Claire Yaffa took her first photograph 45 years ago when her son was 18 months old and it was the beginning of her journey, first as a mother, then as a photographer. She has worked extensively for The New York Times and Associated Press. Her photographs have appeared in countless influential publications and have been exhibited at major venues in the US and around the world.
Interpretations of a conversation with Harry Benson.

I had the honor of meeting and photographing Harry Benson for my Master of Photography Series. Sitting before our photographic meeting, Mr. Benson spoke about how he photographed when he began his career. He explained, “I photographed everything. It did not matter if it was unimportant, or meaningful, or if someone was in the public eye or unknown, I photographed it.” “It is very simple to photograph,” he explained, “one takes the camera and decides where he should point it and the camera does the rest.” “The camera has a brain!” Mr. Benson said, “I never refused an assignment because it was too small or not meaningful. I took every assignment which came my way.” About his famous photographs of the Beatles and how they came about, he said he was working for a newspaper and went on tour with the Beatles in 1964. The newspaper wanted a photo every day about the Beatles. This is how the series was born. Recently, his photographs of the Beatles were exhibited at the George V Hotel in Paris.
As a photographer, Harry Benson photographed all the presidents from Eisenhower to Obama, numerous celebrities, historic events such as the Berlin Wall when it was erected and when it came down. He was commissioned in 2014 by the Scottish National Portrait Gallery to make an official portrait of the Queen of England. He had first photographed her in 1957, more than fifty years ago. He has captured the history of our times with his camera and his talent. However, Mr. Harry Benson is not only a photographer, but also a gentle man, soft spoken, speaking with a trace of his Scottish ancestry. He is a husband, father, and grandfather; he and his wife Gigi have been married for 46 years. They have two daughters, three grandchildren and two happy dogs.
“Please, may I photograph you?” I have asked the many photographers I have had the honor to know. I was welcomed by Harry Benson and his wife. I thought perhaps, they will share their secrets with me. I discovered there are no secrets. Everyone has to discover their own secrets. We learn from the Masters of Photography, of those who have gone before. What is it we want to say by pointing our camera and deciding to take a photograph? Why do we do this? Do we want to share with others what we saw or are we just recording a moment in time, which will never come again? When we point our camera at what brings us joy, or sadness, what do we decide to do to as we live our lives?
– Claire Yaffa
You can also see more of Claire’s work on her website, www.claireyaffa.com.