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

Wet Work

February 26, 2018 by Phil Kneen Photography

After all my research into seasickness, the almost endless conflicting advice and remedies, I’ve finally cracked it. Ginger tablets, wristbands, stare at the horizon, don’t look at the horizon, cheese and onion crisps, run on the spot, lie down, stand up, earplugs, pour urine over yourself (that one might have been for box jellyfish stings, actually) … I should have just listened to what almost every seasoned fisherman has been advising me for the last few months – “You just […]

Categories: Photography, photojournalism • Tags: fishing boat, isle of man, nikonos, Nikonos III, scallops

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

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

Gales expected.

December 12, 2017 by Phil Kneen Photography

Anyone embarking on a longterm, self-assigned project will know the importance of being proactive – if you don’t ask, you don’t get, and the more you ask, the more you get. Since the start of the Isle of Man scallop season on November 1st, I’ve been blaming the weather for not going getting out on the Irish Sea with my cameras, but the truth is that I haven’t been asking. So I’ve started asking and started working again – over […]

Categories: photojournalism • Tags: iPhone 8 plus, isle of man, scallops, trawler, vscocam

All in the mind…

November 29, 2017 by Phil Kneen Photography

I had my first trip out last week to resume my project to document the Isle of Man fishing fleet; the king scallop season started on the first day of November. Unfortunately, the weather in the Irish Sea has been less than favourable, and most of the trawlers have been tied-up in harbours for the majority of the month. Last week I did manage to get out on the Sarah Lena for a five-hour trip from Ramsey, in the north […]

Categories: film photography, Photography, photojournalism • Tags: fishing, isle of man, kodak ultramax, nikon 28mm 1.8G, nikon f100, ramsey, scallops, seasickness

Early finish

March 16, 2017 by Phil Kneen Photography

When it comes to spending twelve hours a day on a scallop dredger, I have two choices – either medicate myself with anti-nausea pills, which cause drowsiness, and spend half the day asleep in a bunk below deck. Or, don’t take the pills and spend most of the day, below deck, in a bunk trying not to vomit. For this, my third trip out on the Sarah Lena, I chose the former; at least that way I can still function […]

Categories: photojournalism • Tags: analogue, fishing boat, isle of man, kodak, nikon f4, scallops, sea

Slight to Moderate

February 17, 2017 by Phil Kneen Photography

Shipping forecast for the North Irish Sea Valid for 24 Hours Issued on Friday, 17 February 2017 at 06:50am by Ronaldsway Met Office Warnings – Strong winds. State of sea – Slight or moderate, becoming mainly moderate tonight, except in the south-east of the area. Visibility – Good, falling moderate or poor in rain and drizzle. Since I started shooting this project, about three months ago, I’ve been asked on several occasions whether I could work on a scallop dredger, […]

Categories: Photography, photojournalism • Tags: fishing, iphone 6, irish sea, isle of man, ocean, scallops, sea, trawler, vsco cam, VSCO FILM

While you were sleeping…

January 28, 2017 by Phil Kneen Photography

At the end of last year, I began shooting a photo-essay based around the fishing industry on the Isle of Man. The project so far has concentrated on the crew members of the Port St Mary based scallop dredger, Sara Lena – skipper, Tony ‘Toad’ Watterson, his brother Juan, and Chris Overs – three of the kindest, most genuine and helpful men I’ve ever met. There’s been quite a bit of controversy surrounding the Isle of Man scallop industry of […]

Categories: film photography, photojournalism • Tags: analogue, film, fishing, hasselblad, isle of man, nikon, Olympus mju II, scallops

Sea Legs

September 6, 2014 by Phil Kneen Photography

I started shooting a long-term project this week documenting the Isle of Man fishing industry, I hope to be out with various trawlers over the next 8 to 12 months. I started the project by going out on the MFV Serpico, a small scallop dredger based in Douglas, skippered by Juan Canipa, it was an amazing experience, although I did suffer badly with sea-sickness (as you can see from the photo below, I spent a fair amount of time trying […]

Categories: Photography, photojournalism • Tags: 35mm, Agfa Vista, colour, digital, Epson v700, film, film camera, film photography, fine art, fishing, fuji film, irish sea, kodak portra 400, negative, nikkor 35mm 1.4, nikon D800E, Olympus mju II, Peak imaging, peel, personal project, phil kneen, portrait, queenies, Ricoh GR1, scallops, sea, trawler