Raw emotions of the 1960s and ‘70s. At seventy-seven, Beckhoff, a self-taught photographer, has created a striking body of work filled with unfiltered, familiar emotion. After graduating from Philadelphia College of Textiles and Science in 1968, Beckhoff’s interest in people led him to learn photography on the streets of Philadelphia. These portraits document the raw emotions of the pivotal and tumultuous 1960s and 1970s. As a true amateur photographer, Beckhoff’s images are defined by a tangible connection between the photographer and his subjects. His preference for black-and-white photography, rooted in tradition, highlights the interplay of light and shadow, adding a striking sense of intimacy and meaning to his work. His approach reveals a way of taking photographs that allows a closer, more personal connection with the subject—something that feels increasingly rare and, for various reasons, less possible today. His spontaneous images have been showcased at the Nexus Gallery in New York, and he has been invited by Nikon to exhibit in Tokyo, Japan, as well as galleries in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. More recently, Les Rencontres d’Arles in France invited him to feature in their annual photography festival. In January 2025, Beckhoff's images were analog reprinted on expired films and Baryta paper at the TinyGallery in Brussels. These prints were created using a Leitz enlarger from the 1960s, adding a timeless quality and a deep connection to the era they depict.