Jonathan Keenan Photography

A Cure for Winter Blues

2011-12-08T16:46:00.001Z

When it's dark already and the rain is battering off the windows what I think we all need is a joyful photograph to lift your spirits.

I have just finished sorting the front of house shots for The Royal Exchange Theatre production of 'You Can't Take It With You'. I think this will fit the bill for cheering up the winter blues.

2011-12-01T10:40:00.001Z

I got an email today from America. It's the sort I like.

A publishing house is producing a reference book about the first decade of 21st Century Drama. Weighty stuff.

They have picked out an image of mine, shot for the Royal Exchange Theatre for their production of On the Shore of the Wide World. I've always found this a powerful image so I'm very pleased this has been pick up. For myself and for the theatre, director, writer and actors involved it's great for the play to have been recognised as important. I like to think that access to good production photographs has helped in some way.

It's also nice to have been asked what the cost for use will be… It's amazing how often this is omitted from first contact by a publisher.

A Crack at Moving Image

2011-10-12T11:37:00.000+01:00

When the first professional DSLR cameras with HD video capture started to appear I realised this was something interesting that I needed to get a grip of. Not since student days, messing around with expensive super8 film edited with scissors and viewed against living room walls, had I played with moving image. Suddenly it was becoming possible to produce video with equipment I already have, but more importantly to an amazing cinematic standard. The limits now being my own rather than equipment, reminiscent of the time when digital photography burst onto the professional world.

I made a few tentative steps with clients but, as a photographer who has spent years developing my reputation, I did not want to destroy it all with a few dodgy filming commissions.

This was countered by the natural 'can do' nature of being a pro photographer. One of my favourite clients is the Royal Exchange Theatre and I had been talking to them about producing the odd trailer for up coming plays. When they called to see if I fancied having a go at one I didn't hesitate and agreed.

Now I'd done a little and in the process had formed a good working relationship with a couple of very talented people with a lot of experience in post production and editing for advertising and TV so I felt confident.

My confidence, however, was snuffed out in an instant when I realised the director of the play was Michael Buffong, a talented and very experienced TV Director as well as theatre. I wasn't going to be able to baffle with bullshit and my every move would reveal any lack of knowledge.

I have Michael to thank for what turned out to be an exciting and thoroughly successful little shoot. It was a simple recreation of a scene whilst in rehearsal. No real set in place but with great actors and, for me equally important, a director who graciously nudged me in the right direction when he saw my angles may not edit well or made suggestions for close ups when my brain was struggling to cope with all we had to do in a very short amount of time.

This was indeed a baptism of fire. Very limited time, lots of actors with plenty of other things to worry about and the huge technical challenge of low 'house' lighting combined with difficult focusing.

The resulting clip has been on this blog earlier but I have added it again to save trawling through my earlier waffling.

The reason I bring this up now is that I can only assume I did something right as I have been asked to go to Leicester this week to photograph Michael Buffong's latest production of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest at the Curve Theatre. And absolutely delighted I am to be working with him again.

A face paints a thousand words

2011-07-22T00:54:00.001+01:00

Just delivered the finished images for Manchester Camerata's season print.

This is two of them and I'm very pleased with how it's worked out.

It's back to the core of my work. People. Faces. Form and space. It was a strange and intense experience at times but reminded me of the things I love about photography and about photographing people in a studio. It was of course about music and emotional connection. Simple and difficult at the same time.

The search for belly models #2

2011-07-14T21:49:00.001+01:00

In an interesting twist a fellow photographer, AoP member and Tweeter contacted me having seen my Tweet. It was a with a link to their site for belly dancers.

http://www.tasteofcairo.com/

Now there's a resource I hadn't thought of. So now we have a great mix of tweeters, models and a belly dancers.

Client has decided to do a short shoot Friday with a couple of people then do more on Monday 18th so if anyone has come to this late there's still time to get in.

This is usual for this kind of thing...rush...now...rush..oh...hang on we need time to figure out a few things...suddenly there is time to organise after all.

We've toughened up the entry now as we are getting spoilt for choice. Everyone must send a photograph. Nothing fancy, just a pic off your phone is fine. For the other criteria see my post from earlier today.

Thanks to everyone who's been in touch so far. Amazing.

