Ben_Weaver

Ben Weaver is a Kansas State University alumnae, who traveled the world for his passion of photography. He has photographed people from rags to riches; people of all race, color, and creed. Bens love for photography has taken him to various locations around the globe. Recently Ben photographed locals in Haiti following the earthquake that devistated the island. Ben has even filmed world famous celebrities, notably the first lady, Nancy Reagan, and former President of the United States, Ronald Reagan. The room is cold, but the vibe is warm and relaxing as I sit down to listen to Ben tell his tale. Calm, cool, and collected, Weaver clears his throat and begins to tell me how he first sparked an interest in picture taking. “I first got interested in photography when I was 5-years-old. My father had a black room at our house in Kansas City, and it was one of our many hobbies together,” Weaver said. Ben tinkered with the hobby but his career as a photo journalist didnt begin untill college. Ben reminiced of his days as a student at Kansas State University. "In college I was taking Journalism classes and one of my classes required me to work on the school newspaper," said Weaver. Not having a camera nor proper training, Ben went to the photo lab to rent and learn how to operate his first 35mm. Ben wrote and took pictures for his school newspaper throughout college and slowly found himself branching away from the writing side of journalism and finding himself more interested in the photography aspect of it. Strait out of college Ben got his first job working for news week making $125 a week. Ben admits that he never imagined that he would make any money out of photography, he got into it simply because he had such a passion. Weaver's carreer would eventually have him working on assignments for more than 10 major magazines including: Time, Life, Sports illustrated, and many other well known publications. After a long career as a freelance photographer Ben decided it was time to settle down and began doing corporate and commercial photagraphy. He explains that the "money was decent but it was not consistant" and he never made a steady paycheck. One day Weaver was asked to take pictures of a friends sons highschool football game. "I have to admit at first i thought it was beneath me, but I realized I got just as much enjoyment taking pictures of these unheard of players as I did from any pro game ive ever photographed" Weaver explaines. This was a major turning point in Bens career for this istnace inspired him to open his own company, Game Action Photogrpahy. Never the man to have his hands sit idle, Ben began to express an interest in teaching after being offered a job at the University of North Texas. "Teaching was never in my plans" Weaver admits, "but i ended up teaching an advanced photography class and it gave me a new found appreciation for photography." Ben says he dosnt considered himself a a difficult teacher; his main goal is to instill a sense of respect for the profession in his students. Balancing his teaching career and his business is no easy task. Ben consistantly finds himself working 6 days a week, often not getting home till 11 at night! Luckily it's a labor of love for Ben and he says that he wouldnt have it any other way. Ben, now in his 60's looks back on a life of accomplishments and is humble when in fact he is a man who has seen the best and the worst of mankind. "Ive had shots fired at me two times in my life" Weaver informs me, "Once while I was in Haiti and once when i was by the Texas Mexico border". These events never dittured Ben however, in fact they only fueled him to continue on as a photo journalist. Ben Weaver's work has gone on to touch countless people lives but one man in particular has benefited from his work in a profound way. One of his assignments had Ben traveling to Greenville Texas to visit an inmate, Lennel Jeeter, charged with Armed Roberry. Sentenced to life, Jeeter persisted that he was wrongfully accused; his plite started such a controversey that People magazine and 60 Minutes sent reporters out to cover his story. "We where 25 or 30 feet away from the holding cell when he looked out and said in the calmest voice "I really am innocent, i seriously didnt do this. I picked up my camera and took a picture of his face" said Weaver. The picture Ben took was so profound it made its way to the cover of People magazine and ultimately drew so much attention that Jeeter was awarded a new trial. Lennel Jeeter was eventually found not guilty of all charges against him. With a complacent tone to his voice, Weaver left me with one last encouraging statement: " Alot of people complain about things theyd like to do differently, but if i had the choice I wouldnt change a thing." The words of a man whos lived a fulfilled life.