Soulcraft
Noun
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An activity that is nourishing to the soul; particularly fulfilling work or other activity
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Something that shapes and modifies one's soul or core being
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(My own interpretation) The body or vessel within which the soul travels and expresses itself during its journey through life
The human figure is often said to be the most complex and challenging form studied by visual artists. The figure is essentially an extraordinarily complex system of forms that can be subdivided into smaller and smaller forms. Each of these has a nearly infinite potential of variation but the fundamental structure is the same from person to person. Within each of these forms is another focus of observation and understanding.
Studying the human figure as a traditional artist is an undertaking that lasts for many years. During my practice, I came to the sudden realization and eventual conclusion that the feminine figure is perhaps one of the highest forms of natural art. In regards to the mastery of visual arts, the likeness of the feminine is quite a challenge. Consider the fact that there’s an unmatched subtlety to the feminine that emphasizes and celebrates a certain visual math. Flowing curves and delicate angles that seem to whisper the silent names of the elements. The same subtleties are found in the intricate forms of nature, and likewise, in the dissonance of jagged and complex textures. When juxtaposed, these harmonies and contrasts celebrate the human form. Within the movements of the muse, a dance of mind and body, a glimpse of the soul.
This is a continuation of my soulcraft through a new medium, photography. Thank you for sharing the view.
-Benjamin Sumner Franke
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Exhibitions:
2019
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Solo, Valid World Hall - Barcelona, Spain - 1/25-27/2019
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Minimalism, MIA Photo Fair - Milan, Italy - 3/21/2019
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Beautiful Imperfections, Hinterlands Gallery - Vienna, Austria - 3/28/2019
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Centered, BBA Gallery - Berlin, Germany - 4/18-20/2019
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Monochrome, Ravnikar Gallery - Ljubljana, Slovenia - 5/10-12/2019
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Mostly Black, BBA Gallery - Berlin, Germany - 5/30-6/1/2019
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Powerful Compositions, BBA Gallery - Berlin, Germany - 7/19-21/2019
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Beautiful Imperfections, Qlick Gallery - Amsterdam, Netherlands - 7/26-28/2019
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Street Photography, Photosynthesis Gallery - Sophia, Bulgaria - 8/1-3/2019
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My Favorite Shot, BBA Gallery- Berlin, Germany - 9/6-8/2019
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Solo, Ravnikar Gallery - Ljubljana, Slovenia - 9/27-29/2019
2020
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Ritual, Haven Gallery - Northport, New York - 12/14/2019-1/12/2020
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2019 Exhibition - Contemporary Art Gallery Online - 12/31/2019-1/31/2020
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2020 Philippines LomoWall Exhibition, Baluartillo de San Francisco Javier, Fort Santiago, Intramuros - January 2020
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My Favorite Shot, Ravnikar Gallery, Ljubljana, Slovenia - 1/9-1/11/2020
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Storytelling, Hinterland Galerie - Vienna, Austria - 1/23-25/2020
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Minimalism, Valid World Hall - Barcelona, Spain - 2/14-16/2020
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Photographer Of The Year, Espaço Espelho d'Água - Lisbon, Portugal - 2/21-2/23/2020
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The Beauty of Earth, Blank Wall Gallery - Athens, Greece - 2/28-3/1/2020
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Creative Composition, Espaço Espelho d'Água - Lisbon, Portugal - 2/21-23/2020
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The Art of B&W, MIA Photo Fair - Milan, Italy - 3/19-22/2020 (POSTPONED)
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My Exhibition Shot, Laurent Gallery - Melbourne, Australia - 4/9-11/2020
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Nature Photography, Blank Wall Gallery - Athens, Greece - 5/15-17/2020
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Art of Black and White, BBA Gallery - Berlin, Germany - 6/5-7/2020
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Minimalism, LACP - Los Angeles, California - 6/26-28/2020
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Our Amazing Planet, LACP - Los Angeles, California - 6/26-28/2020
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Art of Storytelling, BBA Gallery - Berlin, Germany - 7/17-19/2020
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Nature Photographer of the Year, The Space, Vancouver, Canada - 8/7-9/2020
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Solo, Brick Lane Gallery - Brick Lane, London - 8/18-24/2020
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People and Places, Studio Galerie B&B - Paris, France - 9/17-19/2020
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Favorite Shot, Blank Wall Gallery - Athens, Greece - 9/25-9/27/2020
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Best of B&W, BBA Gallery - Berlin, Germany - 11/13-15/2020
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Photogenic, Gora Gallery - Montreal, QC, Canada - 11/19-21/2020
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Our Amazing Planet - Kontrast Galleri, Stockholm, Sweden - 12/3-6/2020
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Art of B&W - Kontrast Galleri, Stockholm, Sweden - 12/3-6/2020
