Michael Kenna

 Michael Kenna

By: Amanda Schaeffer

While searching through Michael Kenna's black and white photography, I cam across this piece above. This photograph captured my eye because of the appearance and the details that were captured. Michael Kenna achieved great exposer when taking this image and also found an incredible view of a bridge and mountains in the back, which makes this photograph unbelievable. The reflection in the water from the bridge makes it almost appear to be an illusion in my eyes. The picture is that realistic that my eyes made me see an illusion with the shadow underneath the bridge.

Also, while examining this image by Michael Kenna, I could see different aspects of composition in the black and white photograph. I could see the continuous lines from the bridge and the shadow of a bridge to the land where they meet. It makes yours eyes follow the lines and directs your focus on the main part, the bridge. I also see somewhat repeating circles with the bridge and the bridge's shadow. The circles do get smaller but they do show repetitiveness in this photograph which is important to composition. I somewhat see isolation in this image as well. I know the bridge isn't too isolated but the mountains and water really help bring the bridge into focus and show what the photograph is mostly all about. Personally, I love this image and how much middle grey there is. Michael Kenna did a fabulous job on this scenery piece. The only critique I have is that above the bridge, the sky or the cloud seems fuzzy and really exposed. That might have been from a cloud or maybe it was intentional by Kenna. I absolutely love this photograph and how Kenna got to capture this magnificent scenery.

Michael Kenna's other beautiful black and white photographs all have the same pattern or style. Kenna captures mostly nature and scenic images from across the world. For example, the image above is from Japan but a good amount of his other images are from Brazil, Russia, United States, Spain, Italy, and so many more places around the world. Kenna captures scenic views like mountains, trees, water, etc. His photography of nature is breathtaking and it is truly an honor to see what Kenna has captured. I don't know how I didn't hear of Kenna sooner because he is so talented with black and white photography. Michael Kenna is one of my favorite black and white photographers due to his incredible work on capturing nature and beautiful sceneries across this breathtaking planet.