Meet Anthony Bennetts | Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Anthony Bennetts and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Anthony, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
The main reason why I’m pursuing an artistic/creative career is, because art expresses and captures emotions that humans can’t fully express or convey the right way/words/actions, that one is feeling. The arts are a great tool to express the raw, hard, exhausting, purest, most light emotions that 1 can feel and experience in life.

There are 2 things in society that will always be in society: 1)Arts & 2)Politics. And even then, there’s art in politics. Society can’t progress, unless there’s artists and creative people. Most solutions can be found during the creative stage. Creativity helps remove you from the problem and to look at the bigger picture. Creativity helps you expand on previous ideas/technology/methods.
Even when society isn’t “progressing”(I.E. The Middle Age/Dark Age) art was fully thriving and evolving and helping humanity express themselves.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
What sets me apart from most photographers is that I don’t have any formal education or training for it. It is all self-taught and alot of experimenting and admiration of other photographers of all styles.
I always get inspired by other photographers and all artists. Inspiration is all around us, if we are willing to open our eyes and be in the moment.

It’s always an honored being featured in online magazines. It means that people are enjoying my photos and that makes me happy. I’m glad that people can connect to my photos and evoke memories or feelings. If my photos help people process emotions/feelings/memories in a better setting, than I’m all for it. People needed that release of energy.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
First and foremost, with living near the beautiful city of Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1 would have to visit the campus of thr University of Michigan and the Big House. The campus sprawls throughout the city. Check out all the museums that the university had to offer; University of Michigan Museum of Natural History, or University of Michigan Museum of Art. Once you’re done with the university, downtown Ann Arbor has its own amazing art galleries; Washington Street Gallery, Gutman Gallery, and Ann Arbor Art Center. Don’t forget to check out graffiti alley while in downtown.
For food wise, Ann Arbor is very diverse in food, you can choose from Korean(Miss Kim or Kosmo’s BopShop), Ethiopian(Blue Nile), Peruvian(Culantro), American(Fleetwood Diner), Italian(Mani Osteria and Bar), Indian(Madras Masala Restaurant or Namaste Flavours Arbor)and a plethora of other delicious places.
There are still local mom and pop stores that lined Main street and so many participate in the Fairy Doors. That’s right, Ann Arbor is home for fairies. There is a scavenger hunt to find all the little fairy doors.
There’s well over 100 public parks to choose from, if outdoors is more your thing. I highly suggest Gallup Park, Bird Hills, Cherry Hill, Nichols Arboretum, and the University of Michigan Matthaei Botanical Gardens.

Make a pit stop over in Ypsilanti and cruise the downtown and depot town areas. Ypsilanti was home of the Willow Run B-24 bomber plant back in WW2 & home to Rosie the Riveter. Check out the Firehouse museum, Ypsilanti Automotive Heritage Museum and Michigan Flight Museum(formally Yankee Air Museum). Check out Bellfower, Basil Babe, MAIZ Mexican Cantina, and The Bomber Restaurant(the inside is dedicated to the Willow Run bomber plant and WW2).
Yet again, there’s numerous green spaces and parks to choose from. Riverside/Frog Island Park, North Bay Park, Ford Lake Park, Rolling Hills & Lefurge Woods Nature Preserve.

Last pace to check out, would be Detroit. Hit up the many music venues around Detroit and the metro area. Make sure to walk the Detriot Riverfront. Motown Museum is a must, so is the Detroit Institute of Arts. Eastern Market is amazing, I say 1 of the best outdoor markets in the United States. Catch a baseball game at Comerica Park or watch an action pack hockey game at Little Ceasars Arena.
Want something interesting, then you got to go to the Heidelberg Project or Dequindre Cut.
Name anything that you’re craving and Detroit will have it, but the 2 places you need to have and you decide who the winner is, would be Lafayette Coney Island and American Coney Island. The most epic battle of the Coney dog!
Need a an afternoon to relax, then walk Grand Circus, Campus Martius, Hart Plaza or Belle Isle(home to the oldest running aquarium in the United States)

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There is too many people that deserves the light to shine on them. First and foremost, I would say my family. Especially my grandma, my aunt, and 1 cousin always taking pictures of family get-togethers and putting them into scrapbooks. Yall helped me to appreciate the moment, family, closeness, and fond memories.

Secondly, I appreciate where I work at, Avalon Housing. I’m able get some of my great photos ,either at some of their properties or the on walks for my lunch.
Plus, I fully stand behind what they do and what they stand for.
Avalon Housing is a Housing First model and provides long-term housing to people experiencing chronic homelessness. Then, they will bring in the proper services that one might need. Residents don’t have to agree to any services and still be housed. They work with a collective of other amazing organizations within the communities they serve (I.E. CMH Packard Health, FIA, VA, Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti Housing Commissions, University of Michigan, Food Gatherers and more). Avalon Housing does so much for the residents. They have a summer program for the children and tutors. Take residents to appointments, grocery shopping, and field trips. Art club and movie nights. Provide a pancake breakfast, summer BBQ and a holiday party for all the residents. There are 4 food pantries at various Avalon properties, plus ones that are near by other properties. There is a resident led group called V.O.C.A.L. that helps advocates for all of the residents concerns and questions. Also, there are a few residents that are on the board. Avalon Housing wants to blend into the neighborhoods and help make the residents feel like they aren’t “low-income”.
Avalon Housing is truly a saving grace for so many people in the community. There are endless ways to say how great Avalon is and the impact it has in the community.

Website: https://anthonybennetts.smugmug.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anthonyjames_734/profilecard/?igsh=dGRqenZtd3docjVw