About Me:
Benjamin Hanson is a professional photographer from Rochester, MN. My photographic journey started when I was in 4-H, a youth program that allows children to show different projects at the fair. I entered different photos and ended up winning the grand champion with a trip to the State Fair.
These trips to the fair were very influential in my development as a photographer and in my love for art. After highschool I pursued another passion of mine which was music. I didn’t even take a class during my bachelors in photography as I was focusing on music at the time. Right before graduation I was informed that I would be deployed in 2009 and with my extra time before I left I started another degree in photography. While on deployment I did assignments online and was able to most complete my degree when I got home I started working in portrait photography. Photography was fun; it was something that I was good at and actually enjoyed. Even though I enjoyed the portrait world I knew I was still missing something.
Portrait photography is very up and down and dependent on the economy so I really wanted something that was more secure as I started a family. That is what brought me to Mayo Clinic, it’s not everyday you have a chance to photograph for the number 1 hospital in the world. I took advantage of the chance and dove into the medical world. As a photographer for Mayo I have had opportunities to shoot for one of a kind procedures to high level benefactors.
I really enjoy my position at Mayo and it is rewarding to be a part documenting extraordinary medical innovations but I was still feeling like I was missing something. I realized that I was missing, it was the opportunity to create for me. Every part of my photographic career was creating for other people, I wanted something that was for me. That is when I started my journey pursuing my masters degree in photography. Doing school and family and a fulltime job has been interesting but very rewarding and fulfilling.
I am excited to create and use my own perspectives to tell stories that I feel are important. I feel like I am back where I started doing photography because it is a love of mine. Doing photography as a profession is difficult because it can take the excitement and enjoyment out of it when you are doing it 8 hours everyday. I am currently applying for 2 different grants that will allow me to create fine art to be presented at local galleries.