The Quick and Dirty Bio
I love Adventure. I live for adventure. Occasionally I bleed on adventures.
I have used up seven or eight of my nine lives. Adventure photography and near-death stories are kissing cousins.
I am fascinated by RISK—and how humans assess and deal with it. That is the core of my career.
After 27 years in this game, I have stories you will tell your grandchildren one day.
At 3 ½ years old I drew a quarter on an envelope photographically real.
One of my multi-media paintings hung in the Capitol Building in Washington D.C. for a year when I was 16.
In high school they ran out of art classes for me and told me to just come in and do whatever I wanted. So I did.
As a teenager, I dreamed of being an astronaut, a pro tennis player or a pro photographer.
I played tennis up to 8 hours a day for almost a decade in my teens.
In pursuit of my dream to be an Astronaut I earned a B.S. in Physics from the University of Texas at Austin.
With my physics background, I am a problem solver at an extremely high level that many of my clients rely on to create near-impossible images.
“Do it right or don’t do it at all” is one of my mantras.
I have been called the “Indiana Jones of Adventure Photography.”
Watching me work might scare the hell out of you as I scale a huge cliff, dodge big waves and hang out of aerobatic helicopters.
When I dive into my Passions, I go deep. There is no half-assing it.
Ice climbing is my favorite sport—after all how many sports allow you to kick and stab the playground?
I am obsessed with everything related to Guitar. Crank that amp!
B.B. King once offered to buy my guitar. I turned him down.
Yuki, our Husky-Coyote mix, is the best dog on the planet.
My other half is a wicked smart science writer and works for one of the most elite science institutions in the World.
Having lived and worked in France, I love good wine and have been spoiled by exceptional wines.
I am extremely blessed, and I can barely believe some of the incredible things I have witnessed.
For the boring but informational official full-length bio click here
Features and Awards
Communication Arts Photo Annual 2022
Communication Arts Photo Annual 2020
Communication Arts Photo Annual 2018
Communication Arts Photo Annual 2016
International Photography Awards 2017
Photo District News Great Outdoors 2017
Photo District News Photo Annual 2014
Photo District News Photo Annual 2011
Photo District News Great Outdoors 2014
Photo District News Great Outdoors 2011
Photo District News Great Outdoors 2009
American Photography Images of the Year 2011
Red Bull Illume Finalist 2019
Best of Red Bull Photofiles 2009
American Society of Media Photographers Best of 2006
Digital Photo Pro proclaimed Michael a "Master of Adventure" Photography in their 2011 Masters issue.