Benson's Blog

Ramona & Burton

Benson Blake Photography — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 15:15:42 +0000

Earlier this summer, I had the pleasure of photographing Ramona & Burton for their engagement session. We took a stroll around the National Harbor in Maryland, then captured some of DC's monuments from across the water in Virginia. Thanks to Ramona and Burton for their great energy during that hot and humid summer day. They managed to stay nice and cool for the camera. The couple's October wedding will take place in Washington DC area.

Corrina & Archie Wedding

Benson Blake Photography — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 11:56:21 +0000

Memorial Day weekend turned out to be very hot and humid. One cool thing about it though, was the marriage of Corrina and Archie in central Virginia. This is one of several holidays a year when family and friends can come together, enjoying the outdoors and one another's company. The two families were joined by marriage in a casual outdoor ceremony, followed by a barbeque-style reception. Congratulations to the newlyweds and thanks to all who played a role in this beautiful day.

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Drama Kids 2010

Benson Blake Photography — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 15:28:37 +0000

In May, Drama Kids International put on their annual Spring performances in Fredericksburg, Virginia. The stage was set at Walker-Grant Middle School for the kids to act out the parts they've spent weeks learning. Similar to last year, all three age groups performed their own play, ranging from 5 to 15 years old. Each student gets a speaking role, which helps them to develop their confidence and public speaking skills. With all the various costumes, it was fun to see how the students got into their characters… especially the wolves. Thanks to Angela and all who helped keep the day running smoothly.

Nupe Madness 2010

Benson Blake Photography — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 12:23:48 +0000

On May 15, 2010, the Woodbridge (VA) Alumni chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc hosted their annual Nupe Madness 5 on 5 basketball tournament. The event was held at Gar-field High School in Woodbridge, Virginia. Alpha Phi Alpha and Omega Psi Phi fraternities also had teams represented in this year's tournament. Congratulations to the Alpha Phi Alpha team for their win. Thanks to Jeremy and all the brothers of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. for organizing such a great Nupe Madness event. Also, a big thanks to my assistant Alfred for helping out with the candids.

Obama Speaks at HU 2010

Benson Blake Photography — Mon, 10 May 2010 12:59:48 +0000

On Sunday May 9th, Hampton University's 2010 commencement exercises got off to a memorable start. President Barack Obama delivered the Mother's Day commencement address at HU in front of 1,072 graduates and a crowd of about 12,000 relatives and friends. The speech was also broadcast live on several TV networks nationwide. I had the honor of being one of the photographers present to capture images of this presidential moment. Special thanks to Yuri and the University Relations staff at Hampton for all the hard work done to make this special occasion a success.

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DC Cherry Blossoms 2010

Benson Blake Photography — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 14:36:35 +0000

In early April, I ventured out among the tourists to capture one of DC's annual attractions… the cherry blossoms. This year, the blossoms peaked a few days sooner than predicted. I made my way into DC one evening to see what I could capture. By the time I got to the tidal basin, there wasn't as much daylight left as I would have liked. So, I decided to shoot a few images and go back the next morning for sunrise. The next morning, there were at least 100 more photographers claiming their spot to get the best vantage point. Much like last year, the cherry blossoms were not disappointing. Big thanks to Bobby of Thigpen Photography for tagging along and capturing a few images of me.

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VPPA Convention 2010

Benson Blake Photography — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 10:48:16 +0000

This year's Virginia Professional Photographers Association (VPPA) convention took place February 20-24, 2010 at the Hilton Richmond Hotel & Spa. As with previous conventions, this one was not without a theme… "Pirates of the Caribbean". It was great to see many photographer friends again and get re-energized for 2010. This year, my dad joined me for a few days, to see what other photographers in VA are creating and marketing in their studios. Some of the seminar speakers were Claude Jodin (lighting), Lori Nordstrom (children), and Helen Yancy (Corel Painter). Clay Blackmore closed out the convention with his inspiring program "How to Photograph Everyone".

photo by Eric Green

Italy Trip 2009

Benson Blake Photography — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 22:59:56 +0000

Last Fall, I had an amazing opportunity to travel overseas to Italy. Most of the vacation trip was spent in Porto Rotondo, on the island of Sardinia. The last day was spent touring the Vatican and surrounding area in Rome. There were a few days of non-stop rain in Porto Rotondo, but fortunately the skies cleared in Rome. Tip: If you enjoy taking pictures of landscapes, the best time to capture dramatic clouds is just before or after a big storm… see the infrared photo below. Here are some images from my trip… Enjoy!

