Over the years, Ben Chinn met many people who became lifelong friends. His fellow students of photography at the California School of Fine Arts (CSFA) met regularly at Ansel Adams’ house in the Richmond District of San Francisco both to exchange and critique their own photographs and to socialize. Every year they would travel to Carmel to spend a week with Edward Weston studying Weston’s images and observing his “eye” for the beauty of the area.

 

Photographers Al Richter and Bill Heick captured many of these times. We are grateful to Bill Heick himself for permission to use his images. Richter images © Center for Creative Photography.

Al Richter: Portrait of Benjamen Chinn

Al Richter: Portrait of Benjamen Chinn

Ben Chinn, Minor White, Paul Caponigro, David Johnson, Stan Zrnich, Charles Wong, Bob Hollingsworth and Ken Wong, 1959. Ruth Bernhard is in white at far left. (Photo by Al Richter.)

Ben Chinn, Minor White, Paul Caponigro, David Johnson, Stan Zrnich, Charles Wong, Bob Hollingsworth and Ken Wong, 1959. Ruth Bernhard is in white at far left. (Photo by Al Richter.)

Ben Chinn with Sinar view camera on photo expedition in Plumas County 1956. (Photo by Al Richter.)

Ben Chinn with Sinar view camera on photo expedition in Plumas County 1956. (Photo by Al Richter.)

Paris, Académie Julian exterior. School where Ben Chinn studied while in Paris.

Paris, Académie Julian exterior. School where Ben Chinn studied while in Paris.

Ben Chinn and other photography students from the CSFA at Edward Weston’s home in Carmel in 1948. (Photo by Bill Heick.)

Ben Chinn and other photography students from the CSFA at Edward Weston’s home in Carmel in 1948. (Photo by Bill Heick.)

L to R: Minor White, George Wallace, Philip Hyde, John Bertolino and Ben Chinn at the CSFA 1947. (Photo by Al Richter.)

L to R: Minor White, George Wallace, Philip Hyde, John Bertolino and Ben Chinn at the CSFA 1947. (Photo by Al Richter.)

Edward Weston and Minor White at Weston’s Carmel house, 1948. (Photo by Bill Heick.)

Edward Weston and Minor White at Weston’s Carmel house, 1948. (Photo by Bill Heick.)

Students listen to Edward Weston on the coastal rocks at Point Lobos. (Photo by Bill Heick.)

Students listen to Edward Weston on the coastal rocks at Point Lobos. (Photo by Bill Heick.)

Ben Chinn with handheld aerial camera, c. 1945. (U.S. Army Air Corps photo.)

Ben Chinn with handheld aerial camera, c. 1945. (U.S. Army Air Corps photo.)

Dorothea Lange with Ben Chinn and other CSFA students, May 1948. (Photo by Al Richter.)

Dorothea Lange with Ben Chinn and other CSFA students, May 1948. (Photo by Al Richter.)

Paul Caponigro and Ben Chinn at Point Lobos in August 1956 on one of their photographic expeditions. (Photo by Al RIchter.)

Paul Caponigro and Ben Chinn at Point Lobos in August 1956 on one of their photographic expeditions. (Photo by Al RIchter.)

Ben Chinn and Paul Caponigro August 1956 (Photo by Al Richter)

Ben Chinn and Paul Caponigro August 1956 (Photo by Al Richter)

L to R: Ben Chinn, Imogen Cunningham, David Meyers, Bill Heick at friend John Bertolino’s wedding 1955. (Photo by Al Richter.)

L to R: Ben Chinn, Imogen Cunningham, David Meyers, Bill Heick at friend John Bertolino’s wedding 1955. (Photo by Al Richter.)

L to R: Stan Zrnich, Paul Caponigro, Ansel Adams, Ben Chinn at Ansel Adams’ house in 1959. (Photo by Al Richter.)

L to R: Stan Zrnich, Paul Caponigro, Ansel Adams, Ben Chinn at Ansel Adams’ house in 1959. (Photo by Al Richter.)