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Benji is a photographer whose work explores the interplay of light, shadow, and memory through a minimalist and cinematic lens. Raised in the high desert of Southern California during the 1970s and ’80s, his early experiences—road trips through open landscapes, frequent visits to the movie theater, and a creative upbringing influenced by an artist father and antique-collecting mother—formed the foundation of his visual approach.

 

He studied photography at Saddleback College from 2019 to 2021, completing coursework in Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced Photography, Studio Lighting, and Photoshop. Originally working in video and sound through his early interest in filmmaking and audio engineering, Benji transitioned fully into photography after a period devoted to raising his son.

 

Benji works in digital photography, with a focus on everyday spaces, natural light, and stark composition. His style emphasizes quietude, emotional resonance, and the cinematic framing of ordinary environments.

 

His work has been exhibited in several exhibitions, including Gifted Art Show at Gallery AF in Los Angeles (2024), New Year Art Show at Gallery of Hermosa in Hermosa Beach (2025), and Into the Light with Art Fluent’s online gallery (2025). He has received multiple awards, including First Place in 2021 and 2024 in the Orange County Fair Photography Competition. As well as the Staff Choice Award - OC Fair - (2021), and the Director’s Choice Award from Art-Fluent.com (2025). Benji was recently hosted as a Featured Artist at the Irvine Art Store, Irvine Fine Art Center for the month of February.

 

Recurring themes in his work include solitude, nostalgia, and stillness. His influences range from cinema and natural landscapes to personal memory and the quiet items of everyday life.

 

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