Norwood Noir, 2025

The newly renovated Norwood Mall situated in Norwood, South Australia is an open-air mall, which means that some of the roof does not attach to the buildings on either side. At a specific time of day around lunch time, at a certain time of year, the sun is in the perfect position to bring a shaft of light through a narrow gap and right onto an outdoor bench. Simultaneously, light bounces off a wall onto the opposite wall of a walkway, giving a gorgeous gradient. This is a classic example of being in the right place at the right time, with the right gear, a coffee and just waiting for the other pieces to fall into place. The moment someone sat on the bench meant that only half the image was there, I knew there needed to be a second person to walk through the frame to complete my vision. As soon as it happened, my vision was complete. With next to no image editing, I present to you, Norwood Noir.

Over the past 18 years, Benjamin Liew has become known for his advertising, commercial, documentary and portrait photography work.

In 2018, Benjamin had the amazing opportunity to photograph Professor Charlie Teo performing brain surgery in Sydney. With these images, Benjamin was named the 2019 Documentary Photographer of the Year in South Australia. In the same year, he was a finalist in the Bowness Photography prize. In 2015 he was named the South Australian Travel photographer of the year, and prior to that in 2012, he was a finalist in the National Photographic Portrait Prize. More recently in 2025 he was named the Commercial Photographer of the year, as well as the portrait category finalist in the Australian Photographic Prize. He was also a finalist in the NZIPP Iris Awards in the portrait category, the Nyland Prize, and the MAPh LOOK! prize.

He’s never been represented by a commercial gallery.