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

Holmtown

February 1, 2018 by Phil Kneen Photography

A few people have asked why I’ve titled my latest project, ‘Holmtown’? Well, for this longterm photo-essay, I’m documenting the lives of fishermen from my hometown of Peel, on the Isle of Man – Peel, which until the 17th century was called Holmtown. I was going to call it ‘Holmtown Boys’, however, a very good friend of mine pointed out that it sounds like a 90’s boy band – and it does. This leads me to another common question regarding […]

Categories: film photography, photojournalism • Tags: 35mm, analogue, fishermen, I shoot film, isle of man, kodak ektar 100, peel, trawlermen

Coffee, Cigarette, Repeat…

January 11, 2018 by Phil Kneen Photography

I was talking to a good friend last week, over a few beers we got onto the subject of my fishing boat project. He told me that only two types of fishermen exist – some men are born to it and have never done anything differently, and there are men that do it because they can’t do anything else. I had to disagree. There’s a working rhythm on a scallop dredger that appeals to my sense of order; it’s an […]

Categories: photojournalism • Tags: 35mm, analogue, isle of man, scallops, trawlermen

Dooinney-marrey

December 22, 2017 by Phil Kneen Photography

‘No person was allowed to whistle on board the boat, as it would attract the attention of the Dooinney-marrey (merman), who would be sure to send more wind than was required. No person was allowed to speak of dogs, cats, rabbits, horses or mice. A horse-shoe was nailed in some place in every boat, that of a stallion being considered the best’ – Manx fisherman’s superstition. Anyone unfamiliar with the Isle of Man, might look at it on a map, […]

Categories: film photography, photojournalism • Tags: 35mm, film photography, I shoot film, isle of man, personal project, phil kneen, trawlermen

An early morning with Matt Creer

April 20, 2017 by Phil Kneen Photography

For the second time in about three years, I’ve been working with Matt Creer, shooting the artwork for his latest album. I liked the photographs we made in back then, which I shot on digital. However, we are both in agreement that these recent images, shot on film, unquestionably have a depth and an almost fourth dimension that the 2014 shots lacked. Photo sessions with Matt are always enjoyable, despite the odd 5am start; in a city, this wouldn’t represent […]

Categories: film photography, Music, Photography • Tags: 35mm, 6x7, canadian film lab, film photography, fuji superia 400, kodak portra 400, Matt Creer, portrait

5840 Days

January 2, 2017 by Phil Kneen Photography

I can’t believe our daughter is Sixteen! Jess can now join the armed forces, invest in a cash ISA, move out of the family home (but if under 17, social services may apply for a care order), give consent to medical, dental and surgical treatment, be detained in police custody and get married. Jess, fortunately, has inherited most of her good points off her Mum, Helen, so she’s already pretty well sorted for life, although she did inherit my poor […]

Categories: film photography, Photography • Tags: 35mm, analogue, film, fuji, fuji instax mini, isle of man, japan, kodak, Olympus mju II, pentax 67, portrait

16 Years.

October 27, 2016 by Phil Kneen Photography

Almost a year to the day after I first visited and photographed inside The Jungle, France has all but obliterated its biggest and most troublesome migrant camp. What expanded over the space of sixteen years was destroyed in less than two days. I first visited the migrant camp in Calais last October, and before I go any further, I think it’s important to note that The Jungle is, or was, a migrant camp, not a refugee camp. Nobody will ever […]

Categories: film photography, photojournalism • Tags: 35mm, calais, film photography, france, grande-synthe, migrants, the jungle

Bethany

October 15, 2016 by Phil Kneen Photography

Makeup by the very excellent Kimberley Berridge Nikon F100/50mm 1.4G , Fuji GW690II, Kodak disposable Various film – Kodak Portra 800, Fuji Superia 400 and 12 year expired Jessops 400

Categories: film photography, Photography • Tags: 35mm, analogue, film, nikon f100

Disposable Outcome.

October 9, 2016 by Phil Kneen Photography

People’s general perception of disposable cameras tends to be that they produce poor quality, grainy images – so in the digital age, they would appear to be somewhat useless. I disagree. I think the secret to using these throwaway compacts is to shoot either in bright sunlight or use the flash, otherwise, you are going to get poor quality and very grainy images. All the images here are from the same Kodak disposable camera and were shot in relatively bright […]

Categories: film photography, Photography • Tags: 35mm, analogue, disposable camera, film, grunge, kodak