photo by Barbara Levy
Michael’s introduction to the photographic process took place when he was a young man living with his family in Belgium. In 1982 he enrolled in a basic black & white darkroom course and processed his first roll of film and printed his first B&W photos. As soon as he witnessed one of his images appear slowly, as if by magic, on a blank piece of paper submerged in developer, he knew that it was a pursuit that would be with him for the remainder of his life.
He has focused primarily on using only natural light for his work. The challenge of composing and adjusting according to the environmental conditions is one of the aspects of photography that Michael enjoys most: observing rather than directing the action in front of his lens.
self portrait with Leo
After publishing three successful coffee table books and mounting group and solo exhibitions during his three decades on Salt Spring Island, he and his family have relocated to the seaside town of Ladysmith on Vancouver Island where he will be focusing on his fine art photography and studio work in his atelier on Cameron Way.
His analog photographs are recorded on various film emulsions with cameras and lenses dating back as far as the 1930s. Some of the film expired as far back as the 1940s leaving behind traces of how it has aged over time which lends another dimension to the final images. He works with 135, 120 and 4x5 film formats to produce his final photographs.
His work has been published extensively in books, magazines, newspapers and other periodicals. He is a founding member of the Photo Secession (aka Photo Synthesis) annual show at Artspring Gallery on Salt Spring Island that has been running continuously since 2000. He has had numerous group and solo shows over the years and plans to continue to display his work as opportunities arise. His first two books are now sold out and there are limited copies of his third book still available at bookstores and galleries on Salt Spring Island as well as through this site.
He will now be focusing on his fine art photography along with themed zines and shows, all to be announced on this website over time.
Tintype photograph by Sydney Woodward of Silver & Tin
Michael custom prints each photograph on archival, 100% heavy weight cotton rag papers in his studio in Ladysmith, BC.
Influences include but are not limited to:
Edward Weston
Alexander Rodchenko
Andre Kertesz
Andrei Tarkovsky
Edward Steichen
Alfred Stieglitz
Sheila Metzner
