Excerpted from July
1995 Camera/Darkroom Interview with Michael Kenna
by Tim Baskerville
Tim
Baskerville:
Your early work shows the influence of fellow countryman Bill Brandt, and you've
even paid homage to him [Bill Brandt's Snicket, Bill Brandt's Chimney]
as you retraced his steps, in a sense. In your later and most recent work I
don't see the influence as much. Are there other, more "American" influences
at work?
Michael
Kenna:
My initial photographic education came somewhat in a vacuum. I was trained as
a commercial photographer and studied advertising, photojournalism, fashion,
reportage, etc. In the institution I went to, the London College of Printing,
there was little emphasis on fine art photography. In 1976 I saw an exhibition
called The Land, organized by Bill Brandt, at the Victoria and Albert
Museum, London. I am ashamed to admit that at the time I had never even heard
of Bill Brandt! He was to become the strongest influence on my work. I have
also been influenced greatly by a whole series of other photographers. Initially,
most were European - Emerson, Atget, Sudek . . . Later, powerful American photographers,
particularly Stieglitz, Sheeler, and Callahan. I think many creative people
are compilations of influences, wedded to some aspect of their own uniqueness.
Few work in a vacuum, as Isaac Newton alluded: "If I have achieved anything,
it is by standing on the shoulders of giants" - or words to that effect.
TB
How did you come to work for the photographer Ruth Bernhard?
MK:
I became acquainted with Ruth through the Stephen White Gallery in Los Angeles.
They had signed a contract to represent her exclusively for two years. Ruth
had to supply them with a certain number of prints, and I helped her with the
printing. We worked together pretty intensely from the late 70's through the
mid 80's. I learned an immense amount from her. Ruth is a remarkable and unique
woman, a fine photographer, teacher and inspiration, and I'm honored to say,
friend. I did not mention her under influences, but she has been a very powerful
one. She wrote a very kind and flattering introduction for my new book: Michael
Kenna - A Twenty Year Retrospective.