How does he do that? .....Micheal Kenna?

melmoth · Nov 2, 2005

How does he do that? .....Michael Kenna?

Most likely I am in the wrong format forum but I trust in the general range of knowledge of apug readers.

Looking through www.michaelkenna.net recently and was very struck by some of the man's effects.

Does anybody know what equipment/film/methods this photographer uses?

Most curious.

M.

Bob F. · Nov 2, 2005

Long exposures, often at night, often a light sepia toning.

Cheers, Bob.

eric · Nov 2, 2005

melmoth said:
Looking through www.michealkenna.net recently and was very struck by some of the man's effects.

.

Good stuff huh? Oh, its michaelkenna.net. He was featured in Lenswork last year and also, I think he was in B&W. I saw one of his prints at the Weston Gallery in Carmel. They are nice. I believe he uses Hasselblads cause I thought he was in the Hasselblad Forum or Masters once.

philldresser · Nov 2, 2005

Love his power station cooling tower series!

mmmichel · Nov 2, 2005

If you like his work, then you'll probably also dig Dead Link Removed work as well. He is a former student of Kenna's who photographs similar subjects using similar techniques.

eric · Nov 2, 2005

mmmichel said:
If you like his work, then you'll probably also dig Dead Link Removed work as well. He is a former student of Kenna's who photographs similar subjects using similar techniques.

Ohh cool! I didn't know he was a student. Perhaps, next time, I'll actually READ Lenswork instead of just looking at the pictures. Funny, Horne and Kenna are my favorite bookmarks when I just want to look at stuff.

philldresser · Nov 2, 2005

They are both on my list as well

colrehogan · Nov 2, 2005

mmmichel said:
If you like his work, then you'll probably also dig Dead Link Removed work as well. He is a former student of Kenna's who photographs similar subjects using similar techniques.

Actually, Rolfe was Kenna's assistant, not student.

Amund · Nov 2, 2005

melmoth said:
Most likely I am in the wrong format forum but I trust in the general range of knowledge of apug readers.

Looking through www.michealkenna.net recently and was very struck by some of the man's effects.

Does anybody know what equipment/film/methods this photographer uses?

Most curious.

M.

All the info you`re asking for you can find in his website...

photomc · Nov 2, 2005

colrehogan said:
Actually, Rolfe was Kenna's assistant, not student.

Yup!

david b · Nov 2, 2005

Take a look at David Fokos

Dead Link Removed

david b · Nov 2, 2005

How about Bill Schwab?

http://www.billschwab.com/index.html

david b · Nov 2, 2005

How about Josef Hoflehner ?

http://www.frozenhistory.com/

david b · Nov 2, 2005

I know for sure that Kenna uses a Hasselblad as does Horn, but I am not sure about the others.

Donald Miller · Nov 2, 2005

While at first glance the work of all of these photographers may seem to be similar, the thing that is most noticeable to me is that Kenna has better tonality in his work...some of the others do not have the separation in their mid and lower tones...at least from the images on the web.

Not that there is anything inherently wrong with anyones approach...I just prefer Kenna's work.

clay · Nov 2, 2005

Agreed. And he sort of did it first, if you know what I mean...

Donald Miller said:
While at first glance the work of all of these photographers may seem to be similar, the thing that is most noticeable to me is that Kenna has better tonality in his work...some of the others do not have the separation in their mid and lower tones...at least from the images on the web.

Not that there is anything inherently wrong with anyones approach...I just prefer Kenna's work.

melmoth · Nov 3, 2005

Thanks a lot.
I looked it up : Rolf horne can be found at www.f45.com

Check out: 'technique' in this website. Very useful. Particularly the zone and photo example.

Also, I went back into the michael kenna website and found an interview with Photowork from 1997 which answers some of my own questions. Tch!

M.

Lee Shively · Nov 3, 2005

I prefer looking at Kenna's photographs on paper rather than on websites. He has two "Retrospective" books available that are really outstanding.

His book "Japan" is also an incredibly gorgeous book--bound in red silk in a folding black silk box. It gets even better when you look at his photographs inside!

modafoto · Nov 3, 2005

philldresser said:
Love his power station cooling tower series!

DITTO

mmmichel · Nov 3, 2005

Thanks dave, I was not aware of those photographers. I particularly like the work on Hoflehner's site.

rhphoto · Nov 3, 2005

Wasn't some of Kenna's earlier work done on 35mm? Seems to me I recall the framing/cropping of some ca. '80s pictures looked more like 35mm dimensions.

david b · Nov 3, 2005

I think he worked with Nikons and then moved up to Hasselblads in the 90's. Kenna has also done a bit of advertising as well.

And he has a new book coming out in January I believe. I know that photo-eye is taking orders for it. His books sell out super fast and increase in value almost immediately.

manalishi · Nov 3, 2005

mmmichel said:
Thanks dave, I was not aware of those photographers. I particularly like the work on Hoflehner's site.

same here,
I'm a Kenna fan for several years now, but I have recently purchased a copy of Josef Hoflehner's recent wall calendar 'Dreamworld 2006' and those photographs are great, maybe greater than Kenna's. IMO

got the calendar from photo-eye:
http://www.photoeye.com/templates/mShowDetailsbycat.cfm?Catalog=ZC637

also a new book by Hoflehner:
http://www.photoeye.com/templates/mShowDetailsbycat.cfm?Catalog=ZC614

"Some of these photographs are so surreal that they don't seem like they were taken in this dimension."

manalishi

gnashings · Nov 6, 2005

Jeez... Nikons, Hasselblads... I know all you guys know better (and I am a gear head myself - so I am always curious what camera was used, etc)), but if someone didn't know... given the title of the thread, and the repeated "he used brand X" comments, you would think IT(the gear) made the images!

The real reason for my post: where on the web site does it actually go into techniques? I would like to know... but can't find it.

Gim · Nov 6, 2005

I believe most of the equipment information comes out of his interviews. If you like Kenna (I do) they are an interesting look into his "style".
Jim

How does he do that? .....Micheal Kenna?

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency