Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Tilton.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
My name is Mike and I am the founder of a startup photography business “Mike-Drop Photography”. I was born and raised in Boston, and no matter where my travels take me this will always be my home. I have always been amazed with the beauty and energy this city has to offer, from the cyclists and joggers strolling along the Charles on a warm summer day to the street performers entertaining tourists and locals with their various talents on a crisp fall night. A few years ago, I began attempting to capture these spontaneous moments of beauty like so many others do, with my iPhone. This past March just before my birthday I decided I wanted to take my photography to the next level so I bought myself my first DSLR camera, an entry level Nikon D3400. Then with the help of online tutorials and YouTube videos began teaching myself photography. Six months later I can comfortably say It was the best purchase I have ever made and one that has changed my life for the better. Since March I have become entrenched within the world of photography and have had the opportunity to meet and shoot with some of the most amazing local photographers via Instagram meets/socials. For a naturally shy introvert such as myself photography presented me with an opportunity to not only be creative but to step out of my comfort zone and meet new people. To my pleasant surprise at my first Instagram meetup at the Public Garden with a group of local photographers I felt instantly comfortable and quickly felt like I was part of a group. Part of a group of individuals from all walks of life, of all ages, genders, religions, stemming from all different backgrounds, but all who have one thing in common; the desire and talent to capture the beauty in the world around them through a lens and share it with others. To me that is what photography is all about and why I am proud to call myself a photographer.
Please tell us about your art.
With my art I try to portray the splendidness of the world which surrounds us each day but is often overpowered by the constant stream of negativity we are presented with. In this information age we are constantly being told by social media, advertisement, politics, and the mass media that the world we live in is a dark and scary place, if we choose to view it that way. I hope through my photography I can counter some of that and show there is beauty and light all around us if we choose to look for it, after all life is all about perspective. For me photography has become so much more than just a hobby, it’s become my way of capturing serenity and peace of mind in an otherwise chaotic world. When I am out in the city taking pictures, particularly at night when its quiet, it’s almost like a meditative state for me where I can sit and reflect and in a sense recharge my soul. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the model of the photo that got me selected for this interview. Her name is Kate and her IG handle is @kaleegen84 (pictured below). She is a fellow photographer who I met through Instagram. After I decided to start my photography business I reached out to her because I was trying to get some more experience doing portrait shots. Even though she insisted she wasn’t very photogenic (which we both quickly found out is not true 🙂) and doesn’t like being the center of attention she decided to step out of her comfort zone to do a photo shoot with me on Carson beach. It was my first photo shoot as a photographer and her first as a model. I was absolutely blown away by how much of a natural she was and how much of her aura I was able to capture in these images. If you read this I urge you to go check out some of her work on IG, you will not be disappointed.
As an artist, how do you define success and what quality or characteristic do you feel is essential to success as an artist?
My definition of success being an artist, regardless of your craft, is if your work is able to positively impact the lives of others. Whether you are a painter, musician, photographer, dancer, whatever your art is, if your creation is able to bring even a split second of joy and happiness to someone else’s life then you have succeeded as an artist and as a human being. If someone sees my photos and feels a positive emotion of some kind, then I have succeeded.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
Most of my work is put on Instagram @miketltn and on my website at www.mikedropphotography.com If you enjoy my work and feel the need to support it please commit a random act of kindness. Buy a homeless person lunch and sit and have a chat with them, or donate a little bit of money to a charity that is close to your heart, or hold a canned food drive at your job to help feed the countless number of people that go hungry each day. If my work speaks to you, that is how you can pay it forward. Keep tuned to my Instagram as I am currently brainstorming some ideas to use my photography to help the community and those in need. Thanks for reading.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.mikedropphotography.com
- Phone: 818-312-8602
- Email: mikedropphotos@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/miketltn
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mikedropphotography
Image Credit:
Michael Tilton
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