Henry Knock
Henry Knock
How did you get started in photography?
I've always enjoyed taking photos. I never thought about doing anything creative with the shots I took though, I just saw it as a tool to capture memories. That changed when I got my first iPhone back in 2009 and downloaded the
Hipstamatic app. I loved the vintage look that it produced and found myself regularly exploring London, looking for things to shoot.
What role has your iPhone and Instagram played in it?
A very large one, I would say! Up until this summer I was always #iphoneonly, but I had recently felt the desire to invest in a camera and take
my photography further. I purchased a Fuji X100s in July and am really enjoying learning how to shoot in manual -- which is something I don't think I ever would have done had it not been for Instagram.
How has London influenced your perspective?
London is the most watched city in the world, which was where the idea came from for my #securitycameraslookingatpeoplelookingatsecuritycameras series.
Where are your favorite places to go in London?
I really love shooting along the Thames Path in Greenwich,
it's really industrial looking and has a fantastic backdrop of the Canary Wharf skyscrapers just across the river.
What are you inspired by?
I'm very inspired by movies so I'd like to think that some of my shots have a slightly cinematic feel to them.
What are some of your favorite films?
My favorite film is “Dead Man’s Shoes.” I like movies with a darker edge and hope that this is (sometimes) conveyed with my photography. I'd like to start shooting more cinematic-style stuff.
For those who don’t know, where does the knockoclock name come from?
Knock is my surname, and Knockoclock? Well, that's what time it is!
How did this zerospotting project come about? Have you been pleased with the series so far?
I was approached by a PR company at the start of the summer who said that they had a project they would like to get me involved with for their client Cafe Zero (an iced coffee drink). They wanted me to start the hashtag #zerospotting, encouraging people to use it when they spot a zero in the streets. And by zero they meant circle so it could be anything from a wheel of a bike to a clock.
Realizing the creative possibilities, I jumped at the chance! it's been a really fun project to have been involved with and I'm happy to report it was well received.
What would you say have been the biggest challenges and rewards of the Fuji X100s so far?
It took me a while to get to grips with the Fuji. Having only ever shot iPhone previously, my natural instinct was to go for my phone when a photographic opportunity presented itself. This was a tricky habit I had to get out of and -- what with trying to understand manual controls as well -- I was totally out of my comfort zone initially. However, fast forward four months and I'm absolutely loving it! It's a buzz when I take a shot that I know I could never have got with my iPhone. I still have so much to learn but I'm enjoying doing so.
Tell us more about the security camera series, how it came about, how it’s progressed, and where you want to take it.
The first security camera shot was by accident. I was getting a portrait shot of @londonlivingdoll when I asked her to look at the camera above her. As she did, I had a light bulb moment. I spent the rest of the day searching for CCTV camerasand was shocked at how many you see when you start looking and the series was born. I've become a lot more particular with the shots I take for the
series now. When it first started, I used to just look for security cameras but now it's what someone's wearing, colors, light and patterns -- which is why the series has slowed down a lot. I'm too fussy!
Interview by Jack Sommer