A wise man once said, photographers can be considered as a great man
not just because his work is stunning. But also thoughts.
Many people even without the title though never photographer produces images
that was so fascinating, but great photographer in addition to making the works
“Large” is also seen “greatness” and “depth” quality through the words and
thoughts. After dozens of photographers who have proven our quality
presented here, one we found one that makes all the
hear his thoughts to feel not understand anything, was not
anyone. Is Michael Kenna, a British-born photographer who
besides having the work so fascinating, but also had the thought
extraordinary. Without the need for long-winded wide, the following excerpts of our conversation
him.

How did you know photography? Tell us from the beginning.
I was born in 1953 in Widnes, Lancashire, England, The youngest of six children
in a working class, Irish-Catholic family. There was certainly no tradition of art
among my family at the time. Growing up I was highly impressed by the Catholic
Church and just before I became 11 years old, I entered a seminary school to train
to become a priest. I left the school when I was 17. Art had been one of my strongest
subjects and I went on to study at the Banbury School of Art in Oxfordshire.
Photography was one of many art mediums that I was exposed to as part of the course-work. I made images of my surroundings.

It was very exciting. I think
I took pictures in my mind from when I
was a child, but my first serious efforts
were made at this time.
I later went onto the London College of
Printing, where I studied photography
for three years. Initially I studied more
commercial aspects of the medium;
fashion, advertising, sports, still lives,
photojournalism, etc., and did not
know about the rich tradition of landscape
photography. Later on, I saw the
works of such luminaries as Bill Brandt,
Josef Sudek, Eugene Atget, and Alfred
Steigliz. They were profoundly impressive
and influential. I had studied the
history of art in other courses and I was
particularly entranced by the painters
Casper David Friedrich, John Constable
and Joseph Turner. But who knows
where influences come from. I am
sure that there have been thousands
of painters, sculptors, photographers,
writers, musicians, poets, etc., who
have greatly influenced me. The list
would be very long.
After graduating, I did some assisting
and printing for an advertising photographer,
Anthony Blake. Landscape
photography became my hobby and passion which I did in the mornings,
evenings and on the weekend when
I wasn’t “working”. It was really only
when I went to the USA in the mid seventies
that I considered the possibility
of making a living in the fine arts. There
were photography galleries in New
York and there seemed to be a higher
acceptance of photography as an art
form. I decided to base myself in San
Francisco, and subsequently lived there
for many years, before moving North
to Portland, Oregon in 2004, and then
Seattle, Washington in 2007, where I
currently live.


What interest you on photography?
Imagine being out at night, alone,
under starry skies, listening to silence,
watching the world slowly move, all
senses alive, thinking, imagining, and
dreaming. The camera is recording,
creating, documenting, seeing what
the eye cannot see – cumulative time.
Or imagine the sensation of being in
a field as the snow falls on a single,
exquisite tree. White all around. Just
the sound of snow falling. Or again,
the crashing of angry waves, pre dawn,
against white sand, clouds in the sky,
a glow on the horizon from the slowly
wakening sun. Then call that “work”.
There are moments when the elements
of life come together magically; conditions,
places, subject matter, inner connections;
moments that are singular
and very special. It is a privilege to be
present at such times and to have the
possibility to integrate into the scene
and subjectively interpret. It is an experience
that defies description, at least
from me. These experiences drive my
photography. I think it is a wonderful
way to go through life. I love almost all
aspects of the photographic process;
planning, traveling, searching, image
making, seeing the first contact sheets,
printing, exhibiting, making books,
everything. I am a very lucky person to
have found this path and am extremely
content.
It seems that you love doing black &
white photography, Please explain
why.
I believe black and white is immediately
more mysterious because we
see in color all the time. It is also more
subjective. I think it is quieter and more
calm than color. I like to print all my
own work and I can interpret black and
white very subjectively in the darkroom.
It is a personal preference.

to be continued ……