Miss Hampton Portraits ‘09

Benson Blake Photography — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:21:41 +0000

The day after the 2009 pageant, a portrait session was held for the newly crowned Miss Hampton University, Nikole Churchill. Promotional images were created using a variety of outfits and poses. Thanks to Bobby and Myrtle for assisting with the equipment setup and styling for the session. Here's one of my favorite images from the session. Good luck to Nikole, as she competes for Miss Virginia in the Spring 2010 pageant.

Miss HU Pageant 2009

Benson Blake Photography — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 23:21:35 +0000

On Friday October 9th, Hampton University crowned their newest ambassador. Nikole Churchill was crowned Miss Hampton University 2009-2010 at the annual scholarship pageant. The event began with all 10 contestants participating in an opening number, then introducing themselves one-by-one to the judges and audience. Each of the young ladies competed in the categories of swimsuit, talent, and evening wear. The final segment of the pageant was a question & answer competition, hosted by Shannon Cooper (Miss Hampton University 2008-2009). Laisha served as production director, creating this year's theme "Beauties of the Desert Sand". Once again, the historic Ogden Hall was selected as the pageant's venue on Hampton's campus. Thanks to Dr. Maye and all others who helped make the pageant successful. Congratulations to Nikole Churchill, Miss Hampton University 2009-2010!

Ebony Queens Online ’09

Benson Blake Photography — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 18:07:05 +0000

In case you missed it, Ebony Magazine has published their "2009 Campus Queens" feature online. The printed version is usually published in April. However, they decided to take it online this year. This gave the magazine the opportunity to showcase the Queens more equally, while also (I imagine) saving on printing costs. Checkout Miss Hampton University 2008-2009, Shannon Cooper, and other campus queens at EbonyJet.com. One image from her portrait session was posted along with a brief bio.

JoyFest Concert 2009

Benson Blake Photography — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 15:35:41 +0000

The 2009 JoyFest concert kicked off at the Kings Dominion theme park on Saturday July 18th. The Kingswood Amphitheater was rockin’ with a sold out audience filling the seats and the lawn. Performers included Crystal Aikin, Martha Munizzi, Tye Tribbett, Marvin Sapp and Kirk Franklin. All I can say, is if you missed this show, you missed a treat! Premier Festivals really knows how to put on a star-studded show. The gospel radio announcers of DC and Virginia did a great job promoting the event as well. Thanks to the lighting crew who kept the stage well lit and the fog machine pumping after the sun went down. Here’s a sample of images captured of most artists at the Joyfest event.

The Ewing Family

Benson Blake Photography — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 10:47:11 +0000

This summer, had the pleasure of photographing the Ewing family in Dumfries, VA. The session took place at a nearby neighborhood’s clubhouse, providing a nice park-like atmosphere for portraits. For this group of combined families, we created a series of portraits to show their unique relationships with one another. Some of their vibrant personalities were also captured in the process. Here are some of the family’s images created that Friday morning.

Taste of Chicago 2009

Benson Blake Photography — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 17:14:42 +0000

During the 4th of July weekend I took a road trip to Chicago IL, where the Taste of Chicago was in full swing. Just about any kind of food you can imagine was there… Connie’s Pizza, Manny’s turkey legs, Harold’s Chicken, Garret’s popcorn, and much more. There were an estimated 1.5 million people at “The Taste” on Friday alone, reminding me a lot of Inauguration Day. The July 3rd fireworks display lit up the sky at dusk on the lakefront.

On Saturday morning, there was a parade just outside where I stayed in Oak Park. Yes, I was quite the tourist for a moment… taking in the festivities. After a full weekend with The Taste, fireworks, parade, and three cookouts, I can say I truly enjoyed my time in the windy city. Thanks to everyone who made the trip possible and kept my stomach full. :o) Below are some images captured during my visit.

The Chicago Skyline

Buckingham Fountain in Grant Park

The main concert stage. Most concerts took place earlier in the week.

Security was very tight.

‘The Bean’ sculpture in downtown Chicago, reflecting the famous skyline.

