Nathan Benn

Nathan Benn served on the National Geographic photographic staff from 1972 into 1991. Three hundred of his photographs were published in National Geographic Magazine, and hundreds more in numerous books. He is especially grateful to Robert E. Gilka, the legendary Director of Photography at National Geographic.

Benn’s assignments were equally divided between domestic and non-US projects. His photography in the 1970’s is rooted in the traditions of post-WWII photojournalism, especially Life Magazine. He mostly photographed people, never very confident about landscape photography. In this first phase he was a hunter/gatherer of images, rarely posing or manipulating the subjects. His NGM coverage’s included Hasidic Jews, Jewish Diaspora, Vermont, Massachusetts, Finger Lakes, Dead Sea, Prague, medicinal herbs, and Moses and the Exodus. He also photographed the Mississippi River for Germany’s GEO Magazine.