Michael Kenna’s latest exhibition, Shin Shin (しんしん ) opens in the Photographers’ Gallery this week. Kenna’s work is characterised by serene natural landscapes expertly printed on traditional silver gelatin paper, showcasing dramatic contrasts of light and shadow and the quiet minimalism of Japan.
Born in England in 1953 and now based in Seattle, Kenna has exhibited worldwide, with nearly five hundred solo exhibitions and his work held in over a hundred permanent collections. He regularly visited and photographed in Japan since 1987.
The exhibition’s title, Shin Shin (しんしん ) “Japanese onomatopoeia that describes the quietness or silence of falling snow” perfectly describes the meditative stillness that surrounds his images. Often using extremely long exposures at night that can last as long as ten hours, his work captures details that are unperceivable by the human eye. His passion for analogue photography is evident not just through the use of 120mm film but the fact that he develops and prints every single image himself, ensuring those crisp whites and deep blacks are properly preserved. He describes them as “an oasis, a calm place of rest, a catalyst for imagination.”
You can visit the exhibition for free from 27 November 2025 until 25 January 2026 in the Print Sales Gallery of the Photographers’ Gallery. Collectors have the opportunity to purchase a signed, hand-crafted silver gelatin print, with prices starting from £1,975 + VAT, and proceeds directly supporting the Photographers’ Gallery public programme.
Related reading:
- Expert guide to minimalist photography
- Master long-exposure film photography
- Black and white landscape photography
- How to get great shots on a cheap Holga film camera
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