Oak Park Parade with many organizations showing their patriotism

Supplier Diversity in BE

Benson Blake Photography — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 15:04:40 +0000

The June 2009 issue of Black Enterprise Magazine features several top U.S. companies, and their supplier diversity strategies. Altria is one of those featured companies, where Connie Smith is the director of Supplier Diversity Development. I photographed Connie a while back, creating a variety of headshots to be used for publicity purposes. Well, one of those publicity opportunities landed her photo in the pages of Black Enterprise Magazine. Connie’s photo is published on page 152 (left), as part of the article “Supplier Diversity—a Winning Strategy in Tough Times”. Some other companies in the article include Coca-Cola, Macy’s, Denny’s, The Home Depot, Kellogg, and Allstate. Thanks to Connie and all the other supplier diversity managers for your continued efforts.

Drama Kids Performances

Benson Blake Photography — Fri, 22 May 2009 19:45:45 +0000

During the last couple of weekends, Drama Kids International hosted their spring performances in northern VA. The plays were held at Stonewall Middle School in Manassas VA and Walker-Grant Middle School in Fredericksburg VA. The Drama Kids program teaches acting and public speaking skills to students 3-18. Some students may choose to pursue acting as a career, while others will use these new skills at school or work.

After 9 weeks of after-school rehearsals, it was time to perform for their families and friends. The younger kids (5-8) performed the play “Paradesia”, which answers the question “Can shells talk?”. The 9-11 year olds performed as pirates in the play “Bold Buccaneers”. The older students (12-18) performed a play about a dress rehearsal gone wrong.

Thanks to Angela, Silver Sound, all the volunteers, and parents for the work you do with Drama Kids. It was amazing to see the choreography and hear the lines that these students learned… the teachers did a GREAT job. It’s good to see these students being introduced to the arts at an early age. Here are some photos from the May 9th and 16th performances.

Tea Rose Cotillion 2009

Benson Blake Photography — Fri, 15 May 2009 10:42:29 +0000

The Ivy Foundation’s Tea Rose Cotillion was a success! The event took place on May 3rd at the Hyatt Regency Bethesda. Thanks to all of the committee members and parents for all you’ve done to help this year’s event run smoothly. This year’s theme was “Presenting Our Pearls: The Next Generation of Hope”.

The cotillion began with introductions of the debutantes and younger Rose Petals. The young ladies Waltzed with their fathers, then did the Tango and Grand Promenade with their escorts. Several awards were presented, including best scrapbook, highest GPA, and debutante spirit. At the end, one debutante was crowned… Congratulations to LaShae, Miss Tea Rose 2009! Thanks to Precious of Precious Perspectives Photography for assisting with candid photography. Also, thanks to the string quartet for providing music for the guests throughout the evening.

Debutantes at THEARC

Benson Blake Photography — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 14:01:47 +0000

I was recently commissioned to photograph 8 young ladies who will be participating in the Tea Rose Cotillion this month, in the DC area. The session was held at the THEARC Campus of the Washington Middle School for Girls in DC. Several portraits were created of each debutante, showing their formal dresses and some personality. The images will be used as a part of the printed program for the upcoming cotillion event. Thanks to the Xi Zeta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority (AKA) Inc.’s Ivy Foundation for sponsoring this occasion. I’m sure the debutantes will remember this experience for years to come.

Natalynn & Dan Published

Benson Blake Photography — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 15:53:15 +0000

Check out the April 2009 issue of Black Enterprise Magazine. An image from my portrait session with Natalynn was published as part 3 of the “Women & Money” article series. The article begins on page 66, with the photo of Natalynn and her husband Dan appearing on page 70. Photo credit was incorrectly given to another photographer for this image, and should read “Photograph by Benson Blake” at the bottom of page 70. Black Enterprise Magazine is available at most Barnes & Noble and Walmart stores.

Photoshop World Boston

Benson Blake Photography — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 15:08:03 +0000

During the week of March 23rd, I had the opportunity to travel to Boston, Massachusetts for the annual Photoshop World Conference. The event took place at the Hynes Convention Center and included a ton of seminars dedicated to Photoshop, Adobe’s premier image-editing software. Seminars included a range of topics from how to best organize image libraries, to creating better image composites. Here are some sights from the conference and the city of Boston.