Michael D. Phillips (Fresno CA) After graduating from high school, Michael hitch hiked from California to Alaska and back. His older brother loaned Mike his 35mm Nikormat camera to document the trip. Armed with a few rolls of black and white film, he set off. Mike says "I had absolutely no clue what I was doing photographically but I did know that this was something I wanted to explore in depth."

After finishing his AA degree at Fresno City College, Mr. Phillips attended Brooks Institute and received his BFA in photography. He then pursued fine art photography over the past 42 years. Most of the images in this show were made in 2020. Because of the pandemic and very limited travel, Mike looked for inspiration locally - Exploring areas around Fresno proved to be fruitful.

From a technical standpoint, Mike shoots primarily with an 8x10 view camera and scans his black and white film. Prints are output digitally. The view camera requires oneself to be deliberate and patient; Instant gratification is not part of the equation. Getting into a rhythm with nature and your surroundings is a key component of Mike's process.

Michael recently purchased his first digital camera and looks forward to a new chapter in his photographic journey. Mike is an active member of Spectrum Art Gallery in Fresno's Tower District.

This exhibition is presented by the Fresno Yosemite International Airport Arts & Culture program, which aims to welcome travelers to the Central Valley and showcase original works by artists who call this vibrant and diverse region home.