Artist Statement – Suzanne Michaels, PhD My photographic journey began in high school when I took my first and only photography course. Over the years I benefited from a few brief workshops, but basically, I am self-taught as a photographer. My training in cultural anthropology and my experiences as a family therapist, however, have enriched the way I observe and see. Initially, I worked in black and white, printing my own photos. I then shifted to color slides, and years later, to digital. I am presently revisiting the use of black and white images, stimulated by the artistry of such great black and white photographers as Henri Cartier-Bresson, Andre Kertesz, and Sebastio Salgado. In my work, I frequently focus on patterns and textures found in nature and in the built environment. I also enjoy photographing people as they carry on their daily lives or look up as I engage with them. During my professional careers – as a therapist, and later as an academic and research sociologist – photography served as a creative outlet. Now retired, I am devoting more time to photography as well as exploring other mediums. Rather than a single narrative or series, this show invites you to travel with me through time and space – landscapes and portraits from New England, France, Ireland, Laos, Morocco, and Portugal. Suzanne Michael, PhD www.SuzanneMichaelArts.com
