tom,

I could not agree with you more. I was diaappointed that his photo was not picked for the top twelve in the contest.

Wayne

 

[sf]

Yes, Beniliam is certainly a marvelous artist. I'd have to say that his work is very consistently powerful and fun to look at.

 

[PeterL]

If I could produce images half as good as those in Benilliams gallery I'd be many times better than my current best. Seeing this inspires me to try harder and maybe think a little more about the surroundings to imagine the position of passing people. I cannot do this on the fly.

I really needed a kick to get out with my camera more, now I have it. 🙂

This sums it up for me. I've been thinking about street photography for a while now, and interaction seemed the key. Beniliam has just shown it to me. Very nice. I think the picture of the small girl and the big bird is called Jump ? It's lovely.

Ruben, thanks for pointing me to this gallery. It's been a good lesson.


Peter.

 

[peter_n]

To pick up on something Oscar said, Benilliam is a very nice person. He was very helpful to me when I visited his beautiful city last year and I do regret that I did not have the chance to meet him. But it is a privilege to see through his eyes and as Willy Ronis said "Photography. It's seeing. You've either got it or you haven't." Benilliam certainly has it and I think we can all count ourselves lucky to know him before he becomes famous. 🙂

 

[sf]

Ruben, your last point, that Beniliam's work seems as though he is infinitely comfortable in the street, is very much a part of what I see as well.

I don't ever view a work in the context of other works, or seek traits in one photographer that I like in another. I dislike doing so because it demeans the value of that artist who would be compared to another. It displaces their own unique value into a sort of review of the artist with whom others are to be compared. Not to mention, I just find that it brings the walls in too close when it seems that any number of facets of the gift would be so commom. The tools and space are common, then rest is unique.

Beniliam, and other photographers that I believe are given the gift, have a very powerful natural sense of the world in motion, of their surroundings, of how to see things in a way that amplifies their aesthetic value. They connect with the subject, whether the subject is aware or not, and that connection presents itself richly in the photograph. Knowing the value of the subject on some level that allows one to place it well within its own surroundings is something essential to giving an image the balanced, refined look.

Beniliam’s work shows a remarkable talent for seeing things that others might pass over easily in scanning for contrast. Capturing subtle details in chaos and bringing them into their own in the composition is a rare talent – and delicately practiced by Beniliam in his most fantastic pieces.

I think, though, when it comes down to it, Beniliam has an inhumanly agile eye on his world, and wields his camera with the fearlessness of a savant.

 

[stet]

very well said, George; a compliment that complements Beniliam and his work well.

 

[Pherdinand]

In order to produce such great images, I think the photographer also really needs to love the world around him, the people around him, and have clear thoughts whenever approaching a subject.

But this is just theory, fact is, the photos are enjoyable!

 

[ruben]

Ruben, ....I don't ever view a work in the context of other works, or seek traits in one photographer that I like in another. I dislike doing so because it demeans the value of that artist who would be compared to another. It displaces their own unique value into a sort of review of the artist with whom others are to be compared. Not to mention, I just find that it brings the walls in too close when it seems that any number of facets of the gift would be so commom. The tools and space are common, then rest is unique......I think, though, when it comes down to it, Beniliam has an inhumanly agile eye on his world, and wields his camera with the fearlessness of a savant.

After thinking about it, you are right. But allow me the opportunity to explain how I came to it.

It was quite spontaneous. The case was not that when viewing Beniliam images I see a general parallel between him and HCB or Kertecz. It was not the case.
But there were some very few and specific images that produced me the strong feeling I am looking at an image of HCB, and on an other specific opportunity, Andre Kertecz. You are right in that I shouldn't make these kind of confussing parallels. I was not aware of your point but find it quite to be taken into account. What nice a thing we can have a civilized exchange these troubled days.

But I will like to make two interesting points.
The first, is wether Beniliam has felt himself a bit underestimated by the parallel, or rather complimented. It is up to him to say his own.

The second point is that the parallel was made between the matured HCB and Kertecz, and the very young Beniliam, with only 21 ! ! ! !
It will be rather interesting for me now, to be able to review what HCB and Kertecz were doing by their very early twenties....

I was totally in shock when Beniliam said along this thread he is just 21.

Cheers,
Ruben

 

[wintoid]

I'm really glad to see these comments about such a good and kind person as Beniliam.

 

[Beniliam]

Im not 21 even. Im still 20. My birthday is the 15 of June. A year ago the 22 of June my father died so are not good memories...

Its indescribable what I feel. I am very shameful and I never thought about this. My gratefulness to all [...] 🙂 I want to think and remember the other great companions who have photos in the Gallery, they also deserve good words too, and like said at the begining, are more than two photographs ...

 

[bcs89]

Im not 21 even. Im still 20. My birthday is the 15 of June. A year ago the 22 of June my father died so are not good memories...

Its indescribable what I feel. I am very shameful and I never thought about this. My gratefulness to all [...] 🙂 I want to think and remember the other great companions who have photos in the Gallery, they also deserve good words too, and like said at the begining, are more than two photographs ...

You are absolutely right Beniliam - there are many gifted photographers here that deserve praise in their own right - but I think what Ruben was pointing out (with out trying to speak for him), is that you are truly an artist. Had you chosen paint, sculpture, or any other form of self-expression, I have no doubt you would have shone just as brilliantly as you do with photography. The only difference being we here at RFF would not have been privy to the "Early Years". Others have said they would love to have 1/2 of your talent - taking into account the people who said this I consider to be very talented, I would be happy to settle for an even smaller percentage of your gift.

 

[ruben]

Compa Beniliam,
(or perhaps in English: Billy The Kid)

Each time you express yourself about yourself, you bring me such a broad smile into my face, quite close to that one upon viewing your "street stories" gallery. Perhaps it is your unparalleled humility, perhaps it is your sincerity, perhaps something else escaping my counscious understanding. Some very touching sensitivity overflowing me. What a luck for us to be in touch with you !

One very interesting thing you are revealing us as by the same coin: a bit of what the people you photograph may be feeling towards you.

The most amazing practical lesson I ever got about street photography.

Cheers,
Ruben

PS: I find that calling you The Kid is very sarcastic in the most positive way. Such a talents and virtues within such a youthness. Friends at RFF kindly allow me this sarcasm as I cannot cope with this phenomena otherwise.

 

[sf]

Speaking of other photographers in the RFF, look for the "post links to online galleries here" thread. I posted a link to an RFF artist who I think is also magnificently talented.