Denis “Kooné” Kuhnert is an action and lifestyle photographer from Berlin, Germany. He photographs many different subjects, mostly connected to movement. “I danced and choreographed for over 20 years and switched to photography as a job after the pandemic,” he explains. “I try to get most of my photos in-camera, hardly doing any post-processing work. For me it’s part of the challenge I take on with every photo I take. My main thing is to go out and shoot myself ‘flying.’ This illusion is created by the precise choreography of body, camera and urban space. I think it’s dope to break the rules a bit and experiment with different looks.” Check out the Sony Alpha cameras, Sony lenses and more he uses to create mind-bending photos.
Product Preview – In This Article You'll Find:
–Sony Alpha 9 II
–Sony Alpha 7R III
–Sony 12-24mm f/2.8 G Master
–Sony 85mm f/1.4 G Master
–Sony 55mm f/1.8
–Sony 70-200mm f/4 G
Cameras
Sony Alpha 9 II: This is my go-to camera. I shoot everything with it. The focus is incredible and a huge step up from my previous camera. I really like the 24mp mainly because of the file size. For me, the most important feature is the ability to adjust the focus on my mobile phone.
Photo by Denis “Kooné” Kuhnert. Sony Alpha 9 II. Sony 12-24mm f/2.8 G Master. 1/1000-sec., f/3.5, ISO 100
Sony Alpha 7R III: This is my older camera body. It’s never let me down and I’ve shot everything with it, from live action to studio photography.
Photo by Denis “Kooné” Kuhnert. Sony Alpha 7R III. Sony 85mm f/1.4 G Master. 1/1000-sec., f/4, ISO 400
Lenses
Sony 12-24mm f/2.8 G Master: To be able to go to 12mm gives me so many possibilities, Most of the time I use this lens to create a sense of height. I use the distortion to make people appear higher than they are. I loved using it in some fashion shoots as well, it gives a cool look.
Photo by Denis “Kooné” Kuhnert. Sony Alpha 9 II. Sony 12-24mm f/2.8 G Master. 1/1000-sec., f/2.8, ISO 320
Sony 85mm f/1.4 G Master: Since I have this one, I don’t use my 70-200mm on my outdoor shoots anymore. This prime is smaller and it serves the same purpose for me. It’s really a great lens and a true G Master. I use it for portraits or street shots when I want to compress the scene a bit.
Photo by Denis “Kooné” Kuhnert. Sony Alpha 9 II. Sony 85mm f/1.4 G Master. 1/2-sec., f/11, ISO 100
Sony 55mm f/1.8: The first lens I bought together with my Sony Alpha 7 back in the day. It’s probably my all-time favorite. I highly recommend getting it, I use it for everything really.
Photo by Denis “Kooné” Kuhnert. Sony Alpha 7R III. Sony 55mm f/1.8. 1/1250-sec., f/4, ISO 100
Sony 70-200mm f/4 G: I use this lens when I need more compression than the 85mm can give me. It’s great for live events like dance competitions. I also use it a lot for studio fashion as the aperture works great for this.
Photo by Denis “Kooné” Kuhnert. Sony Alpha 7. Sony 70-200mm f/4 G. 1/500-sec., f/4.5, ISO 320
Accessories
Joby Gorilla Pod: This little thing is totally enough for me most of the time. I usually shoot from a low angle and use fast shutter speeds, so 95 percent of the time I take this one with me.
Photo by Denis “Kooné” Kuhnert. Sony Alpha 7. Sony 55mm f/1.8. 1/200-sec., f/2.5, ISO 2500
See more of Kooné’s work on Instagram @koone.
