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GRACIA BENNISH, PHOTOJOUNALIST Gracia Bennish’s desire to create images that move others began at an early age. She knew then that creating visuals that touched hearts and minds was her purpose in life. Since then she earned a reputation as a visual artist whose images communicate the full spectrum of emotion that bring her stories to life.
At home in any cultural environment, Gracia thrives on discovering the universal truths she views through the camera. Whether it is worn-torn Baghdad where animals lay dying, Haiti’s earthquake, or the spiritual remnants of temples in Bagan she captures her story quickly and professionally, creating goodwill and cooperation with those she works with.
Her work has been published in magazines, news reports, museums, books, posters, prints and featured on billboards and in many corporate assignments.
Gracia has been photographing globally for over twenty years and is available for assignments anywhere.
Her background in the arts was advanced with a scholarship to the National Gallery in Washington DC.
In addition to her photography she is recognized as a world class painter of animals, especially parrots and is the recipient of awards, including the prestigious Birds in Art and as graphic designer with a proficiency in marketing.
She has originated a number of pro bono creative projects that have toured internationally. Among them, “The Hands of Hope Tapestry“ a 12’x12’ tapestry, brilliant with color, shape and texture and contributed to by hundreds of foster children. It brings an awareness of the plight of the orphaned and foster child. This monumental work was invited by the First Lady to the White House, was part of the opening ceremonies at the Australian Olympics and had a place of honor at the Kazakhstan’s International Women’s Conference.
As a strong advocate for human rights and human rights education, Gracia volunteers her services, working closely with organizations that further these rights for all mankind. Australia With distinct assignments: weddings and interviews with Australian individualists, the man who unionized the cattle industry and a rugged outback animal activist. I found that the Australian spirit is much like the land itself, extreme, tough and unique. The land is a study in drought and flood with the sun bright gold. My connection with Australia is somewhat personalized since my husband is Australian. This close connection helps fuel my inspiration and love for this sunburned country.
Bagan, Myanmar Began is one of the most extraordinary locations on the planet. As far as the eye can see the dusty plain is dotted with exquisite Buddhist temples, pagodas and other religious structures. At sunset the mystique of Began is a feast for the eye and spiritually nourishing. In dramatic contrast to Myanmar's other cities a tranquility permeates in the environment, a quality I wanted to capture in my photographs.
Baghdad Portraits The photos in this gallery reflect my trip into war-torn Baghdad in 2005. Inspired by my friend from South Africa, environmentalist Lawrence Anthony, who organized a rescue effort for the injured and starving animals in the Baghdad zoo. It was an honor to photographically document his efforts and those of the Iraqis who had helped. I traveled into Iraq by myself and may have been the only woman to do so. During my trip I met many fine and courageous people, including Iraqis who opened their homes to me and young soldiers and officers who had helped at the zoo. My photo work was covered by Fox News, CBS Sunday Morning Show, Africa Geographics, and other publications including the best seller, Babylon's Ark, written by Lawrence Anthony.
Brunei On assignment in Brunei, my eyes with camera were inspired by the stillness of this Moslem country ruled by the wealthy Sultan. This tropical, conservative land calls attention to itself with its monumental mosques whose domes glitter with gold.
In contrast the fragile shanty homes stand with feet in water, each appearing supported by the other. The peoples' bright faces, immaculate traditional dress and quiet demeanor presented images for capture in this tiny S.E. Asian country on the island of Borneo.
Cuba Faces In a land where freedom to come and go is restricted, Cubans reunited with loved ones after years or with those departing for freedom to other countries, arouse a profound mixed emotion of loss and joy. A striking observation I evidenced was that older people perhaps by necessity and by design live with their family or in other cases find homes within their church. Well into their 90s, those who are mobile are seen shopping, even riding bicycles and most laudable, are free from psychotropic drugs remaining alert and contributing.
Cuba Places Freedom of expression, a human right is not available to all people on the planet. I was fortunate to capture the voice for freedom of a protester. Such expression, extremely rare is strongly prohibited and was most courageous. While it was a delight to the senses to see the use of horses for a wide range of transportation, buggies, carts and horseback, it bespoke of a country whose transportation system is less then adequate for the needs of its people. To my astonishment the retro cars of the 60s, 50s and earlier were in vast abundance, thousands in fair to excellent condition giving the landscape a uniqueness found nowhere else.
