Michael Kenna - Landscape photographer
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- Опубліковано 7 лип 2024
- THIS VIDEO_:Photographer, Michael Kenna is 70 years old this year and I had no idea how huge his following is - He’s had over 475 solo exhibitions in 40 countries and 70 books of his photographs have been produced. I haven’t been instinctively drawn to his work, perhaps because of its apparent simplicity. But I think in his case - it is like so many life pursuits, transforming complex responses into simple representations requires talent, dedication and wisdom. As we rush about in our busy world it would be easy to dismiss a Zen monk as simple, naïve and out of touch with reality - but they have dedicated their whole lives to avoid getting caught up in the divisions within the world. Kenna says that he looks for what he cannot see - he prefers to include elements of suggestion in his photographs rather than producing an accurate description of the scene. He has drawn from the photographic masters before him, like Ansel Adams, Eugene aget and Alfred Steeglitz, but he has also added ingredients of Zen to build a language of landscape photography that is his own.
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ABOUT ME: The conversations focus on topics related to different aspects of photography including: art, documentary and photojournalism. The discussions explore the personal experiences of photographers and artists and how their work reflects both their internal and external landscape. During the past 30 years I have photographed in over 50 countries for magazines including National Geographic, Time, New York Times and Newsweek. I have held solo exhibitions in New York, London and Paris and my work is showcased in private and institutional art collections around the world.
COPYRIGHT: The copyright for all images belongs to the photographer/s being discussed.
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MUSIC: Lost in Prayer - Doug Maxwell
VIDEO CLIPS: A Conversation with Michael Kenna (1)
LEARNING to OBSERVE The landscape minimalism of MICHAEL KENNA
Michael Kenna
Kenna is as ZEN photographer as it gets! Truly meditational photography practice
His favourite tree - chopped down for "safety reasons"! Says so much about our times and the many, many dull people living in it. Unable to see beauty! Unable to leave this tiny bit of nature untouched.
Yup, not good.
GOOD.....JUST REALLY GOOD....THANK YOU GRAEME
Thanks Mike
I love his work. Its appears simple at first but then the more you look at them the more you see. I absolutely hate analysing photographs, but his training in graphic arts is evident in his photography. That he was born in the NW of England less than 30 miles away from me, is a bonus.
I usually complain when it snows, and he goes out and creates art.
The Master at work, superb. Some photographers have letters after their names but for Mr Kenna he has> Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters, awarded to him by the Ministry of Culture in France, now that is quality just like his work.
Not many people can boast about that accolade.
Great video. I have several of his books and met him about 20 years ago when he was showing “Monique’s Kindergarten” at the Halsted Gallery in Birmingham, Michigan.
Hi Robert I really like his quiet simple manner of speaking and photographing.
Excellent summary! He is one of my favorites!
Yes, it's very interesting, and I love his great work. Thank you very much for sharing these fine minutes with this fabulous artist.
Thanks Heinz
One of my favourite things at lunch time Graeme is delving into your back catalogue, and looking at Michael Kenna's work with you is very calming and a great motivator to pick up my camera and look at the landscape around me differently. Cheers, David
Hi David I'm glad that I can provide some entertainments while you eat your peanut and jelly sandwiches.
Another great story of an amazing photographer. Kenna's spiritual and emotional attunement to the environment is inspiring, And anyone who quotes Tillich is usually worth listening to. Thanks.
Hi Jim I didn't know about him, but he knows a thing or two.
Thank you so very much for your videos and lessons. All the best dear Graeme!
Many thanks RK
Thank you for the Video an your Work.
Wow! What a great video. What a splendid tribute and appreciation. I needed it. I’m not a Kenna fan, despite having elected to write on Zen Buddhism in 2nd year philosophy.
That essay and my experiences at the time left a life-long impression.
I really liked the video sequence that saw him kneeling in the snow, kneeling before his favourite tree.
Thank you, Graeme. You have probably saved me the trouble of buying one of his 70 photo book.
I appreciate that Lloyd.
Excellent video, very insightful. Thank you for a sensitive and serious exploration of one of the most significant photographers and visual artists of our age. Very illuminating and inspiring!
Fascinating. Thanks for posting.
Thank you for the video and your efforts.
Outstandingly informative doc. - Many thanks Graeme Williams!
Thanks Dieter
Really great documentary video. Your choice of photos was great. All in all it showed a tremendous amount of research as well as video behind the effort. Really, really great job and I certainly appreciate the effort and enjoyed the results.
I appreciate your feedback, thanks
I think that Michael Kenna is brilliant. His simplicity is complex. It is his experience in the darkroom as well as behind the camera that gave him the experience that let him capture his vision in the field. Just like Adams his darkroom experience instructs his art. If one looks at Adams Moonlight over Hernandez photo vs the original negative, one can see that the darkroom actually makes that photo not the negative shot itself. Kenna has that same quality although his style is obviously totally different.
Yes, it is the whole package with Kenna!
Thanks, I really enjoyed this
Thank you for this introduction. Very interesting ❤
This was a well prepared documentary. Definetely picked my interest in Kenna and as well in the channel.
Hello again Graeme. In this video you provide a wonderful insight into the life and works of Michael Kenna. As interesting and stimulating as Michael's work is, your analysis is, for me, every bit as instructive in the development of my own interests in photography. As always, many thanks.
Much appreciated Daniel
Excellent. Informative. Very well put together. Thank you.
Thanks Matt
I appreciate this kind of photography. I myself use lång exposure times. I have also learned to come back to the same subject until the image and the expectations you have of the subject are fulfilled. Sometimes it's not enough, and then you have to wonder what went wrong. My problem is patience and time over to photography. Both can be trained away. I think his pictures reflect the use of a method that he is confident in. Which I myself tend to fall into. Good video again I think. Thank you.
Hi Thomas It is also difficult to gain that kind of patience if it is not a full-time pursuit.
@@PhotoConversations I have been thinking about when you need to switch concept because the results is not working as intended . As the tree he worked on for years. I tried to photograph a tree in a power line tower but I could not get it right.
Thank you! A wonderful introduction to this great photographer. I also love the music you choose for your videos, but is it really necessary? In this context I find music rather distracting and irritating.
You showed several extracts from a video of Take Kayo interviewing Michael Kenna. Can you post a link? Also, I grew up in Cheshire. It is mainly rural or suburban. Heavy industry was concentrated in neighbouring Lancashire. Your general point about the region's industrial legacy is true, but I do not think it reflects Cheshire's history.
Hi Kevin You will know the history far better than me, so thanks. There is a share option underneath the video, but here is the URL: ua-cam.com/video/yAtYns1WwAk/v-deo.html
Oh I see - the info is in the video description and you can just search UA-cam under that.
I searched UA-cam and found it. It is a nice complement to your video. Thanks so much for bringing Michael Kenna to my attention. I am truly impressed by his body of work. Several years ago I found out about Fan Ho from a UA-cam video and he has been an inspiration ever since. This feels like a similar moment.