Michael Kirchoff and I discuss creativity, serendipity, and amazement in art, the benefits of being naive, diversifying work, and new challenges. He shares experiences with his collaborative projects Catalyst Interviews, Analog Forever Magazine, The Diffusion Tapes — and traveling on the Trans-Siberian Railroad. ART in the RAW ep 55. Read the video transcription
Michael has spent his years capturing the still image of people, cultures, and landscapes from around the world, to around the block, with a very unique and distinctive style. A native Californian, Michael resides in Los Angeles, though equally at home trudging through Redwood forests, riding the rails deep into Siberia, or navigating the chaotic streets of Tokyo. He photographs with many types of cameras and film, from a clunky toy camera to the latest digital model, using each as a tool for a specific use. Michael’s fine art imagery has garnered recognition from the International Photography Awards, the Prix de la Photographie in Paris, Photographers Forum, and Critical Mass. His work has been published in Harper’s, Black & White (U.S.), Black & White (U.K.), Seities, Esquire (Russia), New Statesman, Blur, Adore Noir, Fraction, SHOTS, Diffusion Annual, and Lenscratch. He also continues to exhibit his work internationally in both solo and group exhibitions, including prints in the public collection of the Wende Museum in Los Angeles, California, and the Lishui Photography Museum in Lishui, China. Michael was also an active Board Member for the L.A. chapter of the American Photographic Artists from 2006-2016 and was Editor at Blur Magazine from 2014 – 2018. Currently, he is also Editor in Chief at Analog Forever Magazine, Founding Editor at Catalyst: Interviews, Contributing Editor for the One Twelve Publishing online column, Traverse, and Co-Host of The Diffusion Tapes podcast. The wisest words Michael ever gleaned from his father were to do what you love as your life’s work. Truer words have never been spoken.
