Bensusan Museum, Johannesburg

The Bensusan Museum of Photography, located within Museum Africa, is named in honor of Dr. AD Bensusan, a former mayor of Johannesburg who dedicated his efforts to advancing the art and science of photography in our country. This museum was generously donated to the city back in 1968.

Inside its walls, you'll find a remarkable collection of rare and valuable precision-crafted photographic equipment. For instance, there's an early Daguerre camera from 1839, the very year photography was first introduced to the world. Interestingly, this camera was acquired by WH Fox Talbot, Dr. Bensusan's English counterpart in the field.

The collector's gallery within the museum illustrates the inventive solutions that paved the way for the evolution of photography. It's a journey showcasing how seemingly insurmountable challenges were ingeniously overcome through engineering innovations.

The museum not only houses equipment but also preserves the photographic works created with these tools. This encompasses everything from the earliest wet-plate prints to pioneering experiments like stereoscopic views and holograms, all the way to contemporary digital imagery.

Additionally, the Bensusan Museum takes pride in its dedication to safeguarding the works of South African photographers. Alongside its collection, the museum offers interactive exhibits, darkrooms, and multimedia presentations that impart fundamental lessons on optics, light, motion images, and the core principles of photography.