A spontaneous yoga pose. A temple backdrop. One frame that changed everything. For more than 10 years, photographer, educator and Photoshop Hall of Famer Ben Willmore traveled to 85 countries with his wife, yogi and collaborator, Karen Willmore, building a globe-spanning series that’s now become a coffee table book: The World Is My Yoga Mat. Captured almost entirely with Sony Alpha cameras and Sony lenses, we sat down with him to learn more about the project.
Photo by Ben Willmore. Alpha 7R IV. 16-35mm f/2.8 G Master. 1/45-sec., f/22, ISO 100
Early Passions, Lifelong Craft
“My love for photography started when I got my first camera as a child,” Willmore says. “I was always drawn to anything visual.” In high school he picked up a 35mm film camera and multiple lenses; in college he experimented with large‑format 4x5, studio work, and darkroom printing – while nurturing a parallel passion for technology.
“When I launched my career as a graphic designer, I stepped away from shooting to direct photo shoots instead,” he explains. “That’s where I got to merge my twin passions, visual arts and technology, helping newspapers, magazines, and design firms transition from analog methods to desktop publishing.”
Photographer/husband Ben Willmore with yogi/wife Karen Willmore
He became synonymous with Photoshop – teaching nationwide, writing more than a dozen books, and ultimately being inducted into the Photoshop Hall of Fame. “When digital photography became practical, I jumped back in, and that perfectly aligned with my teaching, so I could demonstrate using my own images.”
A Nomad With A Rolling Studio
A turning point came when he realized he wasn’t shooting enough of what he loved. “I sold my home and most of my possessions and hit the road full‑time in a motorcoach,” he says. “I lived that modern nomadic life for over a decade, exploring all 50 states and following my passions.” Later, he restored a vintage 1930s‑design bus into a high‑tech second home on wheels – featured on the TV show Extreme RVs.
Ben Willmore's Creative Cruiser bus (featured on Extreme RVs)
“I’m drawn to Americana – vintage service stations, art deco theaters, 1930s commercial vehicles – anything with real style and personality,” Willmore adds. He also specializes in light painting, combining multiple illuminated exposures into a single composite.
Photo by Ben Willmore
One Frame, One Spark
The yoga series began almost by accident. “In 2013, I was invited to teach photography on cruise ships, which became my ticket to explore 85 countries,” Willmore recalls. “One day, my wife Karen casually asked me to take a picture she was going to text to her sister, and she just happened to spring into a yoga pose with a temple in the background.”
“That simple moment transformed my photography,” he says. “At each destination, our challenge became finding at least one great spot to capture another yoga shot. Multiply that by 10 years and 85 countries, and you end up with well over 1,000 images.”
Photo by Ben Willmore. Alpha 7R IV. 20-70mm f/4 G. 1/45-sec., f/19, ISO 100
From Social Shares To Book Pressure
As the images found an audience online, a chorus grew: When’s the book? “Karen and I loved the concept but always found reasons to delay,” Willmore admits. “That changed when Sony Artisan Andy Katz started calling and emailing, asking for status updates on the yoga book.”
“It was only through his relentless persistence that the book became ready to send to the printer,” Willmore says. “He also gave us an independent assessment of which images should ultimately make it into the book, looking at everything from a purely visual standpoint. We owe him for that push and guidance.”
Photo by Ben Willmore. Alpha 7R IV. 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master. 1/90-sec., f/11, ISO 100
The Sony Alpha Advantage
Across oceans, city streets and crowded landmarks, Willmore relied on the Sony Alpha 7R series and a tight lens kit to keep the project nimble.
“The wide dynamic range of the Alpha series cameras allowed me to capture the vast majority of the series in a single shot instead of having to rely on multi‑shot HDR,” he explains. “That’s crucial when Karen is holding challenging poses and the backgrounds – ocean waves, moving clouds, bustling crowds – are rarely static.”
Photo by Ben Willmore. Alpha 7R II. 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master. 1/60-sec., f/11, ISO 500
Focus discipline was equally important. “I frequently utilize the focus hold button on my Sony lenses to lock onto my subject, since I often capture multiple frames that I later combine to remove tourists,” he says. “It’s usually one finger on the lens button and another on the exposure lock button that makes this process seamless.”
He also leaned on tactile control. “The aperture ring on select Sony lenses is something I frequently use, giving me quick, tactile control over depth of field without having to take my eye from the viewfinder.”
Photo by Ben Willmore. Alpha 7R IV. 16-35mm f/2.8 G Master. 1/500-sec., f/20, ISO 500
One Lens, More Freedom
Travel tested his kit, and simplicity won. “I eventually settled on traveling with a single lens, the 20-70mm f/4 G, whereas I used to travel with three,” Willmore says. “Once I made that change, shooting felt more fluid and easy, and my kit became much lighter.”
Why Sony
Willmore says he’s been shooting with the Sony Alpha 7R series since 2014. “What drew me in initially was that Sony was the first to embrace full‑frame mirrorless cameras and started developing mirrorless‑specific lenses before anyone else,” he notes. “For over a decade now, Sony has led the pack in resolution and dynamic range for full‑frame mirrorless cameras, and their lens selection is hard to beat.”
Photo by Ben Willmore. Alpha 7R. 16-35mm f/2.8 G Master. 1/125-sec., f/11, ISO 100
A Book Built Together
The finished book mirrors the collaboration behind the camera. “Karen designed and laid out the entire interior – what images made the cut, how they’re positioned and sequenced,” Willmore says. “I designed the cover and back, created the dedicated website, and researched printing companies. From start to finish, this has been completely in‑house, just the two of us.”
They also wrote side‑by‑side reflections. “We included dual commentary with each image: Karen’s perspective as the yogi holding the pose, and my perspective as the photographer setting up the shot,” he explains. “Friends and followers tell us those insights are what make the book special. It’s not just beautiful images; it’s the behind‑the‑scenes story of how we create them together.”
Photo by Ben Willmore. Alpha 7R III. 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master. 1/125-sec., f/10, ISO 320
A Conversation Starter Everywhere They Go
Beyond the pages, the series has become the couple’s favorite icebreaker. “It’s a fantastic icebreaker when I present a slideshow to the groups I teach on cruise ships,” Willmore says. “Without it, they’d never know that the quiet woman in the back row is my wife. Once they see the images, conversations flow easily, and every time we run into someone in the hallway or at dinner, they want to talk about the series and introduce us to their friends.”
Photo by Ben Willmore. Alpha 7R II. 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master. 1/125-sec., f/14, ISO 100
“If the project resonates – photographically, creatively, or as a story of partnership – now’s the moment,” Willmore says. “We’re excited to get this in people’s hands.”
Back the book here, explore the series at theworldismyyogamat.com and follow their journey on Instagram @theworldismyyogamat.
