After receiving his Master of Architecture degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and over twelve years in practice as an architect in San Francisco and Stockholm, Michael shifted direction in the mid-90s, focusing most of his efforts on the photography of architecture, interiors and architecturally integrated works of art. Originally from California, Michael moved to Stockholm in 1989, where he built up a broad photography practice that spans across the Nordic countries, Europe and North America.

In his photography, Michael draws on his architecture background by seeking to discover the architectural thinking that lies behind the surface, and his compositions aim to peel away all distractions in order to communicate the architect’s intentions with maximum clarity. An example of his approach is seen in this detail of the Zen Houses Residential Development in Stockholm, by C. F. Moller Architects, where the building’s main aesthetic features (overlapping cubic volumes, shifts in scale, contrasting materials and colours) are condensed into a single dynamic image.