Hodgepodge 35/365 - Photography (Michael Kenna)

Many years ago, in the early to mid 1990s, I took a weekend- long night photography workshop with the British landscape photographer Michael Kenna. It was a wonderful experience: Michael not only is supremely talented, but he's kind and generous as well. At that workshop, I also met an older woman, Mary Frost, who became a good friend and sometime photo partner until her death in 2010.

I have since then done some night and low-light photography, partly inspired by him.

Here is a short video about Michael and his process:

And here are just a few of his beautiful, minimalist, elegant photos (randomly chosen according to my current mood). But don't stop with these. Google him ("images"), or seek out some of his many books.

The first two below were taken at Elkhorn Slough, near where I live—and yes, we visited that wetland in the workshop. The book that resulted from his project there was my first introduction to his work. I have happily followed him all around the world ever since, always interested to see what he sees and how he sees it.

P.S. I believe Michael Kenna lives in San Francisco. Or at least he did, then. So this would be another in my occasional offerings of immigrants who contribute to the vibrant cultural life of these beautiful United States.