We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Michael Wright a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Michael, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

I am a learn-while-you-do person. With a goal in mind, I figure out how to get there, consulting resources as needed. Such a process does result in a lot of stop-and-go. I always question my method but it is who I am.

Learning photography was a bit different. There were so many factors I didn’t know, so classes prior were required. To understand, i.e. to master what I knew, I had to get out there and take photographs. With a digital camera, one can take many in a very short time.

Falling in love with this craft, I am ever trying to perfect my skills. Being better than I was yesterday, is my mantra. This does cause a bit of frustration on my end. Music photography occurs in a very challenging environment (lighting). I accept this challenge but when there is a blatant misuse or lack of attention of the lighting tools the venue has, I walk away.

Editing photographs is another skill I have had to develop. It is time-consuming and puts me back in the very place I want to get away from, in front of the computer. My day job is in front of the computer, so I spend upwards of 12 hours a day in front of the screen. This is the life I chose.

Every photograph represents me. So, I only want to post those that highlight my skills. When this is done correctly, the musician looks great. I am a artist who strives to display an unrepeatable moment of time for all to understand. This not only means being selective of the photo but making sure the editing is precise. This takes time. But the more time one spends mastering it, the better one gets. The following proverb is my focus:

Proverbs 22:29   Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men. (ESV)

Michael, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am a self-taught, ever-learning, photographer of musicians. I credit being here to the Providential hand of God. Photography was never on the horizon of my mind, but it quickly became a focus of my life.

I was attempting to master resin pouring. Beautiful items can be created from such liquids. I took a photo with my iPhone of one of the pourings as it was settling and hardening. The photo was beautiful. Emily, my wife, suggested that I take photos of the resin pourings to sell with the pourings. Once I realized the intricacies of the resin pourings, my focus became more about photographing them. This led me to become interested in abstract photography, one that I am still interested in.

I became interested in photographing people after taking a class from Joel Sartori, who photographs for National Geographic. He is now on a mission to build a photo ark of endangered species. In one of the classes, he said, “People make photographs interesting.” This started my path to photographing people but I did not want to do still shots. I have always hated the constructed contortions of face and body. I say this as I am about to start studio photography.

September 11, 2020, set the focus of my life. I encountered the group Code Blue. I had never photographed them before. During a song, Adam Brannon, a guitar player, put the guitar behind his neck and started playing. I had never seen this before. I photographed it, a perfect shot. I was hooked. It has been musicians since that day. On September 12, 2020, I caught another phenomenal shot. There was no going back.

My focus or goal is to capture a portrait-like moment in a chaotic environment of which I have no control. In studio photography, one strives to create a natural moment in a very structured setting. “Hold your head up. Move your arm a little to the left.” I am trying to capture a still moment that represents the musician in a chaotic, ever-moving environment with unpredictable lighting. For a photographer lighting is everything.

I believe I am unique in my approach to photographing musicians. I am not taking photographs. I am creating art. Masterpieces that will forever be hung in the Music Museum of my Mind. A museum that is open to all via my website, Facebook posting, and books. Shortly, there will be an online magazine. No one is doing this to the extent that I am.

Musicians are amazing people. They are a much-needed service in our daily life. My efforts are directed towards supporting and helping them to be known in this environment. I hope that the viewing of my photographs will inspire an increased attendance to see such entertainment.

My mission, under the umbrella of Seven Pillars Photography l.l.c., is to document the live music environment of Austin and beyond by capturing, preserving, and displaying the incredible talent before me. My photography has only one goal, to honor their efforts, talent, and passion for their craft.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

We live in a world of “fractured distraction.” There is so much pulling at everyone for their immediate attention. The side effects in our society have been and continue to be felt. Rudeness, sloppiness, inattentiveness, intolerance, and grammar/language execution are just a few of the illnesses infecting many.

Live music events allow one to pause. One’s only focus is that which is on stage. They cannot change channels. Stories, songs, and verbal interaction are on the menu. They are in the midst of an experience. An experience that can heal.

Attending live music events should be on the list of activities for everyone. Attendance is the only way live music events stay alive and viable.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The never ending journey to perfect a craft I have fallen in love with. It is incredible when I capture “that moment” and am looking at it. I did it. No one else has this. WOW!!! I did this!! It is a magical moment that spurs the need to have more. Such moments make up for the hours of driving to and from an event and the time in front of the computer editing. This takes time away from my wife and activities I enjoy. But when I have done it. Nothing compares.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://sevenpillarsphotography.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sevenpillarsfoto
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SevenPillarsPh1/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/SevenPillarsPh1

Image Credits
All photographs were taken by Michael Wright of Seven Pillars Photography, L.L.C