Posted on: May 2nd, 2013 by Ben Gebo |
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This month my photography was featured throughout New England Home Magazine. My work with Mandarina Studio appeared in the Metropolitan Life section of the May/June issue. It was a fun experience taking photos for interior designer Amanda Reid in this Cambridge home. I have had the pleasure of working with her for multiple projects over the years. This home was a vibrant and elegant living space with a lot of great color and natural light. Pick up the latest issue and read more about the project or just check out the tear sheets below.
More of my work was featured in the Bold and Beautiful section too! How cool is that? The first photo(top right) was a bedroom shot for Kristine Mullaney Design in Back Bay. Although this was taken awhile ago, it’s great to see recognition happening so far after the fact. That’s a testament to work of Kristine. Whether taking pictures for a client or for my own projects, seeing work I’ve nearly forgotton about gaining recognition only reinforces my desire to create. Photographs don’t only make a bookmark in time, but are also comparable to planting seeds.
The next picture in this section(top right) was a bedroom photographed for Annsley Interiors. Have a look through to read more about this Back Bay home. Again, another project that I shot over a year ago, but is just gaining readership now.
The last spot where my work appeared(bottom right 6 pictures) were portraits for the Boston Society of Architects for their Gala last January.
Posted on: March 28th, 2013 by Ben Gebo |
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A new candy store opened up in Cambridge. Mandarina Studio did the sleek, refined interior design work and the packaging design for everything in the store was created by Ferraro Studios. It was really a perfect team that Yalonda put together to help sculpt her company’s image. Yalonda is a lawyer by trade, but decided to pursue her sugary efforts after her experiences as a child. Her mother ran a candy store where she grew up in Detroit, which prompted her to start up Evelyn & Angel’s. Things are the same as when she was a child, only now she brought in her mother to work the store.
Hearing Yalonda’s story the first time I chatted with her on the phone helped make me realize I am not the only one who delves into nostalgia so deeply. It’s funny how much of my life is fueled by my mostly unconscious desires to seek nostalgic trips. I find the older I get, the more I see how important my childhood was in bringing me to where I am. I know we should try our best to be here now, but we desire a clear vision of the past to help us make sense of the present moment. I think our untrusting organic memory is one of the reasons why I have built a life around photography. Another reason is proof. I take photographs to show my interpretation of the past in a truthful, tangible way. The opening and closing of memories can make them unstable, not necessarily reinforce their authenticity.
It’s hard to not have a positive experience when working in this kind of environment. The smells, colors, sweetness, it helped open up a few scattered memories of my childhood summers in Lakeville, Ma. If for no other reason to step into a candy store, do it for the temporary feeling of childhood carelessness and overindulgence.
We started shooting in the cold, early morning at about 6:45am. It was important to capture the exterior shots while it was still blue hour, which is a small window to work with. Right before the sun peeked was the best time for this shot lighting-wise because we couldn’t have the window backlit. Timing is everything.
Posted on: August 6th, 2009 by Ben Gebo |
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I find myself getting inspired from everything around me. People. Shapes. Color. The world is your playground, why not use it for any and all photographic purposes as well? I find that to maintain a connection to your creative self, you need incorporate a delicate balance of work and play with what you love to do. The reason why people don’t make a career out of the things they love is because they are afraid of spoiling what they love by attaching business practices to it. The “thing” that you love should be organic and should be untampered with. Although, I think if you know how to work it correctly, you can find a medium in which you can turn your play into your work. I think it’s important to let your dreams and aspirations become you.
I recently was published in Stuff Magazine twice(page 27, page 90). One for an ad with G2O Spa/Salon and the other for my interior photography work with designer Kristine Mullaney. This was a hip, Hollywood-style home that had elaborate decor and very striking design. It was a lot of fun to shoot, but with limits on time, there was only so much I could shoot.
Posted on: July 8th, 2009 by Ben Gebo |
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I recently attended the B(oNE) Show which was held at Mass Art on June 11th (I know, a month late). This is a yearly event that showcases numerous pieces from a Graphic Design competition by the AIGA Boston. I helped with shooting events and the catalog. It was a rewarding experience and worked with some great people. There was a tremendous turnout, but the alcohol ran out rather quickly, haha. It was still a blast and wouldn’t have been possible without the hard work that Brandon Bird and Jeff Stammen. They spent many sleepless night trying to get the event planned and exectuted, and it they made it look easy.
I’ve recently been busy working for salons in the area, specifically Emerge and G2O on Newbury Street. It has been a blast and I was able to come out with some really great shots. It’s really interesting working in a spa setting. No matter how stressed shoots can be, the sound and the atmosphere calm everyone down.
I had a blast shooting there. This particular shoot combined my favorite elements: interiors and people. G2O and Emerge were great; very clean throughout the premises, very fun and nice staff, just a great area to end up with a lot of amazing shots. I find that a lot of planning for a shoot of this magnitude can really help get the best image possible. I was always willing to accept all outside input as a new potential for a creative image that I would have never otherwise thought. It really does help to work with other creative people that are willing to collaborate ideas. I find you need to stay inspired constantly in order to come up with the best images that you AND your client will love.
