RECENT (flickr)

ARTIST BIO :: Michael Pedersen

Beginnings

Michael was born and raised in Calgary. The immense natural beauty of the areas surrounding the city provided him plenty of early inspiration. While growing up he spent countless days on his uncle’s farm developing a strong bond with the big skies of the prairie landscape. He also hiked and camped throughout the Kananaskis and has always felt the need to be near the rugged Rocky Mountains.

Education

In the mid 90s, while studying art at the University of Calgary, photography became Michael’s passion. During those years, he immersed himself in art - completing bachelor degrees in both Art and Architectural History and Visual Art. It was at this time that he also started traveling internationally, spending a year backpacking (and photographing), with his soon-to-be wife Nika, in South-East Asia and South Asia. Upon returning home, his "Khao Luang Cave" photo (1997) won both the "Best Place" and "Best Photo" categories in the University of Calgary International Photo Competition.

Graduating at the top of his class, and "with distinction", Michael was accepted into Sheridan College’s prestigious Interactive Multimedia Postgraduate program where he was able to hone his digital skills and begin his career as a web developer (putting a pause on his photographic ambitions). At the end of the program, he was awarded the Rosanna DeBenedictis Scholarship (awarded to the top student in the program). That year he was also one of five finalists for the "Graduate of the Year" award at the Canadian New Media Awards.

Life Without Photography (well, almost)

Michael was soon working as CHUM Television’s lead web developer, building such sites as muchmusic.com, citytv.com, fashiontelevision.com, bravo.ca, and many more. Unfortunately, the successful career left little time for photography, nor was Toronto providing the visual stimulation he had become accustomed to around Calgary. Consequently, the camera came out rarely for a few years…

Renaissance

In September 2002, with the birth of their first child, Michael and Nika began plans to return to Calgary. The return to his favorite landscapes rekindled his desire to photograph, though the full realization of that desire didn’t come about for another three years when he purchased his first digital SLR. The efficient workflow of the digital medium allowed time for photography within the time constraints of work and parenting. Now, only a month after the birth of his second child, Michael is excited to be photographing regularly.