From an early age, photography is something that I have always been around. I did not realize its impact on me, however, until I was much older. My grandfather had been a commercial photographer, and I can still remember my mother talking about his work when I was growing up. For the majority of his career, Papa worked for Del Ankers Photography in Washington, D.C., where he did commercial work for Washington Gas as well as portraits of members of Congress (one member in particular requested that only my grandfather be the one who took his portraits). Though he retired when I was young, I can still remember the evidence of his occupation all around me - his darkroom at their house; the black and white photos he would take of us; seeing the handmade Christmas cards he made of my mother and uncle when they were children; and the film camera he gave me when I first started showing an interest in photography. My biggest regret is that I did not begin to take it seriously until after his death, though my grandmother reassures me that he would be proud of me and my work if he were still with us.

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As a historian, I often approached photography from a documentary perspective, taking note of the fine details of a subject and examining the framing of my subject and how to best document it. When my interest in photography began to flourish in Philadelphia, this is how I approached my work. A friend and I would often go on walkabouts, where we would meet somewhere with no end destination in mind, just walking around exploring the city and taking photos along the way. We often strayed down alleys and side streets based on something that caught our eye, and our collective work often focused on documenting the abandoned architecture and industrial sides of the city.

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After moving to North Carolina I decided to go back to school and study in photography. Along the way I have met some amazing professors and expanded my repertoire into worlds I never knew existed, namely alternative photographic processes and book arts/bookmaking. Both of these areas opened my eyes to new experiences and new ways of thinking and making, and I have been on a pursuit to combine them all ever since.

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The bodies of work I have included range from work in alt processes (Squamograms, Heirlooms, Vestigial) to life during the coronavirus pandemic (Stir-Crazy), toxic masculinity (Homonocturne), and the personal myth (Debunking Phallacies). This site is ever-evolving, as is my overall body of work, so be sure to check back often for updates.

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-Michael