You may not have heard of his name, but you probably know his work. The person in question is photojournalist Harry Benson, whose career spans over 60 years and has recently had his life documented in the film “Harry Benson: Shoot First.”
The 89-minute production was shown at the 2016 Vancouver International Film Festival and is directed by Matthew Miele, best known for 2013’s “Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf’s,” and Justin Bare who wrote and directed the impending “Coked Up!” documentary about Coca-Cola.
It’s acknowledged early on that the Scottish-born Benson is perhaps best known for his infamous black and white shot of the Beatles having a pillow fight, which he took while travelling with the group on assignment during their American tour in 1964.
You might think that a movie showing a bunch of photographs sounds boring, but “Harry Benson: Shoot First” does an excellent job of mixing in stories from celebrities, politicians and other people of interest that Benson has shot over his long career, as well as Benson himself, all done to an excellent soundtrack consisting of period-appropriate songs.
Some of the stars making appearances include Sharon Stone, Alec Baldwin, Dan Rather, James L. Brooks and Ralph Lauren, just to name a few. There is also a hilarious (intentional?) juxtaposition of Bill and Hillary Clinton anecdotes with Donald Trump interview snippets.
A big takeaway from the project is that although Benson is best known for his work with performers, he rarely says no to an assignment and was on hand to photograph Martin Luther King at the civil rights march, Bobby Kennedy immediately following his assassination, and even taking pictures of John Lennon’s assassin Mark David Chapman shortly after his arrest.
Benson is now 86 years old, and splits his time living between New York and Florida with his wife and manager Gigi.
Photo: Magnolia Pictures
