About my photography
For more than 40 years I have made part or most of my living with photography, complemented by graphic design work.
For clients, most of my work has consisted of unbylined corporate-type photography in the nonprofit sector. Those images may be fine for each client and each specific application, but they are of roughly zero general interest so I am not reproducing them on this website.
For my personal work, I try to focus on things that I want to see more of in the world: expressions of beauty, order, understatement, meaning, subtlety, quiet, kindness, gratitude, optimism, hope....
For clients, most of my work has consisted of unbylined corporate-type photography in the nonprofit sector. Those images may be fine for each client and each specific application, but they are of roughly zero general interest so I am not reproducing them on this website.
For my personal work, I try to focus on things that I want to see more of in the world: expressions of beauty, order, understatement, meaning, subtlety, quiet, kindness, gratitude, optimism, hope....
About gear
Digital: For clients, since 2003 I’ve shot digital only, going through five successive 24x36 cameras of various brands over those 20 years (and racking up more than a million photos).
Film: For any personal work beyond snapshots, I try to shoot film as much as possible. I currently shoot several film formats ranging from 35mm to 11x14.
Smartphones: Making photos with a smartphone can be as unsatisfying as sitting at the steering wheel of a self-driving car: one has only the illusion of actual control, because the machine makes most of the decisions and the “operator” is largely just along for the ride. That’s why in addition to a smartphone, I always carry a single-exposure, non-computational (SENC) camera, whether film or digital.
Film: For any personal work beyond snapshots, I try to shoot film as much as possible. I currently shoot several film formats ranging from 35mm to 11x14.
Smartphones: Making photos with a smartphone can be as unsatisfying as sitting at the steering wheel of a self-driving car: one has only the illusion of actual control, because the machine makes most of the decisions and the “operator” is largely just along for the ride. That’s why in addition to a smartphone, I always carry a single-exposure, non-computational (SENC) camera, whether film or digital.
About my first name (Micah)
Not every name comes with a mission statement, but I’ve always felt that my name sort of did. It’s tied to a fairly well-known Bible verse: “What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”
I’ve tried to keep those four charges — be fair, be kind, be humble, be faithful — as a tidy little set of aspirations, however unattainable or unrealistic they may be.
I’ve tried to keep those four charges — be fair, be kind, be humble, be faithful — as a tidy little set of aspirations, however unattainable or unrealistic they may be.
About contacting me
I’ve tried over the Internet era to keep a low profile online (e.g., no social media), and I am grateful to those who have helped me maintain that. I don’t do audio or video interviews, but I’m willing to have exchanges via email as time permits.
(If you have a question specifically about TCQ, please first use the search box on the tcq.photos website; that could save both of us time.)
To date I have always been based in Chicago (USA), where I was born.
(If you have a question specifically about TCQ, please first use the search box on the tcq.photos website; that could save both of us time.)
To date I have always been based in Chicago (USA), where I was born.
“Do as MUCH as you can to make others’ lives better
while drawing as LITTLE attention to yourself as possible.”
— What my mom taught me about goals