The things I saw (South Africa) #1

April 2, 2018 by Phil Kneen Photography

‘The things I saw’ – my visual notetaking and mental meanderings with a 35mm compact camera – I’d like to say it’s a regular thing. However, I just checked, and the last one I did was nearly 18 months ago, documenting a weekend drinking session in Liverpool with a good friend. Before I departed for a weeks work in South Africa, to document white squatter camps, I was reunited with my favourite 35mm compact – the Olympus MjuII, which had […]

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

Nikonos III test roll

March 22, 2018 by Phil Kneen Photography

As far as cameras go, the Nikonos III underwater setup is pretty much as basic and elementary as it gets – five shutter speeds (1/30, 1/60, 1/125, 1/250, 1/500 and B) on the body – apart from the winding mechanism, there are no more moving parts. Depending on which of the six lenses you choose, seven apertures are available (on the 35mm l use – f2.5, 4, 5.6, 8, 11, 16, 22). There’s nothing automatic on this camera, not exposure […]

Categories: film photography, Photography, photojournalism • Tags: film camera, film photography, I shoot film, isle of man, kodak, negative, Nikonos III, personal project, portrait, scallops, ultramax 400, underwater

Keep the Faith

February 9, 2018 by Phil Kneen Photography

I’ve been somewhat disillusioned with film photography, of late. It happens once every couple of years, this questioning of my faith in analogue. Sometimes it’s as shallow as finding out that yet another photographer, whose work I admire, has jumped onto the digital ship and sailed away. But most of the time, it’s down to one uncomplicated factor. Money. Every roll of film I shoot, whether 35mm or medium format, costs about £15 – £5 for the film and £10 […]

Categories: film photography, photojournalism • Tags: 6x7, film camera, film photography, fishing, I shoot film, isle of man, kodak, kodak portra 800, negative, pentax 67, portra 160, scallops

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

That was 2017

December 27, 2017 by Phil Kneen Photography

Another year, nearly over, so while I’m sat here nursing a hangover, I’ll post my yearly review. As usual, these are a selection of my personal favourites. I’ve unquestionably shot a lot less this year, but that’s been a deliberate attempt at quality over quantity. For the first time, all the photographs in my final lineup were shot on film. I never make New Year resolutions; whenever I notice my stomach expanding, I find it easier to do do something […]

Categories: film photography, Photography • Tags: black and white, colour, film, film camera, fuji film, I shoot film, isle of man, kodak, negative, personal project, phil kneen, portrait

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

Embrace the Shadows

October 14, 2017 by Phil Kneen Photography

They’re everywhere – peachy coloured, backlit portraits of redheads and brides, shot on Kodak Portra 400, over-exposed by 5 stops and metered for the shadows. These images have become, in analogue photography, what HDR is to digital… I don’t even know the word? What’s so hackneyed and worn-out that it goes beyond cliché? This method of shooting colour negative film has become so prevalent that it now seems to be the default, photographers ‘shooting at box speed’ has become the minority. […]

Categories: film photography • Tags: 6x7, analogue, colour, film, film camera, film photography, fuji pro 400H, I shoot film, isle of man, kodak portra 400, negative, pentax 67, personal project, portrait

Be a Cat

October 11, 2017 by Phil Kneen Photography

  “Former achievements don’t count in the least, and everything must once more be put into question. Only in this way can you keep a fresh eye in your work.” – Henri Cartier-Bresson (1908-2004) The French Grandaddy of photojournalism is of course right – he’s talking about creative evolution. Every artist has, at some point, got into a furrow of creativity; I certainly have – we get to a point where we’re just churning out the same thing, maybe it’s […]

Categories: film photography, Photography • Tags: fuji 400H, I shoot film, pentax 67, portrait, Rob Smith

Gimli, son of Glóin

October 2, 2017 by Phil Kneen Photography

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been aware of this house; it sits alone on the north-west coast of the Isle of Man, and every year the sea gets closer. I don’t think it’s going to take more than a couple of powerful and persuasive winter storms to start the once dignified Manx farmhouse on its descent over the fifty-metre high sand cliffs and into the Irish Sea. The back porch is, literally, eight-metres away from destruction. A […]

Categories: film photography, Photography, photojournalism • Tags: dwarf, film photography, fine art, fuji instax, fuji instax mini, I shoot film, isle of man, lord of the rings, personal project

Courtney

June 13, 2017 by Phil Kneen Photography

All images were made using various film cameras – Nikon F100/50mm 1.4G, Fuji GA645 and Pentax 67/105mm 2.4. Film stock is Portra 400 at box speed in the medium formats, and a roll of 15 year expired Kodak Kodacolor Gold 200 in the Nikon.

Categories: film photography, Photography, woman • Tags: Fuji GA645, I shoot film, natural light, nikon 50mm 1.4G, nikon f100, pentax 67, woman