"Benjamen, like many artists, worked quietly outside of the limelight producing a wonderful body of work. I had the opportunity to exhibit with him in the Perceptions exhibition at the San Francisco Museum of Art in 1954. I was thirteen, and it was my first exhibit; over the years, I still recall Benjamen's images of San Francisco's Chinatown from that exhibit. He had a terrific eye for the moment. Also, like many artists, I believe that his work will be discovered by those who missed it during his lifetime."
- Merg Ross
The following excerpt is from a 2003 interview with him done by the SF Gate.
Q: You studied under Ansel Adams. What was he like?
A: He and Minor White conducted (the course). After the first two years Ansel left Minor to run the program. The strangest thing is I never got any feedback from Minor. For one thing, I had my own darkroom. So I'd get my assignments and go home and do my things. I didn't sit around and shoot the bull like most photographers -- and see what the others were doing.
Until maybe 10 years ago. There are at least 10 of us (from Chinn's classes) still around. Now I see them for lunch sometimes.
Q: What was the occasion 10 years ago that reunited you with your colleagues?
A: We had a show for the 50th anniversary of Ansel Adams' class at the Transamerica Building. They chose 50 photographers; we were allowed to put in one print each.
Finally, when we met again, Phillip Hyde (classmate and friend) said: "Gee, you were the star of the class. We always wanted to know what you'd come out with."
. . . . .
Q: Advice to new photographers?
A: Take your time. Don't go rushing down the street -- you'll miss a lot of things. Look up and look down.
Q: With all the years of training, travel, human interaction and experience under your hat, what might you say has become your approach -- or philosophy, if you will -- to taking a great photograph?
A: Nothing. I still rely on instinct.
Q: Is that the secret?
A: No secret. I've been very fortunate all my life. All these things just fell into place. It just happened.
LINKS :
SF Gate interview w/Benjamen (2003)
LA Times Obituary
Adam Chin's Flickr page on his uncle, Benjamen
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