Today we’d like to introduce you to Kenny Jones.
Kenny, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
A native of Amarillo, Texas, Kenny’s family moved to Wyoming where he grew up in the community of Rock Springs. There he learned the culture and heritage of the true American West and the importance of conservation and preservation to maintain our beautiful landscapes and wildlife. A wildlife lover and outdoor enthusiast with a soft spot for art and native cultures, Kenny was fascinated by the natural world since childhood, watching documentaries and traveling countless miles to enjoy it. This passion to preserve nature and wildlife eventually led him to a career in emergency medicine.
In 1983 a close friend (Charlie Boyd) shared his photographic talents which spurred Kenny’s interest that would eventually lead him to become an avid nature and wildlife photographer. What started as an intensive hobby had gradually developed into a thriving career as a wildlife and nature photographer. After showing his best shots to friends and family, Kenny realized the immense power that images have to influence our imagination and inspire us with the issues of nature protection. As a matter of course, Kenny treasures this principle and always use his images to convey a message of conservation.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
It is hard to photograph wildlife in the wild, but Kenny wants to be true to the subject. Consequently, he stays away from easy locations or captive animals, but strives instead to give a wild feeling with his photographs, framing subjects within their context and patiently waiting for behaviors. Kenny has never considered this as just a job, as it is a journey. Preparation, commitment, experimentation, frustration and satisfaction flow together into something with no schedules or holidays. To him, photography is a lifestyle more than anything else.
Although Kenny has a home in the West Woodlands area, he has a home near the foothills of his beloved Grand Teton mountains, where all this began and where he continues to concentrate his efforts to document the unique wildlife of this region. Kenny continues to be actively involved in the local arts and has been fortunate to travel with some world-renowned National Geographic groups to exotic places, photographing rare and near-instinct animals.
Kenny thinks of himself as a specialist in photographing mountain ecosystems and wildlife, with enough experience to explain complex wilderness processes and concepts through his pictures. Documenting wildlife research and conservation activities, Kenny is regarded as a creative nature photographer with a good eye for detail and composition.
Kenny is a member of NANPA (The North American Nature Photography Association), NPS (Nikon Professional Services), TPG (Teton Photographer Group), ASMP (American Society of Media Photographers), ISAP (International Society of Aviation Photography), NPPA (National Press Photographers Association), PPA (Professional Photographers of America), and the League of Landscape Photographers, a group of ethically responsible photographers from around the world.
What responsibility, if any, do you think artists have to use their art to help alleviate problems faced by others? Has your art been affected by issues you’ve concerned about?
something witnessed and recorded by the photographer with his camera at that given time. Clever use of friendly animals, hot spots, bait and the pre-arranged perches or props along with digital technology has forced everyone to re-evaluate and question the validity of images they see now.
As a responsible photographer of wildlife, I capture my images as seen on the ground. I always put the welfare of the subject’s life and care of the environment above any photograph I take. I never use flash, props, live bait or any bait that will adversely affect the behavior of an animal.
I am always honest in declaring the circumstances under which a photograph has been taken by myself. I never use digital manipulation to misrepresent a subject or mislead the viewer.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
All my work can be found at www.KennyJonesPhoto.com or at the DiVinci Artists Gallery at 315 West Main Tomball, Texas 77375
Contact Info:
- Address: 13300 Schroeder Rd Houston, Texas 77070
- Website: www.kennyjonesphoto.com
- Phone: (307) 690-9562 or (713) 819-0717
- Email: kjones@kennyjonesphoto.com
- Instagram: kennyjonesphoto/
- Facebook: @kennyjonesphoto
Image Credit:
Kenny Jones Photography
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