John Kenny

Kashi by John Kenny. Acrylic Face-Mounted C-type Print

2014

I met this Sadhu with such kind eyes in Kashi (another name for Varanasi) on one of the chaotic ghats. We tried and failed to take the portrait as crowds and sacred cows constantly streamed between us. Fortunately a group of young boat-hands gave up their relatively sheltered corner of the ghat, where they had been gambling over cards, to give us five minutes of calm space. John uses simple natural light and builds primitive makeshift studios from locally acquired white sheets! The suffuse light allows him to capture a remarkable level of detail. His subjects calm demeanor belies the reality of harsh arid winds, extreme temperatures and dust. John Kenny’s black and white photographic portraits are taken on location in some of the remotest corners of Africa and India. All shot with natural light and with the subjects in their day to day attire they reveal the pride and strength inherent in tradional ways of life. The C-type prints are mounted with an acrylic face mount...

This portrait of Loha, a ‘Naga’ sadhu, was taken in Pashupatinath, one of Hinduism’s holiest sites. Lord Pashupatinath is a manifestation of Lord Shiva and the name translates to ‘protector of the animals’. Naga sadhus cover themselves in ash and typically wander naked from head to toe. John uses simple natural light and builds primitive makeshift studios from locally acquired white sheets! The suffuse light allows him to capture a remarkable level of detail. His subjects calm demeanor belies the reality of harsh arid winds, extreme temperatures and dust. John Kenny’s black and white photographic portraits are taken on location in some of the remotest corners of Africa and India. All shot with natural light and with the subjects in their day to day attire they reveal the pride and strength inherent in tradional ways of life. The C-type prints are mounted with an acrylic face mount...

This portrait of Loha, a ‘Naga’ sadhu, was taken in Pashupatinath, one of Hinduism’s holiest sites. Lord Pashupatinath is a manifestation of Lord Shiva and the name translates to ‘protector of the animals’. Naga sadhus cover themselves in ash and typically wander naked from head to toe. John uses simple natural light and builds primitive makeshift studios from locally acquired white sheets! The suffuse light allows him to capture a remarkable level of detail. His subjects calm demeanor belies the reality of harsh arid winds, extreme temperatures and dust. John Kenny’s black and white photographic portraits are taken on location in some of the remotest corners of Africa and India. All shot with natural light and with the subjects in their day to day attire they reveal the pride and strength inherent in tradional ways of life. The C-type prints are mounted with an acrylic face mount...

This portrait of Loha, a ‘Naga’ sadhu, was taken in Pashupatinath, one of Hinduism’s holiest sites. Lord Pashupatinath is a manifestation of Lord Shiva and the name translates to ‘protector of the animals’. Naga sadhus cover themselves in ash and typically wander naked from head to toe. John uses simple natural light and builds primitive makeshift studios from locally acquired white sheets! The suffuse light allows him to capture a remarkable level of detail. His subjects calm demeanor belies the reality of harsh arid winds, extreme temperatures and dust. John Kenny’s black and white photographic portraits are taken on location in some of the remotest corners of Africa and India. All shot with natural light and with the subjects in their day to day attire they reveal the pride and strength inherent in tradional ways of life. The C-type prints are mounted with an acrylic face mount...

“People from Ibiza” Kenta first came to visit the magic island of Ibiza as a young man at the age of 18 and fell in love with the diversity of personalities and expressions of freedo...

“People from Ibiza” Kenta first came to visit the magic island of Ibiza as a young man at the age of 18 and fell in love with the diversity of personalities and expressions of freedo...

“People from Ibiza” Kenta first came to visit the magic island of Ibiza as a young man at the age of 18 and fell in love with the diversity of personalities and expressions of freedo...

XXIV 9 Sadhu, Haridwar Sadhus (meaning ‘good men’) are devoutly religious Hindus living throughout India. They wear orange clothes representing the colour of the fire in which they ...