[benjikan]

For those who are interested, for those who are not, don't waste your precious time:

I was born in Toronto, Canada, where I grew up.? I was never quite sure what I wanted in life and fell in to many things by accident.? I played drums in a few punk rock groups, one of which was called the "Existers" that was produced by John Cale and another called the "Poles" that had a semi successful hit called "Telex Love".? In the subsequent time frame I entered Carleton University where I studied Architecture and went on to work in several companies including WZM&H who were best known for designing the CN Tower in Toronto. ? After a serious accident where after getting extremely drunk, as I am not a drinker and falling from a five meter mezzanine, I literally fell in to photography.? My second ever shoot was an AD campaign in Toronto.? I was the first Canadian photographer to ever shoot Kim Alexis for the cover of Chatelaine.? After getting in to too much diplomatic trouble in Toronto, I moved to Los Angeles.? I stayed in LA for just over a year and moved to New York.? In NY I shot quite a few campaigns as well as the Dayton Hudsons Christmas book with Andi McDowell and Elle MacPherson to name a few.? I shot several covers for Vogue SA.? I found the scene in NY too commercial for my taste and moved to Milan.? I starved...I did shoot for Bazaar and Cosmopolitan however. I came back to Toronto to make some money doing commercial stuff like Sears catalogue just to make enough money to get back to Europe.? It was suggested that I try Paris.? I found an apartment.? After six weeks in Paris, I was given an opportunity to shoot the Haute Couture for L'Officiel.? Since then I have been up and down and up the ladder. ? Some of the magazines I have been published in include: L'Officiel, Vogue Italy,Vogue Paris, Vogue S.A., Elle(Spain, Portugal and Greece), New York Daily News Fashion, "W" magazine G.B., Womens Wear Daily, Cosmopolitan (France and Italy), Woman Magazine (Spain), Votre Beauty, Depeche Mode, Biba, Femme, Flare, Glamour (French),Chatelaine, 100 Cose, Harpers (Italy),Madame Figaro, Dealer Deluxe, Spoon, Oyster Magazine, Deutsch Magazine , All Access Magazine UK, ICON, Style Monte-Carlo and most recently a Special Haute Couture Christian Lacroix for "Tank" Magazine UK. Just shot a 6 page Beauty story for "Citizen K Internation" I have my on-going exhibition of limited edition prints at LUMAS - Photo. Art. Editions. - BENJAMIN KANAREK - Selection - Black Sky - White Soul I I have recently been acquired by "Wanda Prod" as a commercial (publicité) film director and am composing Pop-Rock music for several artists in France...Life is an ever changing ever fluxing? ride... ...to be continued...

---

Last edited by benjikan; 03-18-2007 at 02:39 PM.

[kjask]

...After a serious accident where after getting extremely drunk, as I am not a drinker and falling from a five meter mezzanine, I literally fell in to photography.? ...

And now for something completly different.. (Monty Python)

It's a very interesting biography (or sort of) ... and also a little surrealistic.. thanks for sharing this interesting life story!
I don't earn money with photography and I'm not interesting in it at all... But I need photography like I need breathing... it's a passion for me, some kind of language, therapy, food...
Ben, I honestly hope you will find a lot of joy in your future projects. And thanks again for sharing your work on this forum!

[barondla]

A very interesting life. You have worked for a lot of publications and companies. I can't imagine trying to be so creative all the time. These are very picky people you have to please. Which was/is your favorite to work with? Please tell us more in the future.
thanks
barondla

[benjikan]

A very interesting life. You have worked for a lot of publications and companies. I can't imagine trying to be so creative all the time. These are very picky people you have to please. Which was/is your favorite to work with? Please tell us more in the future.
thanks
barondla

Actually, my favorite jobs are those that turn out well creatively, even if it kills me. So to answer your question, my last shoot "Diva"...My next favorite will be my next shoot...

Ben

[slip]

thanks for sharing this with us.
do you still have a love for canada? I am very proud to be one (as you likely already know)

I have to say that I am disapointed with fashion industry in general. I think the woman are, for the most part, way to thin..... nothing to do with your photography Ben, but some of the woman are so skinny that kids are trying to be like them. not just in the big cities like toronto, but here in a little town like ours.
In your opinon, do you think the models will eventually go back to the 80's styles with a little bit more weight?
I am not putting any of them down, that is for sure. they are doing what society tells them... to look paper thin.

I, myself enjoy the Sears catalog models much more... some "healthy" weight with a great natural looking figure.

where do you see the fashion industry going? could the models get much thinner?

pardon the spelling as it has never been a strength for me

cheers

randy

[Ivan Glisin]

Good stuff! Very interesting that I have read a several stories about photographers who got seriously into photography (eventually making it a profession) after being involved in some sort of serious accident! What was it in particular that made you change your mind about your profession and switch to being a photographer?