Lichtskulpturen des weiblichen Körpers voller Eleganz, Tiefe und Schönheit, aber auch Esprit und Ironie - die Bilder des Fotokünstlers Michael Hays sind nicht nur unter ästhetischen Gesichtspunkten eine Augenweide! In seine zum Teil als Collagen angelegten Arbeiten dreht sich alles um die Verdichtung dessen, was Erotik und Schönheit in Bildern auszusagen vermögen. Ähnlich wie in einem Gedicht gilt es, auf den Punkt zu bringen, was gesagt werden muß. Hays Aufnahmen sind also mehr als nur Aktfotografie. Sie sind im eigentlichen Sinne des Wortes Bildgedichte!

I have been working with the human form in photography for more than 20 years. I have worked in the glamour and fashion industry, but found the work unsatisfying. Although I still do some color work, I have returned to my great love in photography, Black and White Fine Art.

I originally studied in California under George Craven, photographer and writer of "Object and Image" and Shirley Fisher, the noted fine art photographer who worked with Weston.

Formal Training

• Still Photographic Specialist, USAF

• De Anza College, Graduated in Photography with Honors, minor in Business

• Heald Institute of Technology, Graduate with Honors 4.0, Computer Technology

Honors and Recognition

• Humanitarian Award 1998 for work with breast cancer survivors.

• Over a dozen written articles about my work and numerous interviews on local and national television and radio.

• Director's Award, Heald Institute, several recognition plaques from Intel Corporation.

Public Projects and Shows

• Twelve one-man shows in the last 5 years including a dual location show with over 58 pieces on exhibition.

• Designed and built portable camera that used a 5 by 7 foot negative created on glass.

• Created a photo sculpture for the California State Park Service for display at Castle Rock State Park.

• Created and financed 3 breast cancer survivor benefits, one of which earned me a humanitarian award.

Current Projects

• Equal AccessTapestry, a community mural project to beautify an industrial area of Tempe and act as a showcase for some of the areas top artists with disabilities.

• ABLE to Love, a photographic tribute to the sensuality and aliveness of people with disabilities

• The Size of Beauty, a photographic tribute to the beauty and sensuality of people of larger size.

• "I'm Still Beautiful" Journal, a journal of inspiration for breast cancer survivors.

www.edgescapes.com