Meet the New Benson Photo
“Everything old is new again”: Just as restoration brought new life to this century-old building, we’re starting 2026 with a refreshed look and updated branding.
Welcome, and happy new year! We hope everyone had a great holiday season. This blog has been quieter than usual in the past few months, because Paul and I have been hard at work on an important project: rebranding to Benson Photo.
New tech or new wave? The upholstery on these chairs was chosen specifically to demonstrate how different lighting affects color perception, although the room’s resemblance to Devo’s music videos is a fun coincidence.
Why the change? I have been photographing for many years under my own name, occasionally with assistants or collaborators. In that time, my son Paul has become an accomplished photographer and editor in his own right, bringing his unique perspective to our projects and blog. Renaming our business to “Benson Photo” recognizes Paul’s elevation to an equal partner in our work.
In embracing the future, it’s important to preserve history—especially facades as beautiful as this one.
This photo was taken in fall 2024, but in grayscale, it could easily be mistaken for a Giovanni Piranesi etching.
We also drew inspiration from the great city we’ve called home for most of our lives. As one of the oldest cities in the U.S., Philadelphia has undergone multiple reinventions and renewals but continues to preserve and honor its history. Here, we’ve selected a few photos from the archives that fit the theme of blending old and new—see if you can recall the posts they came from! (Answers and links appear at the end.)
The etched patterns on this university building’s windows hint at its purpose as a site for cross-disciplinary collaboration between the arts and technology.
Elsewhere on the same campus, sail-like sunshades help regulate temperatures inside this research facility to save energy without obscuring the view.
Everything else you’ve enjoyed about our work over the years—gravity-defying drone photos, comprehensive client service, a never-ending fascination with twilight—remains the same. We hope you enjoy exploring our redesigned website and look forward to sharing more with you in 2026!
My favorite building in Philadelphia, at my favorite time of day.
Original posts (in order of appearance above):
February 2025: YouthBuild Charter school in north Philadelphia
February 2013: Philips Lighting Application Center in Somerset, New Jersey
June 2023: The Metropolitan Apartments in Center City, Philadelphia
January 2025: Philadelphia City Hall
March 2025: Amy Gutmann Hall at the University of Pennsylvania
March 2025: Vagelos Laboratory for Energy Science and Technology at the University of Pennsylvania
September 2024: Fisher Fine Arts Library at the University of Pennsylvania