RESEARCH- Michael Kenna

Michael Kenna Research 

Michael Kenna is an English photographer, who is known for his use of black and white landscape photos. He was born in 1953 in Widnes. 

He uses the technique of long exposures during dawn and dust, the majority of his photos are exposure for 10- 30 minutes and some of his images can be as long as 10 hours. He would often leave the camera up and leave to read a book or have dinner. He mainly uses a medium format film camera and the occasional 35 mm film camera (Kodak Tri-X). He needs to use these long time exposure times because the nights are so dark they need this long period to be at the right exposure. 
Kenna uses a neutral density filter with a slow speed film for his day shots and other times he may use a red filter. In the mid 80’s he progressed to using a Hasselblad medium format camera and would go through using from 10 to 15 rolls of 120 films a day. The 

 Forms of Japan
Kenna in Hokkaido, an island in Japan, took this photo.  It was made using a medium format camera and a neutral density filter over the lens in order to extend the length of time the shutter is open for. This photo would have been a single shot success. It would have taken Michael Kenna many rolls of film. He may have also experimented using different exposure times. The purpose of this photo is to use his chosen style of long exposures. I think the purpose of his photos is to capture the theory of time and also how things can change during a time period. There is a Japanese style sculpture in the centre, background of the photo. The photo is on the coastline, with rocks in the foreground. I like how the water has washed over the rocks a few times during this exposure. Which creates a smooth and misty effect around and over the rocks. I created a similar effect in my photos using a DSLR and a neutral density filter.
Traces of the past

I think this photo is more interesting compared to his other images. It has an arrangement of different sized rocks arranged in a random positioning. He produced this image using his medium format Hasselblad camera, which is quite old and well used. The neutral density filter is also used in order to create this photo. Most of his photos are produce at night. This means the shutter can be left open for longer periods because it is almost dark. I like the negative effect this image has on a person; I think it is how the image is black and white. There is no colour that gives you a positive feeling. I also like the contrast of the photo and how it doesn’t appear grey, they are strong and punchy.  
 


From researching Michael Kenna I have realised to use the same technique as him by using long exposures to capture the movement in the water. I will use his long exposure technique to create similar images. However, I will use a digital camera instead of a medium format film camera like the one that Michael Kenna uses. I will use extended shutter speed lengths of 30 seconds or longer in order to created the smooth and mist like the one above around the rocks. I will also use a high number aperture to create a deep depth of field. It will also mean that the aperture hole is smaller to reduce the amount of light entering the lens. I believe this technique will create interesting photos if I compose them around movement of the sea like Kenna does or even the sky as the clouds move.

http://www.michaelkenna.net/phorevu.php
www.photographyoffice.com/blog/2014/michael-kenna 

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