We were lucky to catch up with Ben Fink recently and have shared our conversation below.
Ben, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?
The “Noble Deeds” project holds a profound personal significance for me as a gay man. It has served as a vehicle through which I’ve explored and connected with the history and resilience of the LGBTQ+ community—a community to which I belong and owe much of my identity. This exploration began seven years ago, sparked by a friend’s introduction to the Imperial Court System, a philanthropic organization known for its vibrant and historically rich coronations.
“The deeper I delved into the project, the more it became a personal pilgrimage to understand the roots of my culture and the struggles it has faced. The Imperial Court was founded in the 1960s by José Sarria in San Francisco, during a time of severe suppression under the McCarthy era, which sought to silence and marginalize both communists and homosexuals. The movement quickly spread to cities like Portland, Vancouver, and Seattle. This era was not only marked by fear and persecution but also by targeted raids on the queer and drag communities. Often, individuals were arrested and could be institutionalized by family members, where they were subject to barbaric practices like shock treatments, lobotomies, and sterilization. Despite these horrors, the era also bore witness to incredible acts of defiance and resilience within the LGBTQ+ community.”
Engaging with this history through my lens, attending coronations, and capturing the elaborate expressions of identity at these events allowed me to see firsthand the power of pageantry as both resistance and celebration. It was through this visual and emotional journey that I came to better understand the profound struggles and the remarkable strength of those who came before me. The project became a bridge linking me to the past, informing my understanding of the battles fought and won and the ongoing challenges that shape our experience as LGBTQ+ individuals today.
Producing the “Noble Deeds” book—this 300-page, meticulously crafted volume—was not just about documenting an underrepresented aspect of LGBTQ+ cultural history. It was also about claiming space for our stories in the broader narrative of art and society. The book, with its vibrant images and rich histories, embodies the spirit of those who have used their flamboyance as a form of protest and their elegance as a statement of existence.
The process of creating this series was a cathartic experience for me, reinforcing my connection to a community that continues to face adversity with boldness and grace. Each portrait, each story captured and presented in this book, is a testament to the resilience of a community that refuses to be erased. “Noble Deeds” is more than just a project; it is a personal tribute to the legacy and the ongoing fight for dignity and recognition within the LGBTQ+ community. It underscores the importance of remembering where we came from, celebrating how far we’ve come, and acknowledging the road that lies ahead.
While “Noble Deeds” has been a seven-year journey for me, the process of writing the historical section alongside Daniel Barrows deepened my connection to the project and allowed me to delve into the LGBTQ+ community’s past as if I were experiencing it firsthand. This collaborative effort was not just about documenting events; it was an immersive experience that brought the struggles and triumphs of earlier generations into the present day, making the history palpable and immediate.
Working with Daniel, whose expertise in LGBTQ+ history enriched the narrative, we sought to relive and recount the pivotal moments that have shaped the community. This historical exploration was crucial in understanding the origins and evolution of the Imperial Court System, which itself began as a defiant response to persecution. It was through this collaboration that the project took on a new dimension, transforming from a series of photographs into a comprehensive narrative that spans decades.
The historical context provided in “Noble Deeds” enriches the photographic work, offering readers not just a visual experience but an educational journey through the heart of our community’s history. By reliving these moments while writing and researching, I gained a deeper appreciation of the resilience and resourcefulness of the LGBTQ+ pioneers. This historical perspective has been integral to understanding my own place within the community and the broader societal fabric.
This element of the project has been particularly meaningful to me as it reinforced the importance of knowing one’s history, of recognizing the battles fought by those before us, and of continuing their legacy of resistance and celebration. It is my hope that “Noble Deeds” not only honors these historical figures but also inspires current and future generations to appreciate and engage with our rich, complex history.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
As an artist and commercial photographer with decades of experience, my career has spanned a diverse array of projects, from high-profile commercial shoots to deeply personal artistic endeavors. Initially, my professional journey was deeply rooted in the editorial world, where I specialized in food photography. I have photographed over 350 cookbooks and my work has been recognized with awards from prestigious institutions such as the International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP) and the James Beard Foundation.
My editorial contributions have appeared in leading magazines like Saveur, Food Arts, Fine Cooking, and Food & Wine. On the commercial front, I have worked with major brands including Hershey’s, McDonald’s, Burger King, Domino’s Pizza, Ragu, and Ghirardelli Chocolate, crafting imagery that not only highlights the product but tells a story.
Alongside my established career in photography, around 2012, I expanded my creative repertoire by stepping into the role of director for commercial projects. This new direction allowed me to leverage my deep understanding of visual storytelling to craft engaging and dynamic commercials for a range of high-profile clients. This evolution in my career not only broadened my skill set but also enriched my ability to convey compelling narratives across different media platforms.
Through directing, I was able to bring a fresh perspective to advertising campaigns, merging cinematic techniques with my photographic eye to enhance the storytelling impact for brands looking to connect more profoundly with their audiences. This expansion into directing has been a significant part of my commercial career, providing me with new challenges and opportunities to apply my artistic vision on a larger scale.
Despite my commercial success, I have consistently pursued personal projects that allow me to explore more complex and intimate themes. Right out of art school, I embarked on the “Mill Street Series,” capturing the lives of black families living in the economically depressed areas of downtown Memphis. This project was a raw depiction of life in shotgun shacks, providing a visual narrative of survival and resilience.
During the AIDS crisis, I focused on raising awareness by photographing individuals living with HIV, contributing to educational posters and campaigns. Another significant project, “From Another Room,” saw me collaborating with other artists to create still lifes that opened dialogues on challenging subjects through symbolism.
“Shadow Realms” is another personal endeavor where I ventured into the psychological landscape genre. These dark, foreboding pictorial landscapes, reminiscent of the Hudson River Valley school but with a sinister twist, subtly alluded to themes of domestic abuse.
Throughout my four decades of work, I have strived to maintain a balance between commercial success and personal expression. This dual approach has not only enriched my professional life but has also allowed me to use my skills to engage with and comment on broader social issues. Whether through the lens of a commercial campaign or a personal project, my goal has always been to evoke emotion and provoke thought through powerful visual storytelling.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect of being an artist, for me, transcends the mere act of creating; it is deeply intertwined with my very mode of interacting with the world. As a child growing up in challenging circumstances, I often found refuge in an imaginary world, a sanctuary from the harsh realities that awaited outside. Being dyslexic, which went undiagnosed for much of my early life, meant that traditional ways of learning and communicating—through reading and writing—were fraught with difficulties. Instead, my world was dominantly visual; it was through this lens that I made sense of everything around me.
This visual language became my safe haven, my way of not only understanding but also connecting with the world. Art was my silent speech when words eluded me. It was the medium through which I could express my thoughts, fears, dreams, and emotions. Long before I recognized it as my calling, being an artist was my survival strategy—it was the only thing I had, my silent yet profound voice in a cacophony of misunderstood signals.
Thus, the most rewarding thing about being an artist is the ability to communicate on a profoundly personal level and to share that communication with others. Art allows me to transform my inner visual narratives into external expressions that can be universally understood, bridging gaps between my experiences and the viewer’s perception. It is a spiritual journey—a form of meditation where each creation is a step closer to understanding myself and the world around me. Through art, I continue to find solace, growth, and a means to transcend the ordinary, turning my once survival mechanism into a powerful tool for expression and connection.
Have you ever had to pivot?
In my life, the concept of stability has been as elusive as it has been enlightening. From a very young age, I learned that the only constant was change itself. My early years were marked by profound transitions—losing both my parents and moving through a succession of foster homes and family members. This pattern of perpetual change ingrained in me a deep sense of transience and adaptability.
I was born in Baltimore and spent my young life moving between there, the Eastern Shore of Maryland, and North Carolina. I completed my schooling in Memphis, where I also attended art school at university. My career began in Memphis and then took me to New York, Chicago, Florida, and California. Now, I’m preparing for my next chapter in the southern part of Spain. Each geographical and professional shift has not only been a change in location but also a significant pivot in my life and career, demanding flexibility and resilience. In Europe, I will be finishing up my long-term project, ‘Modern Mythology,’ which I’ve been developing for about seven years, with a prospective book launch in 2027.
These experiences taught me an invaluable lesson: the importance of being there for myself, recognizing that I am the only true constant in my life. My ability to express myself through my art has not only been my anchor but also my compass, guiding me through each new challenge. It has been a spiritual journey, where each pivot is a breath—a moment to adapt, learn, and grow.
As an artist, this fluidity has allowed me to explore new horizons and embrace the myriad faces of change, turning each into an opportunity for personal and creative evolution. In this way, life’s unpredictability has not been a barrier but a pathway to deeper understanding and expression. This, to me, is the essence of a spiritual existence—being in constant dialogue with change and finding within it the space to express the most authentic version of myself.
Contact Info:
- Website: Art, Www.benfinkart.com commercial site www.benfinkproductions.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benfinkart/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ben.fink.10/
Image Credits
This is the book cover and double-page spreads and the book box set Limited edition for Noble Deeds, my latest project. You can find more information and purchase links at www.benfinkart.com