Benry Fauna’s photography style is one that expresses humanity through images. For as long as he’s held a camera, portraiture has piqued his interest. Although still young in years, he’s had time to ponder his own nature, and how it relates to those around him.

“I’ve always been a wallflower,” he begins. “Growing up, I found myself constantly wanting to break through and make connections with people. The camera has been that gateway for me. When interacting with others, making them feel comfortable and confident, I mirror those exact same feelings.

“I like to think of my processes as visual ad libs, where I come with half an idea. I leave all these little blank spaces that my person can fill in. I try to meet them where they’re at, energetically and visually. I want them to express themselves through my lens, so to speak. I always know what I’m looking for, but can never be certain what I’ll end up with. And that’s the beauty of portraits, for me.”

Offered a less than typical session with Tank and the Bangas – a New Orleans funk/hip-hop outfit – Benry leapt at the opportunity to work closely with the legends of his local music scene.

“If a subject gives me time to explore, I love that,” the photographer continues. “But that’s not always possible. I’m used to picking up the pace and working fast, and that’s how this session went. It still felt very laid back, in terms of atmosphere. The band members are extremely cool, and their attitude is infectious.

“Tank has very distinct mannerisms. She sings with her full body and is very expressive – I was definitely trying to highlight her energy. More broadly, it was about encapsulating the feeling the whole band were exuding. It’s so clear, watching them perform, that they’re close friends, and they have so much fun making music.”

Years of schooling have set Benry up with the knowledge and skills to be highly technical in his photographic approach. Often exploring collage and other unique ways to elevate his images, he remains resolutely traditional in the making of the original portrait itself.

“I’m always aiming for something quintessential. A nice, clean, simple picture. As a film photographer, I’m also used to the constraints that brings. My brain operates in black & white a lot of the time,” he laughs. “When I started using FUJIFILM X-T4, I thought, ‘Oh boy, there‘s so much more I can do now.’ It took me a minute to even wrap my head around that. I had to push my own envelope, but didn’t want to get too far gone in experimentation.

“At first, I was using it like a film camera – working in monochrome, and keeping ISO really low. From there, I started to pick it up a little bit. I went to color, and slower apertures with higher ISO.

“I prefer a longer lens,” he notes. “I was using FUJINON XF50-140mmF2.8 R LM OIS WR, to get close up. Especially with Tank’s expressions, I wanted a viewer to feel like she’s performing right there in front of them. Then I moved to XF33mmF1.4 R LM WR – which I loved – for something simple and inclusive. I was doing a lot of ducking under people and hopping up on to boxes, trying to find all these little pockets of space to get the right frame and highlight the atmosphere.”

With countless photographic sessions to look back on, what set this one apart?

“I guess I can describe it as a little milestone,” Benry says. “A lot of my experiences have brought me this far, and really informed how I was operating. It’s validating to know I have all the techniques and knowledge to get through a project like this.

“When it came to working with film crews, collaborating with the artists themselves, being focused and observant, and looking for opportunities to navigate a scene and find the image I needed – it all felt very affirming of my craft.

“It has shaped me further as a photographer and I feel encouraged to keep exploring the passion. I’m excited to see what more I’m capable of – and honored to have been chosen to be a part of the Students of Storytelling project. To have been given this ladder, to showcase my work and challenge myself on a larger scale than ever, was amazing. I’m here to grow and the more people that want to be involved with me on this journey, the better.”