Michael Clark
By: Macie Ruble
Photographer: Michael Clark
Project: Photographer Research Project
Biography:
• In the last five years Michael Clark has become known as one of the leading climbing and outdoor adventure
photographers. His creative approach to a variety of subjects has been turning the heads of many editorial
staffs. He has been published internationally by numerous magazines, journals and companies including
Outside, Climbing, Rock and Ice, Outdoor Photographer, DuPont, Patagonia, Black Diamond and many
others. (See recent Client list below.) His specialties range from rock climbing and mountaineering to
kayaking, mountain biking, landscapes and travel.
Michael graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in the spring of 1993 with a degree in Physics.
After travelling the world for over a year he committed himself to a career in freelance photography in 1996.
He has photographed on four continents and worked with many of the world's best climbers on both rock
and ice. Michael’s work also won an honorable mention in Nature’s Best magazine’s 2000 professional
photographers’ contest among a field of 15,000 contestants. If you’d like a more in depth look at Michael’s
work go online at www.michaelclarkphoto.com.
Summary:
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Michael Clark is an internationally published outdoor photographer specializing in adventure sports, travel, and landscape photography. His
editorial and corporate clients include National Geographic, Sports Illustrated, Outside, Men's Journal, Outdoor Photographer, Digital Photo
Pro, Climbing, Nike, Nikon, Adobe, Patagonia, Pfizer and DuPont to name just a few. He has risked life and limb on a variety of assignments
to bring back stunning images of rock climbers, mountaineers, kayakers, and mountain bikers pushing their sports to the limit in remote
locations around the world.
As a former physicist Michael has worked on both sides of the technical revolution – helping refine the technology and using it for his current
profession. Michael has worked as a professional photographer since 1996 and added digital photography to his repertoire in 2003. While
Michael still shoots some film, mostly medium format, the lion’s share of his images are now produced with high-resolution digital cameras.
He has been featured in Outdoor Photographer (September 2001) and Nikon World Magazine (Summer 2006) for his work with extreme
sports. Starting in 2006, Michael also partnered with the Santa Fe Digital Darkroom (www.santafedigitaldarkroom.com) to create a series of
custom workshops.
You can learn more about Michael and his work at www.michaelclarkphoto.com.
Michael also produces a quarterly newsletter which includes editorials, news, equipment reviews, digital tips and galleries of his recent work. If
you would like to sign up for the newsletter please email him at mjcphoto@comcast.net. Back issues are available on his website at
michaelclarkphoto.com/newsletter.html.
Education:
• The University of Texas at Austin
• Bachelor of Science, Physics
• 1988 – 1993Minor in French, Art and Mathematics
Experience:
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Owner:
Michael Clark Photography
1995-present
Partner:
Sana Fe Digital Darkroom
2005-2007(2 years)
Research Assistant:
University of Texas at Austin
January 1992- December 1992(1 year)
Honors & Awards:
Additional Honors & Awards
• Finalist - Photo District News (PDN) Great Outdoors 2009
Best of Red Bull Photofiles 2009
Recognized for Outstanding Work - ASMP Best of 2006
Winner - Teva Mountain Games Photo Competition 2007
Organizations:
• Additional Organizations
• American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP), Board member of
ASMP - New Mexico, Editorial Photographers (EP), Sportsshooter.com,
Travel and Outdoor Photographer Alliance (TOPA)
Publications:
Adventure Photography: Capturing the World of Outdoor Sports(Link)
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Lark Photography Books
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December 1, 2009In early 2009, I wrote a how-to book on adventure sports photography. The title of the book is Digital Masters: Adventure Photography and it is part
of a series of photography books being published by Lark Books, a division of Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. The book details the ins and outs of creating top-notch
adventure sports images. As far as I can tell there are no other books out there that...more
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Adobe Photoshop Lightroom: A Professional Photographer's Workflow(Link)
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Michael Clark Photography
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August 1, 2010The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom workflow, a 353 page e-book, is a workshop in book form. This workflow, while not exhaustive will cover the main
topics of a shooting workflow then move into a raw processing workflow with Adobe Lightroom Version 3.2 and Photoshop CS5. This book gets down to the nuts and
bolts of a real world workflow. This e-book was completely re-written and presents a workflow that can be adapted by any photographer, professional or amateur. I can
honestly say that I have not seen any other book on the market today that includes as much detailed and comprehensive information as this e-book does on digital
workflow.
