Benedict Brain

Benedict Brain

Benedict Brain is a UK based photographer, journalist and artist. He graduated with a degree in photography from the Derby School of Art in 1991 (now University of Derby), where he was tutored and inspired by photographers John Blakemore and Olivier Richon, amongst others. He is an Associate of the Royal Photographic Society and also sits on the society’s Distinctions Advisory Panel.

Until July 2018 Benedict was editor of Britain’s best-selling consumer photography magazine, Digital Camera Magazine. As a journalist he met and interviewed some of the world’s greatest photographers and produced articles on a wide range of photography related topics, presented technique videos, wrote in-depth features, curated and edited best-in-class content for a range of titles including; Amateur Photographer, PhotoPlus, N-Photo, Professional Photography and Practical Photoshop. He currently writes a regular column, The Art of Seeing, for Digital Camera magazine.

Latest articles by Benedict Brain

White bleached out classical statue against a dark sky
The dirty secret about great photography… most of it is rubbish!

By Benedict Brain Published

opinion Ansel Adams only expected to take 12 good photos a year, and you should be happy with that too

opinion
black & white image of a road leading through a barren mountainous landscape
One lens & zero expectations: I rediscovered my love for photography by finally taking this one bit of advice I had been giving my students for years!

By Benedict Brain Published

opinion Why your camera kit bag is making your photography lazy

opinion
Two postcards made with four boring images each taken in different locations
Why trying to make a boring postcard photo made my work more creative

By Benedict Brain Published

opinion Inspired by Stephen Shore and Martin Parr I search our dull scenes in every port I land in

opinion
Monochrome image of a solitary tree in a barren landscape
I spent five years photographing lone trees around the world in the same way and was surprised by what I discovered

By Benedict Brain Published

opinion What photographs of solitary trees can teach us about resilience and human nature

2 Comments
opinion
Abstract close-up of a brown horse
I was asked for my #1 photography tip. It took me ages to decide, and the simplicity of my answer surprised even me!

By Benedict Brain Published

opinion Why I’m telling every new photographer to ignore the "rules" and just slow down

opinion
Mosaic of images of the British countryside taken on a walk using the photo every 5 minutes rule
I made myself take one photo every five minutes on a long walk. It completely changed how I see everything

By Benedict Brain Published

opinion Stop chasing the shot: This simple exercise forces you to actually see the photo opportunities all around you

opinion
Photo of money plant through a window
I photographed my own neighborhood as if I had just flown halfway round the world. This simple psychological trick worked embarrassingly well!

By Benedict Brain Published

opinion I pretended to be a stranger in my own city and it forced me to see things to photograph that I hadn't noticed before

opinion
Mosaic of 36 images of multicolored electricity boxes
I took photos of 36 electric boxes in Buenos Aires and made some decent dough from them. Odd subjects often pay better than postcard views

By Benedict Brain Published

opinion I spent my time in the Argentine capital taking photos of less obvious subjects – and my approach paid dividends!

opinion
four photos of bikes covered with rain covers
"I became borderline obsessive": Why I couldn't stop photographing covered motorbikes

By Benedict Brain Published

Art of Seeing Benedict Brain kindles a passion for covered motorbikes as an unlikely form of street art

Art of Seeing
Benedict Brain's photography kit for travel photographed as layflat
After seven years of intense travel as a photographer, this is what I pack and why it works better than all that influencer nonsense

By Benedict Brain Published

opinion People are obsessed with know what camera and photo gear I use – well here is exactly what I pack on my worldwide adventures…

4 Comments
opinion
Big boulder on a beach in the center of the frame
I ignored every rule of photographic composition that I teach. The world did not end!

By Benedict Brain Published

opinion "Consulting the rules of composition before making a picture is a bit like consulting the laws of gravity before going for a walk"

opinion
Benedict Brain selfie in a TukTuk with Fujifilm GFX100RF
I travelled 15,000 nautical miles with my new Fujifilm GFX100RF – this is what I discovered on the journey

By Benedict Brain Published

opinion Sublime files, gimmicky dials: My honest take on Fujifilm's medium-format compact camera

opinion
Irys photo sharing app
Is Irys the photo-sharing app that FINALLY does what a photo-sharing app should do?

