Latest articles by Benedict Brain
I spent five years photographing lone trees around the world in the same way and was surprised by what I discovered
opinion What photographs of solitary trees can teach us about resilience and human nature
I was asked for my #1 photography tip. It took me ages to decide, and the simplicity of my answer surprised even me!
opinion Why I’m telling every new photographer to ignore the "rules" and just slow down
I made myself take one photo every five minutes on a long walk. It completely changed how I see everything
opinion Stop chasing the shot: This simple exercise forces you to actually see the photo opportunities all around you
I photographed my own neighborhood as if I had just flown halfway round the world. This simple psychological trick worked embarrassingly well!
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
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
opinion I spent my time in the Argentine capital taking photos of less obvious subjects – and my approach paid dividends!
"I became borderline obsessive": Why I couldn't stop photographing covered motorbikes
Art of Seeing Benedict Brain kindles a passion for covered motorbikes as an unlikely form of street art
After seven years of intense travel as a photographer, this is what I pack and why it works better than all that influencer nonsense
opinion People are obsessed with know what camera and photo gear I use – well here is exactly what I pack on my worldwide adventures…
I ignored every rule of photographic composition that I teach. The world did not end!
opinion "Consulting the rules of composition before making a picture is a bit like consulting the laws of gravity before going for a walk"
I travelled 15,000 nautical miles with my new Fujifilm GFX100RF – this is what I discovered on the journey
opinion Sublime files, gimmicky dials: My honest take on Fujifilm's medium-format compact camera
Is Irys the photo-sharing app that FINALLY does what a photo-sharing app should do?
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
John Blakemore 1936-2025: influential fine-art photographer and inspirational teacher
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
"Removing the anchor of a recognizable subject can leave some viewers wanting. However, for me, that’s precisely the allure of abstract photography"
Art of Seeing Art of Seeing #85. Benedict Brain gets excited by abstracts in Andalusia in this month’s photo adventure
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
Art of Seeing Art of Seeing #84. Benedict Brain explores the wild Australian landscape and the theories of Roland Barthes
"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"
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
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
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
“Travel becomes a strategy for accumulating photographs. The very activity of taking photographs is soothing and assuages general feelings of disorientation exacerbated by travel"
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
This Alfie Tych+ photo is a mistake, but one that I’m owning and claiming as my own!
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+
"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"
Art of Seeing Benedict Brain explores Hope in British Columbia and discovers that deadlines can bring creative opportunities
"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"
Art of Seeing The Art of Seeing #78: Benedict Brain reflects on making portraits along the East African coast
"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"
Art of Seeing The Art of Seeing #77: With iPhone photography and ‘appropriated art’, Benedict Brain continues his creative journey
“To consult the rules of composition before taking a photograph is like consulting the rules of gravity before going for a walk”
Art of Seeing The Art of Seeing #76: Benedict Brain considers the art of composition on the streets of Samoa
I’ve spent some time in Mexico, and this pair of photos, presented as a diptych, captures the vibe of the country
Art of Seeing The Art of Seeing #75: Seeking a sense of place, Benedict Brain captures the vibe of Mexico in a diptych
I like this photo more than the original portrait I made of him in Belfast; it captures the essence of his character more fully
Art of Seeing Benedict Brain says it’s a small world, and you never know who you will bump into again…
I'm at my happiest when photographing in locations that seem unphotogenic and easy to dismiss as ‘There’s nothing to see here’
Art of Seeing The Art of Seeing #73: Benedict Brain on meandering mindfully in Central America, looking for beauty in the banal
Cheap, toy-like cameras have a unique aesthetic that some find frustrating. But, with the right frame of mind, their crudeness can be harnessed to creative effect
Art of Seeing The Art of Seeing #72: Liberating himself from the shackles of modern technology, Benedict Brain has creative fun with his new Camp Snap camera
