Benny Chan to receive 2018 Julius Shulman Photography Excellence Award

Having a background in architecture, Benny Chan's photos reveal a unique understanding of space and structure. After graduating from SCI-Arc in 1992, Chan traveled to Europe where his long-time interest in photography grew. Upon returning to the U.S., Chan worked at SOM and then at Neil M. Denari Architects. In 1993, he decided to dedicate more time to his photography and founded Fotoworks, which he continues to operate today.

In his latest photo series, Chan captures iconic and vernacular L.A. architecture under construction — as if it were a fascinating assembly manual to the city of L.A. The photos will be displayed in his upcoming exhibition, “Above and Behind: The Architecture Photography of Benny Chan”, which opens on May 12 at the WUHO Gallery. On the same day, Chan will be presented with the JSI Award.

Being the dedicated photographer he is, Chan will push the limits to get the perfect shot — whether that involves hanging from helicopters to capture the right angle, building his own cameras to surpass focal-length limits of off-the-shelf models, or finding his way into highly restricted sites.