Michael A. Smith

Michael A. Smith (1942-2018) was born in Philadelphia in 1942. After earning a BS in pre-law from Temple University (1963), Smith began working in photography in 1966, using an 8x10 in. view camera, then later using 8x20 and 18x22 in. cameras. He has photographed every state in the continental U.S., parts of Canada, Mexico, and Europe. He also taught photography for about 7 years before devoting his life to focusing on his photography career and portfolio.

Smith, with his wife, artist Paula Chamlee, documented their travels around the world through photography, which led to several publications and over 200 exhibitions. In addition, Smith has twice received fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, and he has been the recipient of major commissions to photograph five American cities. In 1981, Smith's first book, the two-volume monograph, Landscapes 1975–1979, was awarded Le Grand Prix du Livre at the Rencontres Internationale de la Photographie in Arles, France. His work can be found in over 125 collections at prestigious institutions.