About Benchmark

Benchmark Photography came into being after its principal, Ben Mackoff, left the Circuit Court Bench in Chicago in 1995. A Cook County Judge for 23 years, judicial obligations prevented him from responding to the many requests to purchase the photographs displayed at his exhibitions. Upon his retirement, he founded Benchmark and concentrated on collecting transparencies that would be appreciated in producing fine art photographs.

Ben Mackoff

Ben Mackoff has been an avid photographer for over 50 years. His travels throughout the Southwestern U.S., to Alaska, to Europe and the Mediterranean, and to Australia and the South Pacific have won much praise from environmentalists and other lovers of nature.

In 2001, he conducted a photo workshop in Venice, Italy during "Carnevale", which was a huge success, leading him to anticipate repeating the workshop experience at future venues. For news of future expeditions to Venice, Florence, Tuscany and Southern Italy, be sure to visit the Travel Page, or check on the Benchmark Homepage for the latest travel updates.

He has won honors for his photography from the Union League Club as well as the Brookfield and Lincoln Park Zoos. In 1999, he was appointed to make the official portrait of the judges of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

He has exhibited for several years at the Three Arts Club and the Union League Club as well as at the Alliance Francais, the Richard J. Daley Center, the Garland Building and various Chicago restaurants. Ben Mackoff has also conducted various photo seminars in the Chicago metropolitan area, including for the Chicago Public School system.

Self-taught, he focuses primarily on 35mm and medium format fine art color prints. His 35mm kit includes the Nikon F100 and FM3A SLR cameras and a Hassleblad X-pan panoramic rangefinder camera, all with appropriate lenses and accessories. He uses Manfrotto and Gitzo tripods, and prefers Fuji and Kodak transparency films. In addition to his film photography, Mr. Mackoff has ventured into the digital field, producing excellent computer-driven ink-jet prints.