iPhone Photo Series #4

It's an Honor Just to be Nominated

This spam just in:

The Small Business Commerce Association (SBCA) is pleased to announce that Joel Benjamin Photography has been selected for the 2009 Best of Business Award in the Commercial photography category.

The SBCA Best of Business Award Program recognizes the best of small businesses throughout the country. Using consumer feedback and other research, the SBCA identifies companies that we believe have demonstrated what makes small businesses a vital part of the American economy. The selection committee chooses the award winners from nominees based off information taken from monthly surveys administered by the SBCA, a review of consumer rankings, and other consumer reports . Award winners are a valuable asset to their community and exemplify what makes small businesses great.

I guess it beats a $1,000,000 money transfer from Nigeria.

Neighborhood Shopping in the Boston Globe Magazine

Some Enchanted Village

My other title for this slide show was Enchanted Village of the Damned. I'm not sure which is more appropriate.

This group of pictures shows what was left of the famous Enchanted Village from the department store Jordan Marsh.

In another lifetime (or so it seems), I was the creative director there and worked, along with a number of people, to bring the Village back to the store . It had been shut down since the 40's and came back in 1990. Although there is some confusion about it's origin, this display was a recreation and not the original.

A few months ago, David Filipov, a reporter for the Boston Globe, did a story on the Village. It was now owned by the city, a gift from Macy's. They had decided not to set it up after they had taken over Jordan Marsh in 1998. The city had displayed it for a number of years and no longer had the money to do so. It was all warehoused in a huge space near the waterfront.

I was able to get permission to photograph it the day before it was auctioned off. I thought that the current setting and condition brought an appropriate message about the holidays, shopping, commercialization and sadness. Having been part of that machine, it resonated strongly with me.

The Enchanted Village now resides at Jordan's Furniture in Avon, Ma.

Special note: the music is 2000 Miles by Merrie Amsterburg. She is an incredible artist and I am proud to consider myself a groupie. Her album Season of Rain is incredibly moving and her latest album, Clementine and Other Stories, is a rich retelling of classic American songs.

The Puppy's Official 2009 Holiday Portrait

Turn away from the screen if you have insulin issues!

Here you see Sonny, Logan and Johnny in their official portrait. Special thanks to Raphie and Evann for their help with art direction and puppy handling. It was the perfect holiday card because the experience of working on it together was as fun as the result.

It sort of reminds me of the cover of a 1964 calendar given away by a laundromat, before "cute" became ironic.