Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Cummings.
Michael, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
As a child, I was inspired by the cinema. I have always been fascinated by the way light interacts with a subject, whether it be natural or artificial, day or night, or illuminating an environment, object, or a person. It is often the single most powerful tool in conveying emotion within a work.
Early on I wanted to solely pursue cinematography, but once I saw the possibilities in film/video producing as well as editing, I discovered I could create a finished product that communicated the story I wanted to convey. I was educated in media production and photography. In my twenty year career, most of my projects have been based in film/video production, but photography is still my passion. It always comes back to composing an image that is enjoyable to view.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
I have a great respect for artists. I have never really considered myself an artist, though others have always considered me creative. I suppose this is probably true of a lot of people who create. I like taking pictures, but I have never locked into one type of photography. I enjoy shooting everything; there is value in being well rounded as a photographer. I see light, landscapes, people, or subjects for a certain photo and I become inspired. I want to capture what I see to the best of my ability. Ultimately, I want people to look at my work and feel something. That is what is great about photography. There is the intended emotion by the photographer, but the viewer always has their own takeaway. Everyone that views a work can come away feeling something a little different.
Lately, I have been developing my portrait style. Photographing people can be challenging, but also much more rewarding. The subject can, and often does, bring something to the image that is unexpected. Everyone is different, that usually comes through in the final images. I am a technical photographer coming from a film background where I had to get it right in-camera. I work hard to create something that requires little touch-up work, that is rewarding for me.
In your view, what is the biggest issue artists have to deal with?
I think the biggest challenge out there is that there are a lot of people creating content. I think everyone likes the idea of creating something that others will enjoy and we all want to be able to make a living at it. It can be very difficult to make a living as an artist, which is why most do it in their spare time.
Another serious challenge for photographers is that everyone owns a camera and a lot of people bill themselves as a photographer, but they do not necessarily have the knowledge to shoot a quality image “in-camera.” There are a lot of photographers out there that depend on the post process to create an acceptable picture. This poses a challenge for those who have studied and gained qualifications to take an exceptional photo without post enhancement.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
I operate under Sunforge Pictures, LLC. This name was chosen as a way to market my video production company along with my photography. Search for Sunforge Pictures or Michael Cummings. This will pull up information. My work can be found on Flickr and Instagram at #sunforgepictures. My video work can be found on Vimeo or through my website. Please follow me on any of these channels.
Contact Info:
- Address: Dallas, TX, but I have worked all over the world.
- Website: www.sunforgepictures.com
- Phone: 972-672-8872
- Email: michael@sunforgepictures.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunforgepictures/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SunforgePicturesLLC
- Other: https://www.flickr.com/photos/sunforgepicturesllc/
Image Credit:
Sunforge Pictures, LLC
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition, please let us know here.
