By Jessie Kuenzel
Staff Writer

As a youngster in Teaneck, New Jersey, Kimmers Benjamin picked up her first camera at just nine years old. Only a few years later she took her first photography class at a summer program, where she learned about pinhole cameras and how to use them. Her interest in black and white film photography has burgeoned in the subsequent years, and as her collection of photographs grew month by month, so did her talent.
Drawn to new places, Kimmers finds it important to capture images of things people wouldn’t notice; she wants to find the story within the empty storefront or dingy alleyway that others simply walk past.
A combination of autobiographical and landscape-portraiture, her works document her travels—both day to day and abroad—as well as the essence of whatever she has chosen as a subject.
As a double major in studio art and arts administration, Kimmers has not only become well versed in the technical aspects of photography, but in the managerial side as well—as evidenced by her well organized, and extensive, online portfolio.
She has taken seven art classes in her time at Simmons, Print Making and The Symphony were among her favorites. She was a TA for the black and white lab, where her students enjoyed the benefits of her extensive experience in the dark room, as well as her sharp wit and clever sense of humor. Any one who has had the pleasure of taking a class with her knows that her infectious and bright personality is almost as inspirational as her prodigious skill behind the lens.
When she graduates this spring, Kimmers will be leaving a legacy behind her that has, and will continue, to influence Simmons artists for years to come.