Benson's Blog

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 HU Pageant 2009

Benson Blake Photography — Tue, 27 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.

Cherry Blossoms in DC

Benson Blake Photography — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 09:28:43 +0000

Sunday, I took some time out to visit the cherry blossoms at the tidal basin in Washington DC. This was my first time seeing them (that I can remember) in more than 10 years. Even though all the trees were not yet in full bloom, I was able to find enough that were camera-ready. There are just a few more days left to catch the pink blossoms at their peak. The National Cherry Blossom Festival began on March 28th and will continue until April 12, 2009. Here are some images I created of the cherry trees, in color and infrared (black & white).

Earl’s Birthday Concert ‘09

Benson Blake Photography — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 14:57:23 +0000

Last month, Earl Bynum celebrated his birthday in the form of a gospel music event. The concert was held at Mt. Lebanon (The Mount) in Chesapeake VA, where Earl is the minister of music. Ju Joyner, Sheliah Belle, and Brother Ray co-hosted throughout the evening. Gospel artists & groups included TaMyya J, Virginia Mass Choir, God’s Image, Naomi K. Thomas, Donald Ashley & Millennium, Antuan Barnes & Absolute Worship, As We Are, God’s Purpose, Vision, and Elevation… whew! BET’s Sunday Best Winner, Crystal Aikin, also blessed the audience with a couple of selections. Here are some moments from on and off the stage.

VPPA Convention 2009

Benson Blake Photography — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 01:15:34 +0000

During the week of February 23rd, The Virginia Professional Photographers Association (VPPA) held its annual convention in Portsmouth, VA. Members from throughout the state came together to perfect their craft and share the latest tips and techniques in the industry. A number of photographers conducted seminars, such as Louis & Joseph Simone, Janel Pahl, Shannon Turner, and John Woodward. The annual print & album competition was a success, with more than 400 images entered from photographers state-wide. All of the blue and red ribbon prints were proudly displayed for a couple of days at the Portsmouth Renaissance Hotel. Although I did not enter this year, I’m looking forward to next year’s convention in Richmond VA.

Natalynn & Dan’s Portraits

Benson Blake Photography — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 18:49:11 +0000

On February 7th, I traveled to Chesterfield, Virginia to photograph business-woman Natalynn Roman. She's the president of the Strategic Leadership Development Group in Virginia, a company that provides leadership and organizational consulting services to a variety of clients.

Natalynn will be featured in the April 2009 issue of Black Enterprise Magazine, as Part 3 of a three-part "Women & Money" series. Natalynn and her husband were both photographed together for the magazine, as well as individual headshots. Here are a some portraits of the couple that were created that beautiful day in Chesterfield.

Inauguration Day 2009

Benson Blake Photography — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 06:43:49 +0000

On January 20th, I had the opportunity to be among the millions of people gathered on the National Mall for the swearing in ceremony of our 44th U.S. President, Barack Obama. My journey began at 4am on the way to the Metro station, and included hours of waiting in lines for the 11:30am inauguration. At the end of the day, it was ALL worth it.

During the ceremony, I was standing in the section directly behind the seats. I must say, after being a part of the crowd and witnessing the emotion that day, I will never look at those DC monuments and Capitol building the same again.

The crowd was about four or five times larger than at the Lincoln Memorial concert two days earlier. Here are some images from Inauguration day in DC.

Waiting in line before sunrise.

Secret Service and the back of the line for my gate.

The view from where I stood

Another view from the same place, zoomed in.

The moment of the day

People taking photos with the presidential seal

I was there!

Colin Powell waving to the crowd, while waiting to do a TV interview

The view of the Mall from the Capitol

The beginning of the parade route, view from the Capitol

People were walking on the frozen reflecting pool, some more nervous than others.

Kodak moments everywhere…

Even police officers couldn’t resist.

Lots of interesting signs being displayed

Steady stream of people exiting the subway station, just after sunset.

Inaugural Welcome Event

Benson Blake Photography — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 03:57:35 +0000

On Sunday afternoon, the city of Washington DC hosted an opening ceremony on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, to kick-off the 2009 Inaugural festivities. The star-studded event included performances by Beyonce, Mary J. Blige, Bono, Garth Brooks, Sheryl Crow, Renee Fleming, Herbie Hancock, John Legend, Shakira, Bruce Springsteen, will.i.am, and Stevie Wonder to name a few. Jamie Foxx, Martin Luther King III, Queen Latifah and Denzel Washington also made special appearances during the program. Barack Obama addressed the crowd with a speech near the end of the program. Here are some images I captured at the event.

Metro… The best way to get to the monuments.

The line

Overflow crowd viewing one of the many jumbotrons

Martin Luther King III speaking at the Lincoln Memorial

Mary J. Blige performing

Joe Biden speaking at the Lincoln Memorial

Obama Rally in Manassas

Benson Blake Photography — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 11:04:05 +0000

On November 3rd 2008, Senator Barack Obama made the last stop of his presidential campaign in Manassas, Virginia. The energetic rally took place at the Prince William County Fairgrounds, with an estimated 80,000+ people in attendance. Here are some photos I captured during the historic rally.

Governor Tim Kaine introducing Senator Obama, Mark Warner sharing the stage

Barack Obama speaking at the rally

Barack Obama, shortly after his speech

The stage view from where I stood

The crowd behind me

Obama takes one final look at the crowd before leaving

Miss Hampton Portraits ‘08

Benson Blake Photography — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 12:39:50 +0000

Congratulations to Shannon Cooper, Miss Hampton University 2008-2009. She was crowned on October 11, 2008 and will serve as an ambassador for the University for the current academic year. The day after the pageant, we held a portrait session in Hampton to capture some promotional images. The 2009 “Black College Queens” issue of Ebony Magazine will feature a photo from this session. Good luck to Shannon, as she will compete for the title of Miss Virginia in the Spring 2009 pageant.