One of my absolute favorite pictures right here.
And trust me, I have a lot of absolute favorite pictures.
But there aren’t many that convey the sheer joy that this one does.
The Beatles, having just heard that they had reached number 1 on the American charts, celebrate in a Paris hotel room with a pillow fight…..and photographer Harry Benson just happened to be there to document it.
I didn’t know much more about Harry, or his unbelievable ability to be there (the right place at just the right time) with camera in hand, until I stumbled on his documentary; Shoot First.
Harry had intimate access to not only the Beatles,
But also a young Muhammad Ali,
Truman Capote’s black and white ball,
and the Bouvier Beales of East Hampton,
He was at the Ambassador Hotel the night Bobby Kennedy was shot,
And was one of the few photographers allowed to photograph Bobby Fisher,
Or Dolly Parton……becoming Dolly Parton,
At 87, Mr Benson has never slowed down. Nor does he have any plans to.
Fascinating photos,
Fascinating Man,
Fascinating documentary.
THE CAVENDER DIARY 
Interesting! Is this documentary on Netflix?
Should be. I believe it’s an HBO film. I saw it in the plane back from the U.K. And I knew that you would love it!!!
Thanks, I watched it on Netflix last night. It was wonderful and I am not sure I would have watched it without the nudge. I Don’t think I knew the name, but I sure knew his photographs!
Christine, I’m so glad that you liked it. I knew him from the Beatles and Ali, but that’s it. I had no idea that he shot all those images that I already knew too. I LOVE a good documentary……glad that I could share it.
Great Post James. Will watch it on Netflix. I grew up in the 60’s looking at Life magazine & Photoplay movie magazine (my mom subscribed to). It was a time of daydreaming and enjoying looking at the lives of the “rich & famous” . Lord knows, you weren’t going to find that type of life in Sanger Tx. I still enjoy looking at those black & white photos from way back. I even have one of the Beatles first albums, with their 4 heads on the cover. Can’t put my hand on it right now. Ringo was my favorite. I always went for those shorter, different looking guys!
I still enjoy old Life magazines…and National Geographic too….I can get lost looking at old issues in antique malls for hours. John is my favorite Beatle, I’ve got a John inspired tattoo in my future. “Living is easy with eyes closed” on my shoulder….maybe this fall.
James, speeaking of looking at old Life magazines, my
Husband loves history and for years now, he buys old Life magazines and gives them for birthday presents with the weekly date, of course, on the cover to reflect their birthdate, Its getting harder to find his friends birthdates nowadays, as those issues are becoming antique & collector items. Lol.
That’s a great idea!!! I have a few that mean something to me, like Oswald with his riffle. In fact, I just got John Glenn for the bathroom. You’ll see…..
Watched it last weekend. Thanks for recommending it! Harry is an interesting guy, and his work ethic is crazy – to be in all those places, wow!
So glad that you liked it !!!
Can’t wait to watch this doc. Thanks for the suggestion. I have a framed old black & white photo in our game room of Ali (Autographed!!) horsing around with the BEATLES (whom I WAS and AM madly in love with. And I really am wondering about John Glenn in your bathroom….?
Have I posted about John Glenn yet? I wrote about him hanging in the master bathroom a while ago….but not sure I showed the world that post yet. I framed the Life magazine with him on the cover….(Feb 2, 1962)…because I find him pretty inspirational whilst getting myself prepared to face each day. He’s a personal hero.