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  1. #1
    Member benjikan's Avatar
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    A Funny but True Story

    I did post this on some other sites, but thought you might enjoy this...

    Just wish to share this little story that I posted on Pentax World with you that you may find interesting...

    I want to shake you ALL up...I never studied photography...I never wanted to be a photographer. I studied architecture and played drums in a punk rock group. I literally fell in to photography by ACCIDENT..Everything I learned was by experimenting. I was such a bad photographer when I started, that if I got lucky and took a good image and was asked to replicate it I couldn't. In fact about one year in to shooting, I was asked by Sears to shoot an advert for them based on an image in my S--tty portfolio. The problem is that I didn't have a vocabulary and I didn't how I did what I did in the first place, so couldn't repeat what I did. I must have lost about 50-60 percent of the clients I shot for. I would get a great fluke shot and wow them with it. "Hey Ben, we want that!";..GULP "OK" OOOOPPPPSSS Sorry.

    But the good thing was this. I did stuff that nobody would even consider doing if they were taught what and what not to do. One of my techniques that I and perhaps a few people around the world at the time were doing but not aware that we were at the time was the following.

    One day I walked in to a camera store in Toronto to ask advice from the sales people who happen to be Ryerson Polytechnical School (Photography) grads now called Ryerson University. They knew all the technique, which I had none of. I asked them for a certain emulsion for doing, if I remember correctly "Cibachrome" or development for slides. They kind of giggled and said, "Here use this and this and this". I said OK I will...Well lo and behold, they gave me the wrong stuff that became what is now known as cross processing that got me in to L'Officiel, Elle, etc. I was on exposition at the Arles Festival in 1986-7 presenting my C41 stuff with Mondino, Satoshi and Nik Knight. I was known for "THAT" technique.

    Well, about five years later I went to Toronto to visit the family. I was being published everywhere. I mean everywhere. I needed some photo stuff and walked in to the same camera store "Toronto Camera" at the time on Yonge Street and there were two of the guys who sold me the "WRONG" stuff.

    Well I walked right up to them and said "Thanks for your advice. Do you remember a little joke you pulled on one of your customers? You know, ah you need this stuff for that type of film?" "ahhh yyyeeeaahhh maybe, sort of ...WHY?"

    "My name is Benjamin Kanarek," "Your BBBBeeennnnjjjjjjjjammminnnn KKakakakkanarek?" Yeah..."Wow"
    I said "I want to thank you for giving me the BEST wrong advice I have ever gotten in my whole life!"

    I walked out of the store with a huge smile...

    Because of that advice I shot some very interesting Ad Campaigns.

    Here is just one example from 1989...

    PS..I will have another story about technique a bit later..There are NO RULES in Photography or any ART Form for that matter!

  2. #2
    Member benjikan's Avatar
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    Re: A Funny but True Story

    OOPPPSSS Here is the image...Sorry

  3. #3
    Captain of the Ship Photo-John's Avatar
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    Re: A Funny but True Story

    That is very, very funny. And it's ironic that an accident paved the way for your success.

    For those of you that haven't looked at benjikan's photos, please take a look at his user gallery. He's one of the most accomplished photographers posting on this site. One of his photos is in my favorite photos of 2006 blog.
    Photo-John

    Your reviews are the foundation of this site - Write A Review!

  4. #4
    Member benjikan's Avatar
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    Re: A Funny but True Story

    Aw..Darn Golly Scucks John...I'm Blushin'

    Thanks a load Bro...

    Ben

  5. #5
    Make yourself a dang quesadilla! OBie's Avatar
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    Re: A Funny but True Story

    Great story! Maybe you didn't think you were headed for photography, but fate has a way of steering us in the right direction - funny how that happens.

    Maybe there is hope for me yet! I just gotta break out of my 'perfectionist' tendancies and let it fly.
    OBie. Not Obi-Wan, just OBie.

  6. #6
    Insert something witty here.. yogestee's Avatar
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    Re: A Funny but True Story

    Mmmmmmmmmmmmm,,,,,,smacks of self promotion to me!!

    Jurgen
    Falang dung nyai

    Please don't edit my images without my permission.

  7. #7
    Member benjikan's Avatar
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    Re: A Funny but True Story

    Absolutely, Unequivocally, Unabashedly, Reprehensibly Yes...I paid my dues!

    Ah....ben

  8. #8
    Captain of the Ship Photo-John's Avatar
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    Re: A Funny but True Story

    Quote Originally Posted by yogestee
    Mmmmmmmmmmmmm,,,,,,smacks of self promotion to me!!

    Jurgen
    He's ok. Been posting on the gallery and in the reviews for a couple of years. And you have to admit, it's a great story. It's also a reminder to allow some room for accidents in your photography. Accidents are a very, very close relative of inspiration.
    Photo-John

    Your reviews are the foundation of this site - Write A Review!

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