California Photographer David Benitez Photos of the Southwest

Los Angeles, CA—Puerto Rican artist David Benitez finds inspiration in Native American cultural artifacts and the peoples of the Southwest for his stunning landscape photography.

Born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Benitez enjoyed perusing the pages of National Geographic and developed a profound interest in photography. He moved to Southern California in 1982 at the age of 22 where he studied photography and art at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa and completed his education at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena. He has worked as a professional photographer since 1990.

An award-winning photographer, Benitez now focuses on landscape photography. Currently working at the Southwest Museum, he was inspired by its collection of Native American cultural artifacts. Wanting to showcase the heritage and homeland of the Native Peoples of the Southwest, Benitez visited the Colorado Plateau. There he photographed the breathtaking scenery of the region including Zion National Park , Bryce Canyon , and Lower Antelope Canyon. Sensing that it is impossible to capture the overpowering beauty and majesty of these mystical places in wide-angle panoramas chose to create an intimate view to trap the fleeting moment that gives the land its spirituality.

By focusing on the abstract elements in the natural world, Benitez discovered that while the Southwest is wonderfully colorful, it is also full of marvelous textures and patterns. Millions of years of upheaval and erosion have left a variety of shapes and textures. Benitez has captured their intricate values of light and dark and the subtle structures and compositions in this masterful exhibition.


Southwest Museum of the American Indian

The Southwest Museum holds one of the nation’s most important museum, library, and archive collections related to the American Indian. In addition, it has extensive holdings of pre-Hispanic, Spanish Colonial, Latino, and Western American art and artifacts. For over 100 years it has supported research, publications, exhibitions, and other educational activities to advance the public’s understanding and appreciation of the Americas , with particular emphasis on the western United States and Mesoamerica . The Southwest Museum is located at 234 Museum Drive in Mt. Washington and is easily accessible via the Metro Rail Gold Line, which stops directly across from the museum.

The Southwest Museum and the museum store are open Saturday and Sunday, noon . to 5 p.m. during restoration and conservation projects. Admission is free.