The search for belly models

2011-07-14T10:58:00.002+01:00

I have a quick photographic job on. It's for a pharmaceutical company who want to advertise to doctors the wonders of a drug they have to help women undergoing Chemotherapy.

I'm involved in a quick search for models to bare their midriff for the camera. I started with the usual agencies before hitting upon the idea of opening it out to a wider audience, via my Twitter feed @JonathanKeenan . A Twitter experiment.

We need women happy to spare no more than around 40 mins (maybe much less) and get their tummy out for £50. Simple as that.

It's in my Northern Quarter studio in Manchester this Friday 15th July. You'll be photographed individually and maybe even get a brew and biscuit as well (if you're lucky). Only your nearest and dearest would know it's you and they're not likely to see it anyway, unless they are a doctor. Unfortunately it's not likely to end up on billboards around the globe but may be a fun way to spend 1/2 hour.

Here's the details of the type of women we need;

30s to 50s.
Body shape with a waistline but size up to around 14.
No piercings, tattoos or scars as this could confuse what the image is about.

If you're up for it email me

studio@jkphotography.com

It would be great if you could also send a pic, any quality phone pic is fine.

Other contact details are on my web site.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

As You Like It

2011-07-05T15:47:00.000+01:00

by William Shakespeare

I have to work on containing a slight internal groan when actors start singing in any play. It's just a personal thing, like I hate it when the Simpsons start doing a musical set piece or those big production numbers in Mel Brooks films which are funny but also leave me wanting them to stop.

This Royal Exchange Theatre production, directed by Greg Hersov, is one of those occasions which prove me wrong.

James Day plays the Balladeer creating a fascinating musical thread through the whole production and is occasionally joined by the cast, punctuating the piece wonderfully. I was mesmerised from the start and it added a great soundtrack to the general weirdness.

Some really outstanding performances in this but it was especially good to photograph Cush Jumbo again. She just looks so good. I loved the way she played Rosalind as a boy. There's something about the street attitude and body language that just worked really well with the dialogue. I haven't yet seen this production with an audience ( just a few crew and staff in when I was shooting) but the humour in this will work even better. Throw in a little wrestling and a rabbit and you've got a top night out.

Cush Jumbo as Rosalind

James Day

Well, what can I say. It worked.

Earth Wind & Fire

2010-07-22T00:37:00.000+01:00

EW&F were great, Verdine White was wild. I only saw the first two of their set but it included Boogie Wonderland which will be stuck in my head for days. If this was Verdine after 5 minutes I can't imagine what level he'd be on by the end.

2010-02-28T10:22:00.001Z

A very technical production of 1984 left us with no time to shoot the usual full production for the Royal Exchange Theatre. 10 minutes with Jonathan McGuiness, who plays Winston Smith, left us with few options but a stunning Front of House image. In the 60x40 inch FOH poster you can see his hands holding a bottle of 'Victory Gin' reflected in his eyes.

Raisin In The Sun

2010-02-06T23:24:00.003Z

An exiting new departure for me was this video shot for The Royal Exchange Theatre as a pilot to future work. I managed to team up with a talented visual effects editor and editor who really brought this together. This was a relatively simple run through a scene but we have plans to incorporate interviews and other footage to create trailers for chosen plays later in the season. Fascinating to be learning new skills and adapting old ones in this way.

Macbeth

2009-03-20T15:42:00.003Z

Macbeth. What can you say (or not say if your an old school thespian)? There's got to be blood and this press shot has plenty of it.

Nicholas Gleaves was swimming in the stuff whilst Hilary Maclean as Lady Macbeth looked on.

There are many different types of stage blood. Thick and thin and even minty (for use when it has to be placed in the actors mouth) but thick was the only way to go. Kind of put us all off the light snacks though.

2009-01-29T15:54:00.004Z

We got a lot of good press for this relatively small production of Robert Holman's Jonah and Otto at Royal Exchange Studio. It helps when you have the ruler of the Universe (or Emperor Palpatine in Star Wars) to command the critics attention but most importantly you need fabulous acting, a great set and an 'achingly beautiful new play' as the Guardian writer Lyn Gardner put it. I still must admit to a bit of a buzz from meeting Ian McDiarmid though.

