Michael Kenna

Michael Kenna is potentially one of my favorite film photographers I’ve ever seen. He focuses on landscapes in interesting, contrasting lighting. He seems to use the light of dawn and dusk for most of his pictures in order to achieve such interesting effects. All of his pictures inspire wonder, with a powerful feeling in them as you look at the rays of light and the effects of light in his pictures.

In one of my favorite pictures by Kenna, a sunset over a beach is featured. From a technical standpoint, this picture in very impressive. The bottom of the image appears to be a black abyss while the image gets brighter as you move up it. You can see the landscape far in the background past the water, hazed by the atmosphere.

This is one of my favorites because it was timed so perfectly. Kenna photographed at just the right time of day to achieve the effects he wanted. The black at the bottom feels like it goes on forever, while there is a bright land of hope in the distance. I love that the shine on the water is perfectly in the shape of a swan as well. The timing must have been very precise. The swan’s head also points up towards the light and land in the distance. I think this bright land in the distance represents a better place when contrasted with the darkness below. 

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