Today we’d like to introduce you to Mike.
Hi Mike, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Photography has been part of my life for more than 50 years. I actually started in high school with a Kodak 110, which seems pretty primitive compared with the cameras we have today, but I was fascinated by the idea that a photograph could freeze a moment and preserve a memory.
Over the years, photography grew from a hobby into something much more important to me. I became especially interested in photographing people—not just making portraits, but having those brief encounters with people and cultures that happen when you have a camera in your hand. I’ve always felt that when someone allows you to photograph them, they are giving you something, and I try to respect and appreciate that gift.
Travel has played a huge role in that journey. I’ve photographed extensively throughout the United States and internationally, including India, China, Southeast Asia, South America, Mexico and Europe. Mexico, in particular, has become a favorite place to photograph. I often travel through smaller towns rather than simply visiting the major tourist destinations, looking for the everyday moments, celebrations, markets, religious events and people that give a place its character.
My photography has also evolved beyond simply documenting what I see. I’m increasingly interested in the idea of the encounter—that fleeting connection between photographer and subject. Sometimes the photograph is great; sometimes it isn’t. But the experience of meeting someone, even for a minute, can stay with you long after the photograph is taken.
Along the way, I’ve exhibited my work, taught photography workshops covering everything from film to digital, and continued developing personal projects. I’m also fortunate to be President of The Photo League, a Philadelphia-area community of photographers that combines photography with learning, collaboration and service. Being part of that community has become an important part of my photographic life.
At 71, I’m still trying to figure out where photography is taking me. I don’t think I’m finished yet—which is probably a good thing. There are still people I want to meet, places I want to photograph, and stories I want to tell. And honestly, that curiosity is probably what has kept me going for more than five decades.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
No, it definitely hasn’t been a smooth road—and I suppose I wouldn’t want it to be.
For a long time, photography was something I loved, but I wasn’t always sure where it fit into my life. Like many photographers, I went through periods when work, family and other responsibilities took priority. There were also times when I questioned whether my photography was good enough or whether I had anything meaningful to say with it. Those doubts never completely disappear. I’ve learned that being a photographer isn’t just about making photographs; it’s also about continually finding a reason to make them.
One of the biggest challenges has been learning to move beyond simply taking pictures of things that catch my eye. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve become much more interested in why I am making a photograph and what I want the viewer to feel or understand. That has pushed me to become more intentional about my work, particularly my photographs of people.
Photography has also taught me that failure is part of the process. You can travel halfway around the world and come home with hundreds of photographs and only a handful that really matter to you. But those unsuccessful photographs aren’t necessarily wasted. They teach you to look differently the next time.
And then there is the challenge of simply getting older. At 71, I don’t have quite the physical stamina I had when I was younger, when I could run marathons and spend an entire day wandering the streets with a camera. But I’ve come to realize that age also brings something valuable to photography: patience, experience and a deeper appreciation for the people I encounter.
Perhaps the biggest struggle has been accepting that I don’t have to have everything figured out. I’m still learning, still experimenting and still trying to understand what I want my photography to say. In some ways, that uncertainty is what keeps it interesting.
The road hasn’t been smooth, but it has been a pretty remarkable journey. And I’m still on it.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My work is centered primarily around people. I photograph portraits, travel, street life, celebrations and events, but I don’t really think of those as separate categories. For me, they are all opportunities to connect with people and experience a place.
I’ve always been drawn to the unplanned moments—the expression, gesture or interaction that happens for just a second and then disappears. I enjoy photographing people in their own environments and cultures, whether that’s someone on a street in Philadelphia, a vendor in a Mexican market, a celebration in India, or a stranger I meet while traveling. I’m less interested in simply making a photograph of someone than I am in creating a photograph that gives the viewer a sense of who that person might be.
That idea of the encounter has become increasingly important to my work. I often approach complete strangers and ask if I can photograph them. There’s a wonderful vulnerability in that exchange. They don’t know me, I don’t know them, and yet for a brief moment we connect. Sometimes the resulting photograph is terrific. Sometimes it isn’t. But almost every encounter leaves me with something.
I’m also very interested in photographing events and communities—places where you can feel the energy of people being together. I want the photographs to make the viewer feel as though they were standing there with me.
One thing I’m particularly proud of is that I’ve never stopped learning or experimenting. I’ve photographed for more than 50 years, from film to digital, and I’ve had the opportunity to teach photography as well as continue developing my own work. I’m also proud of my involvement with The Photo League in Philadelphia, where I serve as president. Building a community where photographers can learn from one another, collaborate and use photography to contribute to the community has become just as rewarding to me as making my own photographs.
What sets me apart? I’m not sure I’d claim that my photography is completely unique—there are a lot of very talented photographers doing wonderful work. But I think my curiosity and willingness to engage with people are central to what I do. I’m still willing to walk up to a stranger, start a conversation and ask, “Can I make your photograph?” After all these years, I’m still genuinely curious about people.
And perhaps that’s what I’m most proud of: after more than five decades, I haven’t lost that curiosity.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
What matters most to me is people—my family, the people I meet, and the relationships and connections we make along the way.
I’ve always been curious about people. I want to know their stories, what makes them happy, what they’ve experienced, what they believe in, and what makes them who they are. I think that’s one of the reasons photography has remained so important to me. A camera gives me a reason to approach someone I might otherwise never meet and say, essentially, “Tell me a little about yourself.”
Family matters enormously to me. My wife Min, my children and my grand children are the center of my life. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve become much more aware of how quickly time passes and how easily we can take the people we love for granted. I think about the memories we create, the things we say—or don’t say—and what we leave behind in the people we care about. I want the people closest to me to know that they are loved and appreciated.
Curiosity also matters to me. I don’t want to stop being curious about the world. That’s probably why I continue to travel, photograph strangers, learn new things and take on new projects. There is still so much I haven’t seen and so many people I haven’t met.
And finally, I think purpose matters. I want my photography to mean something beyond simply making attractive pictures. Whether I’m documenting a community, photographing a stranger, working with The Photo League, or creating a personal project, I want there to be some human connection behind it.
At this point in my life, I suppose I’m less concerned with what I accumulate and more concerned with what I leave behind—memories, photographs, relationships, and hopefully a sense that I cared about people.
If I could be remembered as someone who was strong but gentle, curious about the world, and genuinely cared about people, I’d be pretty happy with that.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.photoleague.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mpbrowna/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mike.browna
