Mike Smith: Environmental Portraits

Before enlisting in the US Army in 1963, Mike studied photography at Phoenix College. After Basic Training, he attended the US Army Special Warfare Center and became a Green Beret in 1964. His unit was attached to the 6th Special Forces Group (ABN) at Fort Bragg, NC (now Fort Liberty).

After his Army service, Mike worked as a photographer for the Arizona Republic Newspapers for 20 years, covering sports events, spot news, features, and fashion. His news team was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in 1977. Subsequently, Mike went to work for Dillon Precision Products, Inc. This experience in commercial product photography included shooting Dillon products for their monthly catalog and two annual calendars circulated in the US and abroad.

Mike's artistic accomplishments are all the more astonishing considering his unlikely start in photography. Only because the fine art class he wanted was full did he have to take a beginning photography course. Every step into this photography class pulled him in more. He became especially drawn to capturing a moment in time, essentially forever. What started as a way to make a living is now done solely to please himself.

When Mike thinks about transferring his knowledge of photography to others, he wants them to make photographs that they like and that mean something to them ... without the need to please others

Reception photos by Brady Conn