A Taste of Honey

2009-01-29T15:03:00.003Z

Google the Smiths and it won't take you long before you come across a picture of the band outside the Salford Lads Club. Stephen Wright’s photograph was taken 24 years ago. In it, the four members of the band are seen outside the Club and was used for the inside of the album The Queen is Dead in 1985.

A Taste of Honey, By Shelagh Delaney, is set around this location and is a play that Morrissey is reportedly a fan of. I'll add myself to that list. The inspiration for this photograph is therefor obvious and the foreboding rain clouds and circling scallies on mountain bikes set the scene well. Sally Lindsay and Jodie McNee looked right at home and made my job easy. The weather was also co-operative and waited until about 5 second after I shot my last frame before it poured it down. Luckily for us one of the Club officials was passing and proceeded to give us a guided tour of the wonderful building. One room has the walls covered with hundreds photographs of Smiths fans who have visited from all over the world to take their picture outside the gates. I can now proudly say that our photograph has been added to the collection (but I'm guessing not as prominently as Stephen's classic).

Antigone by Sophocles

2008-10-07T15:59:00.004+01:00

This striking image shows how well a simple idea can work when done well. The shot is for large posters publicizing The Royal Exchange Theatre production of Antigone. The actress is Matti Houghton and her eyes draw you in from way down the street.

It is always a real pleasure to work with the actor playing the actual part. They have immersed themselves in the character and will bring much more to the shot than I could come up with alone. Despite being a simple idea for a shot it was important the mood was just right which is where their research and character understanding is so important.

The Glass Menagerie

2008-10-07T15:04:00.005+01:00

Brenda Blethyn was kind enough to let us use her office in London to get this shot of her for the pre-publicity for the Royal Exchange Theatre production of The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams. It's a shame I don't have a 'behind the scenes' shot for this image as it would make an amusing picture.

Poor Brenda had to perch on an occasional table in the corner, sandwiched between a filing cabinet and kitchen whilst my assistant raided her broom cupboard for sticks on which to hang the 'glass menagerie'. Meanwhile the marketing officer is busy trying not to drop the delicate glass pieces, whilst attaching them to fishing line and various broom sticks, and I am trying to light the corner with whatever lighting we had been able to carry on the train. How we managed to to come away without any breakages or injury I don't know but I think it was worth the effort. Brenda Blethyn was a delight to work with.

The production was a joy to photograph as well.

Mercedes-Benz Advertising campaign

2008-10-07T14:12:00.004+01:00

It's not all actors and people.

Here is a quick before and after shot of a recent job for Mercedes-Benz. The studio is a hire one, as my 2nd floor studio doesn't exactly lend itself to driving a car in. I don't get to play in a studio space this big all that often and it makes an interesting change to my usual excursions into theatre and location shooting. Here it was just me, an assistant, a multitude of tungsten lighting and a very expensive Merc.

The Tempest by William Shakespeare

2008-10-07T13:26:00.004+01:00

School never really introduced me to the works of William Shakespeare and if they had it probably wouldn't have made much of an impact. My first introduction was a Royal Exchange Theatre production some years ago and I have grown to love them all.

There is an interesting difference between seeing a play as part of the audience and photographing it. To photograph it means allowing yourself to settle into the rhythm, to get a feel for the action, and to some extent get into the head of the director. This is essential to capture as much of the action and intimate moments as possible. The plot and dialogue have to take a mental back seat and are sometimes missed but this does not diminish the experience, just changes it. I like to think it changes into a more cerebral experience. A synopsis by the press officer will help fill in the gaps, left by my education and my concentration on the job in hand, but does feel a bit like cheating. Like copying the cover notes for a school essay.

The pressure to deliver is also on when someone like Pete Postlethwaite is in the cast but as ever he delivered a great performance and made my life easy.

The Rain in Spain....

2008-03-12T20:23:00.006Z

falls mainly.....

In this case from the back of a huge Caterpillar Tanker truck and pretty much entirely on top of a model sporting the latest foul weather gear. Little did he know he was the first to field test how waterproof it was (it was). Not a job for a fisheye lens this one. My assistant had to keep moving as the mud reached ankle height and the Elinchrom Ranger flash kit proved some of its claims to work happily whilst standing in a pool of mud.

