Approaching a subject, I consider the lighting to be paramount. Each session is unique and I want to make the illumination equally individualized. My background is theatrical lighting design and that training informs my photography.

When I am not photographing the beautiful people of Western New York State, I can be found playing bass guitar in two local Rochester bands, riding my bicycle, tending to my plants, or spreading joy and humor through memes.

 Technical

  • 35+ years photography experience

  • Worked with 35mm, medium and large film formats

  • Extensive experience in Black and White darkroom techniques

  • Early proponent and practitioner of digital photography

  • Instrumental organizing and training Trader Publishing-Rochester digital file transfer

  • Wrote training manual for digital camera operation and image processing (Kodak DC-50 cameras)

  • Digital editing knowledge with Adobe Photoshop, Gimp, Anthropics Portrait Professional

Exhibitions

  • Image City Gallery, “Photographer’s Journey” Category Winner, “Botanical/Still Life”, Second Runner-up Overall, August 2023

  • Image City Gallery, "Magic of Light" 2015-2018, 2022-24

  • Image City Gallery, “Red” March 2022

  • Image City Gallery, “Photographer’s Journey” Category Winner, “People, Events, Sports,” August 2022

  • Rochester Contemporary Arts Center "6X6" Exhibitions

  • NYS Fair 2014-2015

  • Community Darkroom "6X5" Exhibition, June, 1997

  • Memorial Art Gallery "Rochester Fingerlakes Exhibition" (date needing confirmation)

Education

  • B.A. Technical Theater S.U.C. Geneseo 1985

  • Adobe Photoshop, R.I.T. Adult Education classes.

  • HTML, R.I.T. Adult Continuing Education Classes

  • Various courses at Community Darkroom

  • Constantly updating skills through research and experimentation

Publications

  • Picture Page/Auto Trader, Rochester Office 1989-2003 Staff Photographer, Photo Coordinator

  • Dreamy Magazine Issue 219, 2020

  • POZA: ISSUE 11 | OPEN THEME | Editorial titled Precious

  • Angels International; Femme Sensual, Editorial titled Morning on the O-At-Ka

  • The Portrait Project | Volume Five | Septenber 2021 |Editorial titled Light and Water

  • 6X Portrait Magazine | Volume 39 | August 2022 | Editorial titles An Evening of Tulle

  • Beautica Magazine | August 2022 | Open Theme Edition Issue #7

  • Broche Magazine | Summer 2023| Adult Ballet Studio Spotlight: Erica Centola and Tournesol Dance Pages 22-28

All images are edited by Michael F Putorti