By Benedict Brain Published

Opinion Tired of the video-first algorithm? Street photographer Alan Schaller's new social media app, Irys, is a dedicated, ad-free space bringing the focus back on stills photography

Opinion
John Blakemore
John Blakemore 1936-2025: influential fine-art photographer and inspirational teacher

By David Clark Published

news Known for his long-exposure landscapes and still-life images of tulips, John Blakemore taught a generation of photographers as a professor in photography at the University of Derby

news
Art of Seeing
"Removing the anchor of a recognizable subject can leave some viewers wanting. However, for me, that’s precisely the allure of abstract photography"

By Benedict Brain Published

Art of Seeing Art of Seeing #85. Benedict Brain gets excited by abstracts in Andalusia in this month’s photo adventure

Art of Seeing
Art of Seeing
Roland Barthes talks about the punctum, that special detail, often small or unexpected, that jumps out and really grabs the viewer’s emotion, a poignant detail that pierces or wounds the viewer

By Benedict Brain Published

Art of Seeing Art of Seeing #84. Benedict Brain explores the wild Australian landscape and the theories of Roland Barthes

Art of Seeing
Art of Seeing
"To create the slightly surreal vibe of this photo, I used an on-camera flashgun. When I’m traveling, I have little control over when and where I can take pictures, the pocket-sized sunlight can be a useful, sometimes vital, tool"

By Benedict Brain Published

Art of Seeing Art of Seeing #83. Benedict Brain seeks beauty in the banal and explores the relationship between humanity and nature on a Caribbean island

Art of Seeing
Art of Seeing
Annoyingly, I have seen my travel schedule dry up, so I’ve been stuck at home. My photographic output has taken a nosedive but taking photos on your own doorstep can be just as rewarding

By Benedict Brain Published

Art of Seeing Art of Seeing #82. With a gap in his travel schedule, Benedict Brain has been exploring his home turf with fresh eyes

Art of Seeing
Art of Seeing
“Travel becomes a strategy for accumulating photographs. The very activity of taking photographs is soothing and assuages general feelings of disorientation exacerbated by travel"

By Benedict Brain Published

Art of Seeing Art of Seeing #81. Benedict Brain examines the tourist gaze and explores why we take ‘travel’ photographs with the help of Susan Sontag

Art of Seeing
Alfie Tych+ camera alongside a pair of sample images
This Alfie Tych+ photo is a mistake, but one that I’m owning and claiming as my own!

By Benedict Brain Published

Art of Seeing The Art of Seeing #80: With a chance to dip his toes in the analogue sea, Benedict Brain gets creative with an Alfie Tych+

Art of Seeing
Grid of images of Hope, British Columbia
"I was drawn to the idea of making a quick-fire photo project that had to be done in less than 24 hours… a small 32-page zine about the town"

By Benedict Brain Published

Art of Seeing Benedict Brain explores Hope in British Columbia and discovers that deadlines can bring creative opportunities

Art of Seeing
Four portraits of men shot in East Africa
"I give a business card and invite the subject to contact me for a copy of the photo. That happens 70% of the time, so I have a wonderful cohort of characters around the world in my address book"

By Benedict Brain Published

Art of Seeing The Art of Seeing #78: Benedict Brain reflects on making portraits along the East African coast

Art of Seeing
Art of seeing - close-ups of advertising hoardings showing two mouths
"Focusing on smiles in an extreme close-up makes these photos feel more demonic, manic and deranged than the happy vibe they were intended to evoke"

By Benedict Brain Published

Art of Seeing The Art of Seeing #77: With iPhone photography and ‘appropriated art’, Benedict Brain continues his creative journey

Art of Seeing
Art of seeing - abstract image of Samoan fish market
“To consult the rules of composition before taking a photograph is like consulting the rules of gravity before going for a walk”

By Benedict Brain Published

Art of Seeing The Art of Seeing #76: Benedict Brain considers the art of composition on the streets of Samoa

Art of Seeing
Art of Seeing - diptych shot in Mexico
I’ve spent some time in Mexico, and this pair of photos, presented as a diptych, captures the vibe of the country

By Benedict Brain Published

Art of Seeing The Art of Seeing #75: Seeking a sense of place, Benedict Brain captures the vibe of Mexico in a diptych

Art of Seeing
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