Harry Benson

We are always asking students to research photographers, but it doesn't have to be too intense.
Here, for example is some work by Harry Benson.
 http://www.harrybenson.com 

This picture was taken in a Glasgow pub. Harry seems to be standing at the bar, and the old guy is saluting him. There is some daylight coming through the windows, and the photographer has taken care to take a light reading from the inside of the bar, so that it isn't too dark. He obviously gets on quite well with the people in the bar - they are comfortable with him and don't mind the camera. Everybody is comfortable with Harry Benson, as you can see from his pictures.
He is from Hamilton, but is as happy in Hollywood or New York.
His website, and this story on Digital Journalist tells us that he went to America with the Beatles, that he witnessed Bobby Kennedy being assassinated and other major news events, and was invited into the private places of the very famous.
In his own words he says, "I want photos that are spontaneous, pictures with surprise, pictures that let people be themselves." He describes these as pictures with air.
He has worked for Life magazine, Vanity Fair and Newsweek, as well as many exhibitions and books, including his book on his return to Glasgow.
Here are two pictures of Oprrah Winfrey, who is very famous and powerful. They are both posed, and she seems to be having a bit of fun with the shoot. The jogging picture is shot from a low viewpoint with a wide angle lens, as you can see from the slight distorting of the vertical buildings. It is bright and colourful, shot on a sunny day. I think he has used some flash from the left of the picture to light up Oprah against the bright sky. Her shadow is soft, which suggests that the flash was diffused, probably shot through a white umbrella or a 'soft box'. Notice that the main point of interest is hardly ever bang in the middle of the frame.
Then they go for a coffee, and he takes some informal pictures of that too. He will be chatting to her the whole time, and waiting for a reaction as they speak. Perhaps he asks if she's going to sprint home, or hail a cab, and she reacts by calling for a taxi. Click.
And that is research: a few useful facts, some pictures, my thoughts on how the pictures were taken, a bit of description of the pictures, and links to the websites or books.