First of all - A lot of people message me and say "Your film photos are fakes, I downloaded an image and looked at the exif data! You are a swine and a bounder!!!"....well done. If I say it was taken on film, then it was. I use a digital camera mounted on a slide duplicator to copy my slides and negs. This BY FAR the quickest and easiest way to duplicate slides/negs and I've used it to copy anything from 35mm up to 8x10inch.

I learned something a few years ago -

Portraits, to me, are about making the person look natural. Grinning like an idiot while someone shouts "SAY CHEESE!!!" isn't natural. When I'm photographing people I give them very little direction, I let them do their own thing.

Not everyone will like or understand my photographs,that's life and it's the same with everything.Once you learn that and accept it,it will change the way you take photographs and ultimately it will set you free.......Now I take photographs for me,not for others. I produce images that I like,not ones I think others will like.
I have also accepted personal criticism - even if you have planned a shot for weeks,spent hours shooting and editing it,you still have to be honest with yourself - you have to be able to say "This does not work visually" and press delete.



-----------------------------------------------------------


Comments I REALLY hate -

"Your whites aren't very white/colour is out/needs more contrast/etc..." - I edit on a calibrated Apple screen. You need a new screen.
"The subject shouldn't be in the middle"
"The horizon isn't quite straight"
"Nice grain/vignette/blur effect" - When the photo was shot on film and all the 'effects' aren't actually effects,they are photography in the raw.
"It's just a picture of a tree/lamp post/cow/etc/etc/etc...."
"I'm not sure if I'd prefer the colour version?" - When the photo was shot on B/W film. There is no colour version.

And my all time most hated comment - "Wow,that's a good photo....you must have a really good camera?"

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Photographers should be banned from using HDR until they know how to use it properly.
Photographers should,by law,do 2 years with a fully manual film camera and nothing but a 50mm lens before they are allowed to use digital/photoshop,etc.
There are 2 types of photographers - there are 'photographers' and there are 'camera enthusiasts'. I have no idea why people obsess about cameras so much? A camera is a camera. I buy the best I can afford,simply because you get what you pay for in terms of build quality. I take a lot of photos and I want my cameras to last longer. BUT,I also use the cheapest,nastiest cameras known to mankind,such as Lomo and Holga,and I love them. I'm a photographer,not a camera enthusiast.


Jonny

THE NOT SO PLEASANT BIT - IF YOU DOWNLOAD AND USE MY PHOTOS IN ANY WAY I WILL SEND YOU AN INVOICE FOR THE APPROPRIATE AMOUNT. USING MY IMAGES WITHOUT ASKING/PAYING IS STEALING,NOTHING LESS.

Photos of Phil Kneen(www.philkneen.com) (2)

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  • Trapped by Henri-Antoine
  • . by irawoohoo
  • by spassk
  • hey kid! by davelightseer
  • tenis (torres de satélite), 2005 by Dante Busquets
  • by Ilovar
  • by Ilovar
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Testimonials (9)

  • view profile

    cosplay shooter says:

    "Phil has some pretty clear statements on his profile page. Might be considered a bit rude but in fact they are very true. I would sign most of it! Besides (well, not quite besides), he has a good eye and rightfully concentrates on people/subjects that create interest. He does not concentrate on flashy treatments and effects. I also think this is the right thing to do but I would not put anyone in jail who has other ideas about it.
    Anyone has the right to do his or her favorite kind of photography. I have the right to say I like it - or not.
    I do like Phil's work."

    28th April, 2011

  • view profile

    manxdan says:

    "Phil Kneen stole my youth. But he's pretty handy with a camera. x"

    3rd June, 2011

  • view profile

    nickgphoto says:

    "I always return to Phils stream. His portraiture is solid and his style of capturing his subjects leaves you confronting them and give you the opportunity to evaluate the premise and truth of it all.

    On the flip side he has a sense of macabre whimsy that makes me smile when I see his images.

    Regardless of the subject matter, Phils images always have me lingering a little longer to absorb the simplicity and boldness of the statement."

    20th October, 2010

  • view profile

    Steven Dempsey says:

    "It's not often I find great photographers on Flickr but, man, when I saw your work I realized why I love photography so much. Not that I needed a reminder but it's work like yours that keeps me inspired when I'm not.

    Great stuff. Your portraits truly penetrate into your subjects' soul.

    Steven Dempsey"

    20th September, 2010

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    Simon J Campbell says:

    "Phil Kneen - photographic genius."

    5th July, 2010

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    Earl-Wilkerson says:

    "Your photos and technique are so inspiring, and your views on camera equipment and style are spot-on! Too many people obsess about the trivial stuff like megapixels, camera brand, lens type, etc., and not on the simple and important aspect of capturing the moment. Thank you for sharing your wonderful talent!!"

    21st March, 2010

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    stefan.ansorge says:

    "Hi Phil,

    I like what you write. I subscribe to everything! Nice gear is one thing, but ultimately it's always the image that makes the difference!

    Comments about image quality from people with crappy PCs should be banned, yeah!

    stefan"

    2nd November, 2009

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    impossibile visualizzare la pagina says:

    "your photos are alarming [i don't know if the word is exactly...when you feel an emotion of something like fear] but at the same time so brillliant!!!"

    3rd June, 2009

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    Mercedes Hausmann says:

    "Your photos are terrific"

    8th March, 2009

Joined:
September 2008
I am:
Male and Taken
Website:
http://www.philkneen.com