Biography
Michael's obsession with photography began in January 2007 while searching my favorite time-killing site, Flickr. He stumbled upon a set of amazing images that were captured by an Austin, Texas-based photographer named Trey Ratcliff, otherwise known as "Stuck in Customs". Trey mastered and helped popularize a form of photography known as HDR (High Dynamic Range), which is widely practiced today by thousands of talented photographers. He was immediately drawn to the brightness, detail and overall intrigue in HDR photos. After reviewing his tutorial, Michael became addicted to practicing day after day, sunset after sunset. Even though he was shooting with a Canon point-and-shoot camera, Michael was able to produce beautiful images that further fueled his addiction. With much practice and many purchases of "real" photography equipment, he has finally found his niche in this exciting world of photography. With his photography skills maturing, he has begun to attempt to master the art of many photography forms including: weddings, portraits, events, black and white, water, and long exposure. The list is endless, and this is what intrigues him most about the art of photography. No matter how hard you practice, how many exposure you shoot, you will never be perfect. But the dream of that elusive "perfect shot" keeps us coming back for more, even though, as every photographer knows, there is no such thing.
Project Updates and Status
Michael is always adding to his portfolio, usually by venturing out of his comfort zone. He always tries to be original, and create a piece of art, that no has ever seen before. His latest projects and obsessions are portraits, fashion photography, star trails, and time lapse videos.
Future Projects and Trips
Michael is proud to be a part of an organization "The Giving Lens" founded by fellow photographer, Colby Brown. The Giving Lens focuses on blending photography education with giving back to local communities. They offer photography workshops in various locations around the globe, where they work alongside local Non-Profit organizations that are doing exceptional work. Upcoming locations the Michael plans to travel to with The Giving Lens include Peru, Nicaragua, Israel, Thailand and Tanzania.