Michael McCraw is a freelance photographer who produces fine art and limited edition prints under the trade name Pirate Photography.
WHERE CAN YOU SEE HIS WORK?
Reddi-Arts Gallery 1037, Daryl Bunn Studios and Gallery, Nicholas & Alexander jewelry store, Texas Artist Museum, the Property Appraiser’s Office and, until Jan. 1, Church Street Gallery of Contemporary Art. Jerry Huto of Art Consulting Services promotes McCraw’s work for commercial markets.
THE ONCE AND FUTURE PHOTOGRAPHER
Upcoming shows for McGraw are scheduled for The Loft Gallery in Orlando Dec. 17 through February; Steinway Hall in the Piano Expo during February; the Tunnel Vision show Dec. 3; and the National Entrepreneur Center in Orlando, tentatively scheduled for early December. During November, he participated in the inaugural Downtown Art Walk and in October he took part in an exhibition at the 9th & Main Street galleria.
TUNNEL VISION
Grief is a theme he has been working on for the Tunnel Vision show on Wednesday. His subject was a cemetery in Savannah. “I like showing in Jacksonville venues because I’m from here. There are a lot of excellent artists and photographers here. It’s always nice to show where your peers show.”
WHERE WAS HE BORN?
Rhode Island.
PIANO EXPO A-GO-GO
“The theme for the show is Timeless Motion. I shoot with a very slow speed film and a long shutter speed to capture the event of motion itself but not freeze it. Ninety percent of the time I use a medium format fine-grain film. Large apertures give a lot of depth of field.”
RUBBING ELBOWS
McCraw, whose images have been featured in Winright’s annual catalog of fine art, is a member of the Professional Photographers Association and the Florida Artist Registry.
DOES HE CONSIDER HIMSELF AN EMERGING ARTIST?
“Oh, yes. I’ve been shooting for 30 years, but I haven’t done much with it. I was the vice president of a large manufacturing firm here and shot photos on the side. Ever since I was kid, I’ve had a camera in my hand. When I turned 47, I decided I didn’t want to be a vice president anymore. I’ve been showing my work to some people and professionally marketing it.”
DOES HE PLAN TO GET AN ART EDUCATION?
“No one in my immediate family has a college degree. For a long time I was trying to get a law degree, but I don’t care much for lawyers. I didn’t want to be included in their ranks.” McCraw has been attending Florida Community College at Jacksonville for his associate’s degree.
FAMILY PHOTO
McCraw has one son, Joey and a granddaughter, Ashley. He lives in West Riverside.
ALTERNATE ROUTE
“Before, I was a delivery skipper and sales guy for Caribbean Yacht Charters. I sailed all over the Caribbean, the Bahamas, the Gulf and some of South America. My crew raced the sailboat I had then and we never lost. I’ve bummed between my family’s cabinet work and doing that.”
WHY MOVE BACK?
“I was homesick. My Irish setter was in the States and I was seeing a lady back home.”
WHAT INSPIRES HIM?
“I shoot just about anything. There’s art all around you. You’re so busy that you don’t notice it anymore. I try to capture it and archive it for the future so we don’t forget the natural beauty that surrounds us all.”
WHO IS HIS MAIN INFLUENCE?
“I see all kinds of different stuff that I like, but Ansel Adams probably influenced me the most because we work under similar principles.”
WHAT IS THE MESSAGE BEHIND HIS WORK?
“There’s not a particular message. I like naming my pieces. Most of the names fit the image. What I’m trying to do is evoke an emotion or jog someone’s memory.”
WHAT DOES HE DO FOR FUN?
“I’m pretty happy when I have a camera in my hand. I like surfing, too. When I get out on a surfboard, I forget about the everyday problems. It’s a great way to stay in shape. I’m also a bagpipe fan and write some short stories.” Additionally, McCraw enjoys playing Texas-hold poker, reading mystery novels and collecting 19th Century maritime art.
— by Monica Tsai