MICHAEL B. ASKEW

After many years of working in small and medium format color photography, Michael has been working exclusively in large format (4x5) black and white since 1990. Using a field view camera, he travels widely in search of unusual designs of earth and man. Studies of the historical and cultural aspects of the areas and subjects Michael photographs further his understanding of the elements and forces of design. His goal is to communicate the mystery and majesty of these many designs and forms through his handcrafted prints.

Michael has exhibited his work of the Cathedrals and Abbeys of England in a one man show entitled "Pillars of England"at the National Cathedral gallery in Washington, DC, and taught photographic workshops in conjunction with the exhibit. He was recently invited and participated in a group show entitled America the Beautiful, an exhibit at Schomburg Gallery, Bergamot Station, Santa Monica, CA, in honor of the victims and survivors of 9-11. His award winning landscape work has been included in a variety of other exhibits, shows and galleries, and is held in numerous private and corporate collections.

Managing the process of print making from film to paper in his darkroom, Michael selects film, chemistry, and paper to suit the desired image. Often working in situations of extreme lighting conditions requiring long exposures, Michael must control the dynamic range of both film and paper. The final print represents his attention to both design and craftsmanship, with the primary purpose of creating an image worthy of the subject's original design.