Kanegis Gallery 13 B Bearskin Neck Rockport, MA 01966
Soccer and Surfing are my passion, when not taking pictures.
Photographer Mark Kanegis grew up in scenic Rockport Massachusetts, and not without consequences. The eerie and fantastic coastal light – which starts at 4:30 in the morning at midsummer – has a dramatic affect on everything it touches, including its artistically inclined inhabitants. Whether by luck, or by divine intervention, the northern regions of New England are blessed with this superior atmospheric lighting, coupled with many of the most interesting photographic subjects to be found on the planet.
At an early age Mr. Kanegis showed a keen interest for Rockport’s great outdoors, and ways to render it artistically. This combination would shape much of his childhood as he shunned the core studies in favor of a chance to be outside cavorting with nature. After receiving a new camera in high school as a birthday present, the true shutterbug emerged and photography has been his passion ever since.
After graduating from Emerson College with a major in Broadcast Journalism and a minor in Psychology, Mr. Kanegis worked in communications and other various fields, including commercial photography. But the passion of outdoor photography would not remain just a hobby. After a three-year stint in the high-tech corporate world (cubicle and all), the time was ripe to make the leap.
In May of 2004, Mr. Kanegis opened the Kanegis Gallery (www.kanegisgallery.com) in Rockport, featuring his Fine-Art Photography from New England and beyond. Using an old Pentax Medium Format Camera, along with a Fuji and a Canon, Mr. Kanegis follows his passion with, at times, reckless abandon. While battling 150-Fahrenheit heat to shoot a blazing bonfire, getting frostbite while photographing -30 wind chilled arctic sea-smoke, or balancing on the knife-edge of a 2000-foot precipice at Zion National Park in Utah, he never backs down from a deserving opportunity to capture the essence of his vision.
Being a self-taught photographer is a source of pride and inspiration for Mark, as he follows in the footsteps of his self-made parents, gallery owners, writers, and master craftsmen in their own right. The wood frames for the 6 Foot Canvas Panoramas are family made in the basement of the house where Mark grew up. It is in every sense a family business.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: (There are no stupid questions…)
“Are these photographs or paintings?” These are photographs by Mark Kanegis; some are printed on traditional photo papers, some on canvas.
“Are the photos local?” Yes, most are from Cape Ann and the surrounding area. The travel photos are from the American South West, Aruba and beyond.
“Will they last long, can you hang them in the sun?” Yes. These are printed with archival inks on archival media. They are UV resistant for over 100 years (the grand-kids will enjoy them too!). They will not fade, and are guaranteed for life.
“How do I take care of them?” Keep them dry and don’t let the dog (or anyone else) scratch them. Don’t drop them from the top of a 13-story building.
“Are they film or digital?” There is a mixture of film and digital. The film camera is a Pentax Medium Format. The Fuji and Canon are digital.
“Which are film and which are digital?” If you can’t tell, does it matter?
“Are they enhanced?” So glad you asked. Yes they are. Following in the footsteps of the best photographer in the world, Ansel Adams. He used “burning and dodging” to make sure the contrast and light were correct in the final print. Correct contrast and light are also very important in my prints.
“How do you transfer them on to canvas, what’s the process?” They are printed on all different types of fine-art-media (acid-free, museum quality), including canvas, using archival ink photographic printing.
“Are they giclée?” “giclée” is just a fancy way of saying archival photographs, so I say "archival photographs."
“Why print photos on canvas?” Mainly because it’s a nice presentation. There are no reflections, and the texture gives them a three-dimensional quality.
“How do you shoot the long ones, the panoramas?” There are a variety of ways to shoot panoramas: There are pan-lenses, fish-eye lenses, pan-cameras, multi-image merges, single-shot-crops etc. Merges are most common for me, due to the ability to get 180 degrees without the warping or “fish-eye” effect on the corners.
“Should I frame the canvas?” While some folks prefer the traditional look of a framed canvas, most choose not to since the photos are wrapped around the edges (called a “Gallery Wrap”). It’s a contemporary, finished look.
“How long have you been doing this?” There’s been a camera in my hand for as long as I can remember. It’s been a serious hobby since high school. The gallery opened in the spring of 2004.
“How many photos are you selling?” Two thousand three hundred and ninety seven. Actually that was a wild guess. Not quite ready for retirement yet.
“How did you get in to photography?” Received a great camera as a gift when I was young. It’s a wonderful thing to do for someone… I highly recommend it.
“Did you take classes, how did you perfect your craft?” There was no formal photographic education. A lot of reading, interviewing other pros, and thousands of photos taken at all hours of the day and night.
“How do you choose your equipment?” By getting expert opinions, and also trial and error. It’s nice to try the equipment first if you can.
“Do you do limited editions?” Occasionally on abstract photos.
