About

To photograph is to hold one’s breath, when all faculties converge to capture fleeting reality. It’s at that precise moment that mastering an image becomes a great physical and intellectual joy.

- Henri Cartier-Bresson

Fleeting Reality is the photography of Michael Johnson, a photographer living in Bloomington, Indiana.

Michael’s work is guided by a deep sense of appreciation for natural beauty, and he likes to look in unlikely places to find it — whether that means finding details all around us that we normally overlook, or viewing common scenes in a new way. His photography is informed by photojournalism, fine art, snapshots, and other styles.

Michael’s curiosity sees him experimenting with new techniques on a regular basis. Mood is an important element in his photographs, and he is always looking for techniques that can make his photos more expressive.

Background

Michael became interested in photography at a young age. But it wasn’t until he took a photojournalism class in high school that he began to understand how to make an effective photograph.

When he was in school at Northwestern University, he dabbled in photojournalism, covering campus events. He also interviewed and photographed numerous rock and metal bands at live shows, including Nine Inch Nails, A Perfect Circle, Deftones, Dream Theater, and many more.

Since then, he has worked in many different styles including nature photography, portraits, abandoned buildings, urban scenes and experimental photography. He has worked with techniques such as infrared, cross processing, and many others.

Currently, Michael is back in school at Indiana University and continues to explore many aspects of photography, inside and outside of his classes.

When not taking photos, Michael is an avid computer nerd and cyclist.