A Search for Transcendence
Kene Sperry
By Aaron Kampfe
“When we try to show everything, we see nothing.”
–Kene Sperry, Kene Sperry Photographer
In Kene Sperry’s photo, Island Park Winter, the clouds hover above the valley as a powerful force of nature. The vision tells a story of water being transformed by light, wind, warmth, and cold. The horizon divides the frozen moisture on the ground—the snow—from the liquid and gas moisture in the sky—the clouds. The fence line reminds us of our human presence and our need to tame nature, but nature reigns supreme. The scene in the photo induces deep presence in that one moment, helps us feel humbled, and moves us beyond self to connectedness with nature and each other.
Hearing someone speak, you might not recall the specific words spoken, but you will remember the feelings shared. Similarly, photographic arts transcend mundane imagery and generate an emotive reaction. Kene Sperry shares, “When we try to show everything, we see nothing. How do I encapsulate a feeling of a place or a moment in time with a single image? A small change of perspective or a fraction of a second is sometimes the difference between a documented picture and a photograph that brings deep emotions.”
In Lines IV, a lone skier faces the summit of Lone Peak and descends the iconic mountain’s north face. The skier is barely visible but leaves S-lines behind him, giving the viewer a glimpse of where that skier has been. We anticipate where the skier is going and where the next turn will be. While the photograph captures only a moment of the skier’s journey, we are able to sense the entire path he takes.
The emotional responses to Lines IV vary with the viewer. For an extreme skier, or any advanced skier who has experienced open bowls, steep pitches, and untouched powder, feelings of adrenaline and bliss may be felt. For others, the danger of the unknown creates fear about the risk of the skier losing control or triggering an avalanche. The skier’s context—a mere human speck on an alpine face in the Rocky Mountains—can produce a wonderment and awe for many viewers.
Lone Mountain Land Company hired Kene and a Bozeman-based helicopter company to capture the grandness of the Big Sky region. Kene says, “For people to understand the scale of the area, we had to photograph from the air. The casual skier, visitor, or recreationalist doesn’t always comprehend the massiveness of the place. I was charged with capturing not just the obvious natural beauty of the area, but the expanse of it, the human experience within it, and the powerful emotions evoked by it.”
Shooting from a helicopter is not unfamiliar to Kene. The helicopter allows access to locations and angles that are not available otherwise. People travel from all over the world to see the wonders of the Yellowstone region and most only see it from a vehicle, boardwalk, or trail. From the sky, Kene has been able to photograph from the Madison River Valley, across the Gallatin and Beartooth ranges, and into Yellowstone National Park. The results are photographs that change one’s perspective of place.
“I was charged with capturing not just the obvious natural beauty of the Big Sky area, but the expanse of it, the human experience within it, and the powerful emotions evoked by it.”
–Kene Sperry, Kene Sperry Photographer
Kene describes his experience working with elite chopper pilot, Mark Taylor. He says, “When I’m on a helicopter shoot, Mark and I are communicating on our headsets and plotting our moves. He is a master pilot who can maneuver me to a very specific altitude or angle. A hundred feet can make all the difference in the shot.”
In Kene’s early history of photography, he shot landscapes but wanted to expand his artistry. He started photographing people because he found the one-on-one connections personally rewarding. He has traveled to India and the Himalayas, drawing inspiration from communities of people living life in their native cultures. Through these experiences, Kene developed a passion for intimate wedding photography. He shares, “Weddings are a tribe of humans in a safe place all joined for one purpose. You go to a wedding and you get a glimpse into the souls attending. I search for the eyes and the human expressions in these pivotal moments. Weddings are rites of passage, momentous occasions, and full of emotions.” Kene has traveled all over the world for these once-in-a-lifetime events capturing over 400 weddings including high-end clients such as celebrities and politicians.
While working on landscape photography, Kene states his goals, “How can I evoke that emotion of land and space without a physical body? How can I evoke that human emotion—the emotions I have felt from people on the streets in India or in members of a wedding party—in land and space without a human being in the frame?”
Many Montana homes are located in a region with large wilderness areas where residents don’t necessarily have easy access to them. Accessing the miles of trails on public lands requires hiking, horseback riding, backcountry skiing, backpacking, or climbing and the more remote the area is, the more difficult it is to experience it first-hand. Through his photography, Kene is able to bring that wilderness and nature into people’s homes and hearts.
During a customized process for photographing homes, Kene first brings in an architectural photographer who studies the interior space and relationship with the exterior environment. Kene and his partners then do a rendering with several different styles of photos. They consider the options and how the ambient and interior light works together in that particular space. The client is able to see the photographic print displayed in different places, under different lighting conditions, and during different times of day—morning to midday to evening.
“You can’t be the Observer without knowing you are being Observed; to me it is simply opening your heart and eyes while being in the present moment.”
–Kene Sperry, Kene Sperry Photographer
Kene reflects on his process, “Art is so personal. When I work with a client, I work with an emotional being who is making a decision for their physical space. I am a guide and educator who will offer tools to support the client’s decision-making process. Through photography, I offer access to a mostly inaccessible region, art for the home to fit the client’s emotions, and a process to individualize each piece.”
From a young age, art deeply influenced Kene, made an impact on his spirit, and amplified his ability to connect with people. He appreciates the opportunities that art has given him and desires to pass it to the next generation. Kene works with the Yellowstone Club Community Foundation to support art programs in the schools. He says, “I would not be where I am now without the art I had access to in school. Whether it’s working with kids in the schools or folks in their homes, I am committed to helping people in their search for transcending and making connections between their physical environments and their emotional spaces.”
