The people of Johannesburg have been through struggle and turmoil.  Pablo Picasso once said that art had saved his life, and that should he ever have been placed under arrest, forced to spend time in a concentration camp or a jail cell, he would find strength in his art by any means necessary, even if he had to make “paintings” on the floor of that prison cell, with his own wet tongue in the dirt.  Art does this, it not only brings people through the terrible times, but it heals them once those times have passed.  Through music, dance, the theatre, and the visual arts, the people of the country of South Africa have found ways in which to heal themselves and their country.  Museums and galleries stand testament to the heart and the soul of the cultures and the societies of the country.  The Bensusan Museum of Photography is located centrally, conveniently situated close to the Johannesburg fine dining restaurants and many of the hotels.

The museum’s collection includes rare equipment from long ago, equipment created by the ingenious engineers throughout the development of photography.  Also on display is a large collection of the preserved work of some of the finest photographers from South Africa. Those who even in the face of the restrictions of Apartheid, managed to capture the history and the beauty of the country and of the people.  There are interactive displays as well, such as a multi-media presentation that outlines the basics of photography, from the best ways to capture a moving object on film, to the concepts of lighting and composition.  The darkroom is open to the public, not for use, but for exploration and education.  This is one of the smaller museums in the city, but one that is so specific and of interest to photographer from around the world who find themselves traveling through the city.