The above. The below.

July 8, 2018 by Phil Kneen Photography

I’d describe my current style of aqua-imagery as ‘around the surface photography. I’m not a scuba diver, I tried it once, but I don’t think it was for me; in my opinion, any activity that results in almost certain death if/when something goes wrong is best avoided…although I’m not sure how much logic there is in my own theory because I spent most of my 20’s and 30’s rock-climbing, ice-climbing and high altitude mountaineering (and a lot did go wrong, […]

Categories: film photography, Photography • Tags: 35mm, analog, isle of man, nikonos, nikons V, underwater

Positive Buoyancy

June 30, 2018 by Phil Kneen Photography

My recent exploration into underwater photography has rekindled a passion and interest in the medium that has been somewhat lacking over the past few months; thrown me out of the rut and into the sea. There’s a system, a ritual, almost, that goes with the process – methodically checking the cameras before entering the water, knowing that you only have 36 goes at getting it right before you need to get out, rinsing the cameras in fresh water… even the […]

Categories: film photography, Photography • Tags: 35mm, analog, analogue, isle of man, kodak, Nikonos III, nikons V, sea swimming

Just because…

June 14, 2018 by Phil Kneen Photography

“Because it’s there” – mountaineer, George Mallory (18 March 1923); on being asked why he wanted to climb Mount Everest. Contrary to what people may think, I don’t feel comfortable talking about myself; it’s difficult for me to sit face to face with someone and tell them what it is I’m doing with my photography. Sitting next to someone on a flight, especially long-distance causes me a degree of anxiety that I’m sure a lot of people who know me […]

Categories: Uncategorized • Tags: Johannesburg, pretoria, south africa

The Curve

June 3, 2018 by Phil Kneen Photography

Just when I thought I’d learned all I needed to know about the technical side of photography, along comes my desire to shoot underwater. The mechanics of photography, above water, despite how complicated it may look, is actually very simple. Essentially, to get the ‘correct’ image, you have about eight aperture sizes and twelve(ish) shutter speeds – all you need to do is combine one of each to get the right amount of light onto your film, you point your […]

Categories: film photography, Photography, woman • Tags: Fuji Venus 800, nikonos, Nikonos III

Calypso

June 1, 2018 by Phil Kneen Photography

All images here were made using Nikonos III camera underwater camera and 35mm lens. Filmstock is Ilford HP5 400, pushed to 800, for black and white and Fuji Venus 800 (Superia 800) for colour.

Categories: film photography, model, woman • Tags: canon sureshot A1, Ilford HP5, Nikonos III, nude, underwater

“Sharpness is a bourgeois concept”

May 16, 2018 by Phil Kneen Photography

Shooting with the Nikonos III underwater camera has been a harsh lesson in disappointment; it’s difficult to use, considering it’s such a simple camera. There appears to be a lot of physics involved in underwater photography? Or is there? Perhaps I’m just making excuses for the high rate of unusable images I’ve ended up with since becoming obsessed with this forty-five-year-old water-tight temptress. Well exposed images, I don’t generally have an issue with – what’s giving me cause for concern […]

Categories: film photography, Photography • Tags: Nikonos III, underwater

Boston 26

April 8, 2018 by Phil Kneen Photography

The white squatters camp at Krugersdorp has grown onto the side of a much larger, blacks only township. These images were taken in the ‘transition area’ between the two settlements. Despite being there to photograph the white residents, I did take a lot of photos of the neighbouring black kids too. ‘Friday 16th March – Driving back through Pretoria I see an immaculately dressed black woman crossing the road, her obviously expensive designer clothes compliment her flawless complexion. From a […]

Categories: film photography, travel • Tags: Johannesburg, kodak portra 160, Krugersdorp, pentax 67, white squatter camps

Skinheads

April 6, 2018 by Phil Kneen Photography

I shot these images for Charlie Dickinson, who is currently studying for a BA Hons in Fashion Design at Middlesex University, London. Charlie decided, despite being strongly discouraged, to base her ‘zine project around the skinhead subculture of the 80’s and 90’s Great Britain. I’m glad she decided not to listen. I shot the project using a Nikon F100 paired with 50mm and 28mm lenses. I loaded out of date Kodacolar to give a more authentic look. Fashion Styling & […]

Categories: fashion, film photography • Tags: kodak, nikon f100, skinheads

The things i saw (South Africa) #3

April 5, 2018 by Phil Kneen Photography

More visual meanderings from my analogue notebook and a passage from my journal. All images here were made using an Olympus MjuII compact loaded with Kodak Ektar 100 film. ‘Sunday 18th March – I’ve spent the last four days photographing people, old people, children. Families of five and six, living in sheds, surrounded by poverty and filth. I can’t give them anything, except a few packets of cookies and the odd cigarette to anyone who smokes. Every day I come […]

Categories: film photography, photojournalism • Tags: analogue, Johannesburg, pretoria, south africa, white squatter camps

The things i saw (south africa) #2

April 4, 2018 by Phil Kneen Photography

At the moment, I’m sorting through about 100 ‘final’ images, mostly portraits, whittled down from 400 photographs I made for the photo-essay ‘Plakkerskamp’. I’m itching to share more, but I can’t, at the moment. So here’s another entry from my visual notebook. I’ve also included an entry from my journal which I wrote on the evening of my first visit to the white squatters camp at Krugersdorp, situated about 20km northwest of Johannesburg. ‘Munsieville Camp, Krugersdorp – We sat outside […]

Categories: film photography, photojournalism • Tags: Johannesburg, kodak ektar 100, Krugersdorp, Olympus mju II, photojournalism, pretoria, south africa, travel, white squatter camps