Ben is a photographer based in New York City. He was born in Louisiana, but spent most of his life in Austin, Texas. His work explores the complexity of life with a sense of wonderment and discovery. Community and human connection in the lyrical documentary tradition are at the core of his artistic practice.
His first professional commission captured the style trend of men wearing women’s skinny jeans for the New York Times in 2004. He studied under the mentorship of Magnum photographer Eli Reed gaining inspiration for the photographic life. Some of his works are included in the Harry Ransom Center for American History, the Ogden Museum, and the Newseum. He was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize for his work during Hurricane Katrina in Mississippi.
His first professional commission captured the style trend of men wearing women’s skinny jeans for the New York Times in 2004. He studied under the mentorship of Magnum photographer Eli Reed gaining inspiration for the photographic life. Some of his works are included in the Harry Ransom Center for American History, the Ogden Museum, and the Newseum. He was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize for his work during Hurricane Katrina in Mississippi.
Clients:
AARPBloomberg Businessweek
Der Spiegel
Edelman
Elle
ESPN
Esquire
Fortune
Goop
GQ
GREY
The Guardian Weekend Magazine
Hearst Content Studio
INC.
L’Expres
Mailchimp
Men’s Journal
M-Magazine Du Monde
Mother Jones
Oatly
Outdoor Voices
Outside
People
Politico
Popular Mechanics
Rivian
Runner’s World
The New York Times
T: The New York Times Style Magazine
T Brand Studio
The Wall Street Journal
Vice
Zeit
News:
April 2025 - I shot a project in Jamaica for T: The New York Times Style MagazineApril 2025 - My work will be included in The Big Camera show at the University of Iowa
March 2025 - The group show High Low Buffalo will open in Livingston, Montana
February 2025 - I shot a six part commissions about 5 years after Covid for the New York Times
February 2025 - I shot a story about Rev. Lea Matthews for Good Weekend Magazine (SMH)
February 2025 - I went to San Francisco to see SFMoma and the closing show at the Pier24 gallery
January 2025 - My work Sunbeams will be included in the Fotofilmic Journal 23
November 2024 - My work A Tender Brother Limbo was shortlisted for the Charta Award
November 2024 - The group show High Low Buffalo opened at the Baxter Street Camera Club
November 2024 - I photographed Broadway star Francis Jue for the New York Times
August 2024 - I graduated from the Hartford MFA Photography
August 2024 - I had work in the Endless Summer group show at Foltz Fine Art Houston
May-July 2024 - I worked on my exhibition and book Sunbeams
May 2024 - I photographed the Debt Gala for the New York Times
April 2024 - I photographed the eclipse experience for Rivian in the Adirondacks
March 2024 - I photographed an Oatly and Minor League Baseball campaign
March 2024 - I photographed Michael Dell for Fortune
January-February 2024 - I photographed communities in the Western USA
December 2023 - I photographed Dan Levy for the New York Times
November 2023 - I went to Paris Photo, Setanta Books sold my book Brotherland at Polycopies
November 2023 - I had a solo show at Safelight Berlin for my work Brotherland
October 2023 - I went to Japan with the Hartford MFA Photography program
September 2023 - I had a book launch at Head Hi Brooklyn for my work Brotherland
Exhibitions:
Rolling Stone Presents: Amplified, touring exhibition, 2025Fotofilmic Journal 23, 2024
High Low Buffalo group show, Baxter Street CC, NYC, 2024
Endless Summer group show, Foltz Fine Art, Houston, 2024
High Low Buffalo group show, Joseloff Gallery, Hartford, Connecticut, 2024
Brotherland solo show Safelight Berlin, Berlin, Germany, 2023
Brotherland book signing Head Hi, Brooklyn, New York, 2023
Magnetic North group show, Ville Heike, Berlin, Germany, 2023
Sunshine Milkshake solo show, Foltz Fine Art, Houston, 2022
Nothing Left but Healing, Pomegranate Press group show and book, Richmond, VA, 2022
EAST group show Austin, Texas, 2019
Bushwick Open Studios Brooklyn, New York, 2017
Modern Rocks gallery, permanent collection, Austin, Texas, 2015
Lower Left gallery show Austin, Texas, 2015 Feature Shoot artist feature, 2014
F8 Magazine artist feature, 2011
Telling Their Stories group show at the Ogden Museum, New Orleans, Louisiana, 2010
Newseum, Katrina exhibition, Washington, D.C., 2010
Feature Shoot artist feature, 2010
Harry Ransom Center collection, “Zulu at 100” Austin, Texas, 2010
Solo show Coup d’Oeil, “Zulu at 100,” New Orleans, Louisiana, 2009
Hurricane Katrina Benefit, Tiru Gallery, Austin, Texas, 2007
Awards:
Charta Award book publishing shortlist 2024Magenta Flash Forward 2018
American Photography 34 Winner 2018
American Photography 33 Winner 2017
Bushwick Open Studios NYC, 2017
Modern Rocks gallery, permanent collection, 2015
Lower Left gallery show, May 2015
Feature Shoot artist feature, May 2014
American Photography 29 Chosen Winner, 2013
Photo District News Annual, 2012
F8 Magazine artist feature, 2011
Telling Their Stories group show at the Ogden Museum, Aug 2010, New Orleans
Newseum, Katrina exhibition, D.C. 2010
Feature Shoot artist feature, 2010
Harry Ransom Center collection, “Zulu at 100” zine
Solo show at The Darkroom, New Orleans, "Zulu at 100," 2010
Associated Press Photos of the Decade 2000-2009, Hurricane Katrina
Salon hanging at Coup d'Oeil, New Orleans, "Zulu at 100," 2009
PX3 Gran Prix de Photographie, honorable mention photo story & feature, 2009
The Atlanta Photojournalism Seminar, third portrait, 2008
Hurricane Katrina Benefit, Tiru Gallery, 2007
Hearst Journalism Awards Program, third overall, best image, first news & sports, 2006
Photographer of the Year International, honorable mention disaster photo, sports feature, 2006
Sigma Delta Chi Award, Society of Professional Journalists, breaking news photography, 2006
Publications:
Sunbeams (WIP 2024)Brotherland (2023)
Rattlesnake Picnic (2022)
Wet Grass Cuts Like Butter (2020)
Techo Mojado (2019)
Looking Up (2018)
Annual Report (2015)
Lagniappe (2013)
Zulu at 100 (2009)