Check Out Michael Feldman’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Feldman. 

Hi Michael, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m now a fine art photographer, after retiring from my prior career as a corporate lawyer. Photography is a great business to be in after working for over 30 years as a lawyer structuring business and financial deals, and drafting complex contracts. I travel the world with a camera hanging from my neck, snapping pictures of whatever intrigues me. Plus, my wife is a freelance travel and restaurant writer, so we explore the world together. 

I followed in my father’s footsteps. He was also a lawyer and photographer, with his works exhibited in museums and galleries. His photographs also won numerous monetary awards. Throughout my childhood, we went on photo shoots and used the darkroom inside our house. The prints were all black and white then. We joined a camera club together where we both won competitions. I had fun in college as a photography editor of both the university’s newspaper and yearbook, shooting mostly sporting events. And, of course, I later loved taking action photos of my kids at their soccer games. 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Since photography was a side gig until I turned 60, I luckily never depended on it to pay the bills; that’s challenging. I started sending out my photographs to specialists to print them on canvases but realized I needed to process my own images myself to get the very best quality. So, I splurged and now own a huge professional printer. And of course, it took me time to learn by trial and error which fine art shows were the best fit for my diverse portfolio. 

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I specialize in fine art photography. I know that’s pretty vague, but I take and sell photographs of whatever speaks to me during my travels: a medieval wooden church — called a “stave” church — in Norway; a vendor in Vietnam on her way to market hauling baskets of vegetables with a carrying pole over her shoulders; a boot with flowers growing out of it from a small-town street in Switzerland; a fascinating reflection of a woman on the glass walls of the Oslo Opera House in Norway; a little girl in a colorful dress swinging her handbag and interacting with a mural on the exterior wall of a building in France. Other photographs are of gorgeous landscapes in the Grand Canyon, China, Peru, Laos, and the Galapagos. 

I edit and custom-print the photos in my home studio, have them professionally framed, then sell the prints online and at events such as museum shows and art festivals. I only use the best archival materials to prevent my photographs from degrading over time. 

Several of my photographs were recently selected to be exhibited at 1st Thursday’s events at the Orlando Museum of Art. 

Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
Orlando is such a pleasure, especially for a photographer. We have stunning birds, bustling downtown neighborhoods, quaint towns, and colorful people—not to mention the mini-worlds within Orlando’s theme parks, which provide one-of-a-kind backdrops for phenomenal photos. 

Living in Orlando, I have had the opportunity to take great photographs of owls and other birds of prey at places like the Avian Reconditioning Center in Apopka, as well as of lemurs, ostriches, emu, and other exotic animals at fabulous Central Florida venues like Giraffe Ranch in Dade City and Safari Wilderness in Lakeland. I have hooked up with Fine Art America (see the link below) so that people can not only purchase the images they love, but also have them printed on canvas tote bags, coffee mugs, throw pillows and lots of other cool stuff. 

And best of all for me: Orlando has a terrific international airport that makes it easy for me to fly off for my next photo adventure. 

Contact Info:

• Email: mikerudy3@aol.com
• Website: https://www.michaelfeldmanphotos.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelfeldmanphotography/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michael.feldman.3762
• Other: https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/5-michael-feldman

 

Image Credits
Michael Feldman
Rona Feldman