2021
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Double exhibition - Best of Black and White & Storytelling - Espaço Espelho D’agua Gallery, Lisbon, Portugal - 2/26-28/2021
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Photographer of the Year (2020) - Agora Gallery, New York City, NY - 2/11-13/2021
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Powerful Compositions - Blank Wall Gallery, Athens, Greece - 3/19-21/2021
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Art of Black and White - PH21 Gallery, Budapest, Hungary - 8/20-22/2021
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Nature Photographer of the Year - Coningsby Gallery, London - 12/11-13/2021
2022
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Displayed on two billboards with Vellum LA and ObscuraDAO in downtown Los Angeles - 1/25-2/4/2022
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Displayed in the digital gallery of punk6529 https://oncyber.io/6529gm
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Displayed in NFTSEA NYC 2022
2023
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Displayed in Hudson Yards and Times Square NYC with NFTNYC2023 - April
Contests, Awards, & Significant Sales:
2019
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Utah Adventure Creator Contest 2019
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1st Place Stocksy United Photography Award 2019
2020
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Nude2020 Photoshoot Award - Merit, Nature-Earth Category
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Finalist in ViewBug Pro Photo volume 17 contest - 12/2020
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Viewbug Treasure Award - 1/12/2020
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Awarded exclusive Viewbug Daydreamer Badge - 3/17/2020
2021
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1st Place in Viewbug Creative Composition Photo Challenge - 2/18/2021
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1st Place - International Chromatic Award - Nude Category - 12/2021
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Honorable Mention - International Chromatic Award - 12/2021
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Luxembourg Art Prize - Certificate of Merit - 12/2/2021
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Collected by 18 different collectors during 2021 including punk6529
2022
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Selected by NFTphotographers,xyz curation team to join their prestigious listed profiles.
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1st Place in Viewbug Monochrome Challenge - 5/09/2022
Website, Mag, & Book Publications:
2019
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Beautiful Bizarre Blog - 10/02/2019 -https://beautifulbizarreartprize.art/photography-award-winners-2019/
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Front Page Feature - PurplePort - 10/7/2019
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Featured in monthly email of ModelSociety.com - 10/24/2019
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Lomography Feature Article - 10/28/2019 - https://www.lomography.com/magazine/342558-fresh-and-seasoned-film-experience-diptyches-with-oleman-and-soulcraft
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Lomography Community Spotlight - 12/19/2019 - https://www.lomography.com/magazine/343078-community-spotlight-benjamin-franke-soulcraft-and-maria-georgiadou-fisheyemary
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Front Page Feature - PurplePort - 1/29/2020
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Highland Siren - Vertiqlè Magazine: January '20 Issue - B&W Fashion, Street, Portraiture & Art Nude Editorials – 12/7/2019
2020
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Serpent’s Kiss - LYUN Magazine: May ‘20 SENSUAL Issue
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Nude2020 - Photoshoot Awards Catalog, 3/29/2020
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A Whisper of Elements - 5/20/2020 - https://beautifulbizarre.net/2020/05/22/benjamin-sumner-franke-interview/
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Snake Medicine - Kansha Magazine Chapter 37: August '20 Issue - Cover Shot and Editorial - 8/11/2020
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Featured member, front page feature - ModelSociety.com -9/17/2020
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Welcomed into the photographer/artist council of Model Society -10/3/2020
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Selected in Agora Best of the Week Top 50 - 10/9/2020
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Published in Photography Week Magazine - 10/19/2020
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Featured on ViewBug - 12/23/2020
2021
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Selected as top 50 out of over 10000 in Agora’s #Blackandwhite2021 - 1/13/2021
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Selected in Agora Best of the Week Top 50 - 1/22/2021
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Selected in Agora Best of the Week Top 50 - 2/5/2021
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Featured on 100ASA Prime Gallery - 5/12/2021
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Featured in newsletter - Modelsociety.com - 9/22/2021
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Featured Interview - UtahAdventure.com - 12/5/2021
2022
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Featured in "Minted" Book - Spring 2022
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Featured in Chromatic Awards Annual Book - Coming Spring 2022
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Featured in Who We Are 200 Book by ObscuraDAO- Coming Spring 2022
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Published Profile on NFTphotographers.xyz - 1/2022
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Featured Interview - Viewbug - 7/2022
2023
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Featured in "Minted" Book - Spring 2022