Haiti, 3 Months Later While the rubble and street orphans were still apparent in Port-Au-Prince, there was a slow but definite move toward some order. I photographed people sweeping the streets, however, mounds of refuse still sat contentedly in and about gutters and walkways. The markets were once again alive with color and a mixture of complex smells, Grilled chicken beckoning a buyer. As an artist, my most heartfelt of my photographs was witnessing children who were lucky enough to have at least one meal daily and be in the hands of decent people who ran orphanages. The conditions are still dire by any standard.
Haiti Earthquake Five days after the January 2010 Haiti earthquake I was on a plane with doctors, nurses, paramedics and disaster responders.
The conditions that we found were surrealistic and numbing with masses of people injured, traumatized and dying. The lack of water and food distribution escalated the crisis. The drama of life and death played out for days. Working fifteen or more hours a day was the norm and collapsing into sleeping bags for a few hours of sleep followed. As in many disaster sites my camera and I conflicted with documenting the many tragedies by invading the space of others. Perhaps the hardest scene I had personally was witnessing the volume of amputees of children. The following photographs show what life was demonstrating most; pain, grief, hope and care.
KwaZulu-Natal It was a privilege to document the marriage of a Zulu couple whose ceremony took place on top of a high hill. The women in this day long ceremony do most of the work and entertainment, with hours of non stop dancing and the bestowing of presents to the groom and his family. Animals, like the rare and endangered black rhino are slaughtered for their horn; with long cultural traditions of various countries purporting them to be an aphrodisiac. Such is also the way of the African elephant whose ivory tusks are taken by poachers. My friend Lawrence Anthony invited me to share a lifetime opportunity at his animal refuge in South Africa. Intimately sharing space (within inches) with 14 wild elephants was an unforgettable lifetime experience that one should only undertake with an empty bladder!
Mandalay, Myanmar Being in Myanmar, formerly Burma, is truly stepping back in time. It is the utmost of exotic. Having a closed door to the western world, the country is intact in many of its traditions, dress and values. Mandalay has to be one of the dustiest places on the planet punishing my camera equipment. Photographing in Myanmar put me on a perpetual high, thoroughly captivating. As a note the face markings are both cosmetic and skin protective. The paste like cream comes from a tree bark that acts as a natural sun block. In a country where human rights are in contention with humanitarian world standards, self-dignity may be the only right not yet prohibited.
Mywaddy, Myanmar Mywaddy can be reached by road in Burma or by crossing the Moei River Friendship Bridge from Mae Sot Thailand. It is the last place north where you can enter Burma from Thailand. Mywaddy, a poor town, speaks of colonial days. The center of town is small with most of the community rural. It is here that I met, interviewed and photographed the seventy year old head female Monk of a convent. I thought I was seeing double and it turned out I was; she has a twin sister who shares in the spiritual and administrative duties of the convent.
Thailand Thailand, a land of beauty whose craftsmen have been creating objects splendid to the eye for centuries. The country has opened its doors to the Myanmar refugees who are housed in barbed wire camps waiting for word of a country to take them in. It is a nation that unanimously adores its King but has political parties that hold a city hostage for months. This S. E. Asian country of contrasts, perhaps no different from many others, follows the traditions of Buddhism yet comfortably caters to drugs and the sex market. My camera had job security; no matter which way I Iooked there was a story to tell.
Baghdad Zoo and Palace Saddam Hussein's elder son Uday, 38, terrorized Iraq. A sadistic megalomaniac. he fancied having a pride of lions at his palace. When the palace was abandonded, so were they. Brave men and women, Iraqis, foreign nationals, and military risked their life amongst the heat, dust and snipers to save the magnificent animals, both at the zoo and palace. The animals lay dying from injury, thirst and starvation. The lions brought back to life- Watching them at feeding time was a special treat. They climbed the fence trying to reach for the meat and light skirmishes would take place over possession. Feeding them fresh donkey meat, Brendan had the art down of throwing the animal carcasses over 15’ high fencing. Saddam's Arabians horses- Suddam was known to have one of the finest stables of Arabian horses in the world which were insured with Lloyds of London. These horses all disappeared. One Iraqi woman had the initiative and persistence to elicit the help of US army soldiers to rescue them. Eighteen out of the original eighty were located. A large brown bear kept in a snake pit of filth and darkness, that made the middle ages look humane was rescued by the U.S. military from a zoo outside Baghdad.
Yangon, Myanmar Formerly Rangoon, Yangon is the largest city in Myanmar which housed all military administration until moved to a newly created city exclusive for these operations. Tumultuous humankind fills the streets with the locals eating, socializing and hawking late into the night. The cracks in sidewalks big enough to get lost in. This photo gallery includes the ill fated overpass where the Monk Revolution took place in late 2007. |