As digital photographers we are often called upon to shoot hundreds of images a day then deliver high quality and high resolution images that same afternoon. With the
pressures of getting the perfect images for clients we don’t have time to fumble the processing workflow. Hence, a well thought out digital workflow is a must.
This workflow presents a comprehensive and tested introduction to the digital world from capture to output that photographers can implement step by step. Download
this workbook and get a grip on an efficient new workflow.
Interesting things about Michael Clark:
• When he goes on adventures he does the same things that the people in his
photos do, to get the best picture he can possibly get.
• Specialties:
• Animals, Wildlife, Nature, and Advertising.
Tahiti Surfing:
Kelly Slater ripping down the face of a sizable wave at Teahupo'o, Tahiti. Photography by Michael Clark
Tahiti Surfing:
• The lighting in this picture is all natural, which affects the picture by showing the
true beauty of nature. The lighting is coming from the sun which is reflecting off
of the water making the whole picture light up. The main object in the photo is the
big white part in the wave and the second would probably be the surfer. Because
that is the first thing that your eye sees. This picture is arranged very well, because
the main vocal point is following the rule of thirds. It works because it does not
draw your to the center of the picture. The photographer is trying to say what a
beautiful day it is and how you can enjoy it by going surfing. I like this picture
because it captures the true beauty of the ocean and the beautiful day.
Teahupoo:
Top Fives with Nick Ormerod Photography by Michael Clark
Teahupoo:
• The lighting in this picture is very well done, it is all natural light from the sun.
which like the last picture is reflected off of the water making the picture light up.
The main object in this photo would be the surfer flying off of his board. Which
also works for rule of thirds because it is not in the middle of the picture, but in the
top right of it. This picture is arranged very well, because the main vocal point is
following the rule of thirds. It works because it does not draw your to the center of
the picture. The photographer is trying to say what a beautiful day it is and how you
can enjoy it by going surfing. I like this picture because it captures the true beauty of
the ocean and the beautiful day of surfing.
Amazing:
Amazing Photography by Michael Clark
Amazing
• This photo has all natural light that is coming from the sun as well as most
of the pictures by Michael Clark. Sense all his photos are outside all the light
is natural. The main object in the photo is probably the sun, it follows the
rule of thirds because it is not in the middle of the picture, but in the top
middle. This picture is arranged very well because the other main point in the
photo is the man standing to the side so that the photo is well balanced. This
photo shows the true beauty of the sun, sky, and water. In the end this is a
very good picture that captures the Authenticnes of life.
Deep Water Soloing:
Tailândia, um paraíso para os praticantes de Deep Water Soloingby Michael Clark
Deep Water Soloing:
• This picture like all Michael Clark photos the light is all natural from the sun. in this
picture most of the light is coming from the bright color of the blue sky, which
makes the dark blue of the ocean pop leading your eye to man who is rock
climbing. The main object in this photo would have to be the man hanging from
the rock in the left middle of the picture, the reason he is the main object of the
photo is first because of the position that he is in is different then what all the other
natural thing are. And second would be his bright orange shorts draw your attention
to the amazing thing he is doing. This picture is arranged very well even though it is
an informal balanced picture, one side is not weighed down by the other. Over all
this picture captures the true adventure and depth of rock climbing and is a
motivation to do something like that as well.
Michael-Clark_2-Surfers-silhouette:
Michael-Clark_2-Surfers-silhouette by Michael Clark
Michael-Clark_2-Surfers-silhouette
• This picture along with every other picture that Michael Clark takes is all natural
lighting from the sun. I think this is one of my favorite pictures by him simply
based on the lighting in this picture. The sun is just barley there and it is being
reflected off of the water that is on the sand, but it is not bright enough to see the
features of the surfers but only there silhouettes. The main objects in the photo is
the first surfer who is father ahead than the other one. This picture does not really
follow the rule of thirds because the main object is in the middle of the picture.
This picture is arranged very well, everything is balanced in weight and light. In the
end this is one of my favorite photos of Michael Clark.
Photos:
• Michael Clark does not add any names of his pictures or dates. All the names
that where given for each photo are just the names of the galleries that
where taken that day which is not given.
Credit:
Michael Clark photography the blog of adventure photographer
More photos:
• Go to: http://prezi.com/era1jswa9fmw/michael-clark/ to see more great
photos by Michael Clark.