Exhibition | Under one sky

MICHAEL DESMOND

Under On Sky Exhibit - Invitation

“Under One Sky”
Local Photographer, Michael Desmond Opens Edgemar Film Festival

The opening reception will be on July 10th
from 5-8PM. Admission is free. Please RSVP at info@edgemar.org.


Edgemar Center for the Arts is pleased to present Under One Sky, a solo exhibition of personal work by Michael Desmond on July 10, on view until November. Under One Sky will feature images by Desmond, all of which were taken and inspired while traveling the world. The exhibition reception will coincide with the 2nd Annual Cinema at the Edge Independent Film Festival and will be hosted by TV Personality, Tanya Memme.

Desmond’s images tell an intimate story to the many faces he’s come across throughout his travels and reflect a piece of him. “The thing about photography is that it challenges me to be present in my surroundings and to take in the ordinary moments so easily missed by being in my head thinking about the time to come or time passed. It allows me to take in the brief moments, like a mother reading the paper to her daughter in a coffee shop or the morning light dancing with the shadows on the floor. Sometimes photography forces me to push past my circle of comfort. It has provided me with the opportunity to make new friends, open doors into new worlds and cultures and even sometimes co-create something wonderful with a complete stranger, which in the end is really not so strange after all.”

Photography was merely a hobby when Desmond began taking classes at Sacramento City College years ago. It wasn’t until Andy Delucia and Dick Fleming, the department heads at the time, acknowledged his innate talent and suggested he take up photography as a career. With this idea in mind and at a crossroads in life, Desmond plunged into a craft, an art, and a life he never expected. Once in Los Angeles, determined to become a unit photographer, Desmond snuck on a movie set and began learning from one of the best, Richard Foreman. Before he even knew it, he worked his way into the Cinematography Guild and onto the set of some of America’s favorite television shows. In 2011, he was nominated for the Publicists Awards for Excellence in Television Unit Photography.

In addition to his film work, Desmond travels the world capturing anything that inspires him and shoots for some of the biggest brands including Coca Cola®, Kia® Motors and Carl’s Jr.®
Tanya Memme, a friend of Desmond’s will be hosting the opening reception. Memme, a former Miss World Canada and now the Host/Producer of the Emmy Nominated show, “Sell This House” on A&E has for ten seasons helped over 250 families across America sell their homes by redesigning and staying on a budget. She also hosted and produced, “Sell This House EXTREME.” Memme is delighted to be hosting the event.


 


Michael_Desmond_-_Headshot

        Michael Desmond has said that his passion first emerged as a child when he and his      grandfather would capture stills on the sands of Pismo Beach, California. However, photography was but a hobby when he began taking classes at Sacramento City College, simply wanting to “understand” the camera he had received as a gift. It wasn’t until Andy Delucia and Dick Fleming, the department heads at the time, acknowledged Michael’s innate talent and suggested that he take up photography as a career. With this idea in mind and at a crossroads in life, Michael plunged into a craft, an art, and a life he wanted to know more about.

Knowing, that to be the best, you must learn from the best, Michael connected with and assisted Bill Santos, his first mentor in lighting and photography. Later he went on to learn and be mentored by Dean Tokuno before moving to Los Angeles in pursuit of his dreams. Michael nourished his talent in L.A. while assisting Michael Muller, a photographer he had originally met in Sacramento. Mr. Muller also played a significant role in Michael’s photography development.

Always eager to learn more, Michael snuck onto a movie set one day seeking out the unit photographer, Richard Foreman (Terminator Salvation, No Country for Old Men, Poseidon, Mission Impossible: II) who took him under his wing and not only became a great mentor but a wonderful friend. Michael credits his brilliance in this area of photography entirely to Mr. Foreman.

Dedication, persistence, desire, and a few true believers along the way, Michael worked his way into the Cinematography Guild and onto the set of some of America’s favorite television shows; including Showtimes’ “Weeds,” “Episodes,” ”House of Lies,” and “Masters of Sex;” ABC’s “Castle,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” and “Private Practice;” CBS’ “NCIS: Los Angeles,” and The CW’s “90210” and “America’s Next Top Model.” These images have been seen in periodicals such as Entertainment Weekly, The Los Angeles Times, TV Guide, and many others around the world.

In 2011, Michael was nominated for the Publicists Awards for Excellence in Television Unit Photography. To be placed in a category with artists he had for years admired was an honor, a surprise, and a true testament of his talents as a photographer.

In addition to unit photography for the television and motion picture industry, Michael’s work can be seen in ads for Puppy Chow®, Carl’s Jr.®, Universal Studios Hollywood and Coca Cola®. Most recently, his images have been made into movie posters for Sony films.

While Michael takes great pride in his work, a deeper passion was discovered when he volunteered to travel through Kenya documenting UC Davis medical students as they worked with local physicians from Nairobi

administering medication to those in need of general healthcare, Malaria treatments, and AIDS treatments. He was able, for the first time, to capture and thereby give back by telling real-life stories through his lens.

Michael’s charm, wit, and endearing smile lends itself beautifully to photography. His subjects, whether they be A-list actors on a Hollywood set or villagers in Africa sense Michael’s passion, spirit, and love for what he does, somehow always easing their camera shyness. Dean Tokuno once told Michael, “A good photograph has the ability to not only tell the story of its subjects, but that of the shooter as well.” Michael has succeeded brilliantly!