“I do have strong convictions and political opinions, but I don't think it's necessary to imbue my photographic work with them. I use photography as a vessel for visual material to flow through, to encourage conversation with the viewer. I try to present a catalyst and invite viewers to tell their own stories.” ThinkingTryingStoriesUsePoliticalStrongOpinionMaterialsConversationPhotographyFlowPhotographerConvictionVisualsInvitesViewersVesselCatalystPolitical Opinions Author:Michael Kenna
“I find that when one has worked long enough, technical know-how becomes almost irrelevant. In photography, it's not difficult to reach a technical level where you don't need to think about the technique any more. I think there is far too much literature and far too much emphasis upon the techniques of photography. The make of camera and type of film we happen to use has little bearing on the results.” ThinkingKnowsNeedsLittlesLongEnoughUseHappensFilmLiteratureDifficultLevelsResultsKnow HowToo MuchTypePhotographyCamerasPhotographerTechniqueIrrelevantEmphasis Author:Michael Kenna
“I often think of my work as visual haiku. It is an attempt to evoke and suggest through as few elements as possible rather than to describe with tremendous detail.” ThinkingElementsPhotographyPhotographerDetailsVisualsHaikuEvoke Author:Michael Kenna
“It's possible to think of photography as an act of editing, a matter of where you put your rectangle pull it out or take it away. Sometimes people ask me about films, cameras and development times in order to find out how to do landscape photography. The first thing I do in landscape photography is go out there and talk to the land - form a relationship, ask permission, it's not about going out there like some paparazzi with a Leica and snapping a few pictures, before running off to print them.” PeopleThinkingFirstsSometimesMatterRunningFilmFormOrderAsksLandDevelopmentPhotographyCamerasPhotographerLandscapeAsk MePrintPermissionGoing OutEditingPaparazziSnappingLandscape PhotographyRectanglesLeica Author:Michael Kenna
“The first time, I usually skim off the outer layer and end up with photographs that are fairly obvious. The second time, I have to look a little deeper. The images get more interesting. The third time it is even more challenging and on each subsequent occasion, the images should get stronger, but it takes more effort to get them.” ShouldFirstsLooksLittlesEndsChallengesInterestingEffortPhotographyFirst TimeThirdsStrongerPhotographerPhotographObviousDeeperOccasionsLayersThird Time Author:Michael Kenna
“Getting photographs is not the most important thing. For me it's the act of photographing. It's enlightening, therapeutic and satisfying, because the very process forces me to connect with the world. When you make four-hour exposures in the middle of the night, you inevitably slow down and begin to observe and appreciate more what's going on around you. In our fast-paced, modern world, it's a luxury to be able to watch the stars move across the sky.” WorldImportantAbleMovingNightForceStarsProcessHoursWatchesFourSkyModernMiddlePhotographyAppreciateDown AndImportant ThingsPhotographerPhotographLuxurySatisfyingSlow DownExposureModern WorldEnlighteningFast PacedTherapeuticMiddle Of The Night Author:Michael Kenna
“I gravitate towards places where humans have been and are no more, to the edge of man's influence, where the elements are taking over or covering man's traces.” MenHumansHas BeensInfluenceElementsPhotographyPhotographerEdgesCovering Author:Michael Kenna
“Parks and gardens are the quintessential intimate landscapes. People use them all the time, leaving their energy and memories behind. It's what's left behind that I like to photograph.” PeopleUseEnergyLeftMemoriesBehindsPhotographyGardenLeavingPhotographerPhotographLandscapeIntimateParksLeft BehindQuintessential Author:Michael Kenna
“Perhaps most intriguing of all is that it is possible to photograph what is impossible for the human eye to see - cumulative time.” HumansEyeImpossiblePhotographyPhotographerPhotographIntriguingCumulativeHuman Eyes Author:Michael Kenna
“Nothing is ever the same twice because everything is always gone forever, and yet each moment has infinite photographic possibilities.” MomentsGoneForeverPossibilityPhotographyInfinitePhotographerInfinite PossibilitiesFleeting Moments Author:Michael Kenna