The shoot was for Caterpillar work wear and features lots of big toys. The location was Southern Spain chosen because of the beautiful sun (icy wind and sleet here in Manchester at the time) and the availability of countless monster vehicles at our disposal. It's great to be able to say "I need something big with 3 meter high tires for this shot" and moments later one turns up with a driver willing to take it anywhere or make tracks in the dirt to order.

Tapas and beer in the sun whilst the studio in Manchester shivers in a March cold snap are just the icing on the cake.

Hole

2008-02-20T21:18:00.004Z

A constant cause for discussion over the last few weeks has been an item hanging around the studio whilst I decide what to do with it. Some amusement is to be had making up weird and wonderful stories but the reality isn't that straightforward either. It's a hole.
Now the shots are out on billboards and busses I can put them here. The commission was by EMAP for a Key103 poster campaign to promote a new web site. The hole was made for a model to climb out of so had to be 4 foot off the floor and against white, so it could easily be cut out for the final print. All straightforward stuff in the way that odd things are quite normal in this business but if you walked into a room with a deep brown hole held up by wood and old poly boards you surely would be tempted to enquire why it was there and what exactly it is.

Concrete Ribbons

2008-01-31T12:16:00.001Z

Men in tights and other surreal and funny moments make for some great photographic opportunities in this also dark and claustrophobic play. Concrete Ribbons was only on for a couple of nights at Manchester's Library Theatre but enjoyable for its in-the-know references to theatre, TV and the many troubled highways of the region

The Children's Hour

2008-01-31T11:33:00.001Z

Maxine Peake and Charlotte Emmerson contemplate their fate as the, soon to be, troubled teachers in The Royal Exchange Theatre production of The Children's Hour. This was a slightly complicated image to bring together. Firstly there is the 'problem' of getting the idea out of the head of the art director then pulling the various elements into one place. The bell jar was the wrong size, the 'school' was virtual in every respect but still more real than the surreal light emanating from the jar.
My bit was straight forward; set up lighting and get in some snacks for actors just off the train from London. Charlotte's four month old baby showed impeccable timing, having been the picture of relaxed ease, bursting into tears the second I started shooting. A team of photographer, assistants, actors and directors had to wait until feeding time was over. And rightly so.
The rest of the next day was spent briefing the retoucher. Re-briefing and generally going round in circles until we got to this image, which is actually pretty close to what I had in my head and I'm sure Maxine (marketing dept) also had in mind. A delight to work on.

Watch out for fixed bayonet charges!

2007-09-17T23:17:00.001+01:00

The production shoot for the Royal Exchange Theatre production of Henry V went splendidly and I managed to avoid the pointy end of a fixed bayonet charge...just.

Shooting in the round has its own set of problems and one of them is the number of directions actors may enter or exit by. I'm usually very good at not only checking an entrance before passing but also keeping away from them when shooting. In fact I've found I have got very good at anticipating movement as I pick up on the tempo of the play, but this time I got it wrong. I was lining up a shot as Henry V was mustering the troops at Harfleur and I had, I can only guess, decided all were on stage when a crash and scream from behind announced the beginning of the charge... and I'm stood where and unfortunate French aristocrat would have been.

I'd like to claim I responded with a calm body swerve without interruption to shooting, in the fine tradition of war photographers over the ages, but I think I was saved more by the swift change of direction by the actor and a cowardly jump into the stalls by me. Regaining my composure resulted in a cracking shot of Henry V venturing 'once more unto the breach'.

Great play which has been getting some very good reviews.

15 minutes in the garden.

2007-07-29T19:48:00.000+01:00

This week we shot a poster image for the Royal Exchange theatre; it's the blood and guts of William Shakespeare's Henry V

2007-07-28T16:24:00.000+01:00

Actor Elliot Cowan turned it on brilliantly for these dramatic shots of Henry V helped by some nicely timed death metal appearing on the studio iPod and copious quantities of stage blood and sweat. Extra thanks to my assistant Gan who had to spend an extra hour getting the 'blood' out the studio office carpet.

A thoroughly enjoyable shoot.

Trying out the Pano Head and a Shelter between the sea and mountains of Wales

2007-07-20T22:32:00.001+01:00

Rundown shelter with sea views and a good supply of empty wine bottles cowers under ominous rain cloud.

A brief pause in a journey home found a little gem on the Welsh coast. A simple relaxing cafe and a walk along the seafront with views across to the eastern end of Anglesey.