Ben Larrabee

Ben Larrabee, the son of a Quaker minister, was raised with values rooted in honesty, humility, and open-mindedness. These principles continue to guide both his life and his work today as a practicing Quaker and professional mediator. Through the lens of his camera, Larrabee seeks to explore the many dimensions of the human spirit, approaching each subject with empathy, patience, and a deep respect for authentic human connection.
His artistic path began early with a curiosity about the world around him and a desire to understand it through art. In 1962, he enrolled at the Rhode Island School of Design, where his
direction shifted profoundly after studying with the celebrated photographer Harry Callahan.
Inspired by Callahan’s vision and mentorship, Larrabee changed his major from graphic design and remained for a fifth year at RISD, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography.
Larrabee’s photographic approach centers on letting go of expectations and assumptions about how people should appear or behave. Rather than relying on formal poses or constructed settings, he creates an atmosphere in which the camera fades into the background, allowing his
subjects to reveal their spirit and connections with one another naturally. His work focuses on quiet, often-overlooked moments—small, intimate exchanges within families and relationships that carry profound emotional depth.
He describes these fleeting yet powerful instances as “moments of grace,” when people come together in ways that transcend ordinary experience. In those moments, the whole becomes
greater than the sum of its parts, revealing the beauty, tenderness, and shared humanity that photography can preserve