Born in Toronto,
Canada, where he grew up, Benjamin Kanarek fell in to many things by accident.
Photography, Web Concept development and Creative Direction are just a few
examples.
He played drums in a
few punk rock groups, one of which was the “Existers” with the single “Telex
Love”. Another, “the Poles” with Canadian Fine Artist Michaele Jordana. In the
subsequent time frame, he entered Carleton University in Ottawa, where he
studied Architecture and went on to work in several companies including WZMH
Architects who were best known for designing the CN Tower in Toronto and Ron
Thom who studied under Frank Lloyd Wright.
After a serious
accident where he fell from a five meter mezzanine, he literally fell in to
photography. Benjamin was never an assistant to another photographer, his
second ever shoot was an advertising campaign in Toronto. He moved to Los
Angeles and stayed there for just over a year and moved to New York. In New
York, he shot quite a few campaigns for Macy’s, The May Company, Saks Fifth
Avenue, as well as the Dayton Hudson Christmas book with Andie MacDowell, Elle
MacPherson, Bitten Knudsen, Brooke Shields. He also shot several covers for
VOGUE South America and VOGUE Mexico. He was the first Canadian photographer to
ever shoot Kim Alexis for the cover of Chatelaine magazine.
He moved to Milan
where he shot for Harper’s Bazaar and Cosmopolitan. He came back to Toronto
where he shot for Sears and got back to Europe. After six weeks in Paris, he
was given an opportunity to shoot the Haute Couture for L’Officiel Paris. Since
then he has shot for several prestigious magazines and advertising clients.
Benjamin has worked
with some of the classic Super Models like Kim Alexis, Elle MacPherson, Bitten
Knudsen, Brooke Shields and also Angie Everhart, Laetitia Firmin-Didot, Kelly
Lebrock, Roberta Chirko, Carol Alt, Helena Christensen, Kirsten Owen, Karen
Mulder, Adriana Sklenarikova Karembeu, Janice Dickinson and recently with Du
Juan, Alexandra Richards, Lydia Hearst, Irina Lazareanu, Daisy Lowe and
Actresses, Andie MacDowell, Carole Bouquet, Vahina Giocante, Joséphine de
la Baume, James Bond Girl Bérénice Marlohe…
Benjamin
collaborates with Video and Co-Creative Director, Frédérique Renaut and shares
his time between Paris and North America.
He has consulted as
a Creative Director for world-wide agencies and clients.
In 2009, he launched
“The BK Blog” with
Frédérique Renaut as a response to a need expressed by more and more fans and
photographers asking him advice about the inner field of the fashion
photography business. (source:
http://benjaminkanarek.com)
Dovile Virsilaite
in “Infinite Creation” video directed by Frédérique Renaut
Dovile Virsilaite
dons Haute Couture in “Infinite Creation” for Harper’s BAZAAR by Benjamin
Kanarek
