INSPIRATION • PHOTOGRAPHY
Images on life's terms with Christopher Michael.
The photographer uses everyday objects to spark visual narratives of Black joy, life, and art.
By Sarah Rose Sharp
RESOURCES
For photographer Christopher Michael Reid (known professionally as Christopher Michael), inspiration can strike anywhere — even and especially at his local secondhand store.
“Sometimes I’ll be at the thrift store and I’ll see something,” he says, “and it will inspire a whole photoshoot. And from there, I’ll find a model or whatever, and put something together based on an item I found. Or it could be the other way around — I might like a person’s look and then build something off of that.”
Most recently, he spotted a stack of bath towels in varying tones, which inspired him to think about a shoot featuring five Black men with varying skin tones.
“My first thought was that I wanted to shoot five Black men, and basically find guys with different skin tones and build something that was based on a brotherhood situation,” he says. “I’m still developing the idea. But it basically came from me seeing those towels.”
Click above to watch a video about the artist.
Realism and Representation.
Using everyday objects to spark visual narratives of Black joy, life, and art is one of Christopher Michael’s specialties, and he has created a catalog that marries playful fashion imagery with natural beauty and authenticity.
“I shoot all colors, all races,” he says, “but primarily I try to keep my Instagram to tell Black stories in a beautiful way and create some representation. I wanted a space that’s specifically for that.” Among his influences, he cites photographer Tyler Mitchell and the way he “unapologetically” creates Black art.”
“He just puts it out there, and it’s amazing how people receive it and take it all in,” says Christopher Michael. “It gives me hope that I’m doing the right thing and pushing things forward.” Ultimately, in centralizing Black imagery and narratives, he increases representation twofold: First in the creation of imagery to tell his stories, and then in offering it as stock that enables others to use his vision to tell their own stories.
“I can’t really control where it goes,” he says of his art. “I can just hope and pray that wherever the photos go, it’s something that is as positive and uplifting as possible.”
Christopher Michael came to photography after attending University of North Texas for fashion merchandising took him away from his childhood interest in drawing and painting.
“Growing up, I was always into visual arts,” he says. “I used to paint and draw a lot, and for Christmas, I would only ever ask for paintbrushes. After college, I basically hadn’t done any sort of art in years. One day I just picked up my iPhone 5 and started taking random shots. It made me really interested — interested enough to purchase a camera and start shooting.” Moving into the new medium of photography rekindled his old interest in art as an expressive milieu, and his growing practice draws upon his education in merchandising, his abilities as a stylist, and his eye for natural light and composition.
“A lot of times, I shoot on location and use really natural light,” he says. “I don’t have a dedicated studio or anything like that, but I can make some shots definitely happen in my apartment.”
“I can just hope and pray that wherever the photos go, it's something that is as positive and uplifting as possible."
Keeping it simple, from tools to edits.
Christopher Michael manages a lot with a little, working with fabric backgrounds to add texture, a beauty dish and light mod, and his Canon 5D Mark III. Over the last year, he has taken up film photography as well, rotating between a Nikon FM2 and a recently acquired Mamiya Rb67. His preference for straightforward aesthetics extends to the post-production process, as well.
I like to keep a natural feeling,” he says. “So I just do little tweaks, you know, exposure, contrast, just little stuff like that to enhance the image. Not really any airbrushing or anything. I like to keep all the normal human things.”
He dreams of following Tyler Mitchell’s lead, shooting his favorite musical artists, like Solange, Beyoncé, Blood Orange, and Frank Ocean — all of whom can be heard at his shoot locations.
“I’m the person who is always hunting for new music,” he laughs.
Tapping into the subconscious.
Though some photographers create mood boards before a shoot, Christopher Michael finds it interrupts his flow.
“I usually don’t operate off of mood boards, because it’s a lot of visual stimulation for me,” he says. “So if I see all these images, I don’t want to feel like I’m subconsciously recreating them. a lot of times it’s easier for me to go off of whatever idea I already have in my mind, and just freestyle it.” He pauses, musing. “I don’t know if that’s bad or good.”
To judge by his results, it’s very good. He presents a clear vision and subjects who appear comfortable and pictured on their own terms. A recent set of images shot during the pandemic finds the artist experimenting with inspiration across barriers of social distancing.
“I was thinking about how we’ve had to start using technology as a primary means of human communication and connection,” he says. “This shoot was shot on film but over FaceTime... I thought it was important to show myself in the upper corner of the call, and the iPad screen without cropping, as a way to communicate how much technology has become our new norm, more than ever.”
Image courtesy Christopher Michael
The beautiful, naturalistic, and timely images are a testament that real artists are dedicated to their work, no matter what the challenges.
“We can still make things happen,” he says, “no matter the distance or barriers.”
Explore his portfolio on Adobe Stock.
Marquee image: Adobe Stock / Christopher Michael
