Harry Benson

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Cover of Harry Benson: 50 Years in Pictures

Harry Benson, born in Glasgow, Scotland, is an internationally renowned photographer. His pictures have appeared in many publications including Life, Vanity Fair, People and The New Yorker. With a body of work covering more than fifty years, and now in his seventies, Benson continues to work from his adopted home of New York, where he lives with his wife Gigi. He has two grown-up daughters.

Some of Benson’s photos have achieved iconic status. His first international break came when assigned to travel with The Beatles to America in 1964, and perhaps his most recognisable image shows the band erupting in a gleeful pillow fight on hearing that "I Want to Hold Your Hand" had reached number one.

Other celebrities Benson has photographed include Michael Jackson, who allowed him access to his bedroom, and Elizabeth Taylor, who Benson photographed before and after her brain surgery. He has also taken photos of political figures, including every US president since Eisenhower, and covered war zones.

Benson has been the subject of numerous exhibitions, taken over a hundred cover shots for People, published several books and won many awards. Most recently he was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Scottish Press Photography Awards on April 25th, 2006.