His first camera, a gift from his father when he was 12, was used to capture the winding old-town streets and moody light of his native Czechoslovakia. At 19 he defected, making his way from refugee camp to New York City and finally to San Francisco.
Michal worked his way through art school, building on the education he’d given himself wandering Prague’s museums as a boy. Since then, he’s built a successful 30-year career in lifestyle, product and scenic photography as a commercial and fine art photographer.
Big-name clients from Pottery Barn to Wells Fargo to Crystal Cruises come for Michal’s talent. But they stay to enjoy his studio – a 5000 square foot cedar wood barn he built in the hills of Marin. Drenched in light and surrounded by expansive views, it lends serenity to any shoot day.
When not on the job, Michal runs his own little farm on the property, raising sheep and tending to his 300 olive trees. That is, of course, if he’s not traveling or pursuing new pieces for his art collection.
In true artist style, he also lives part time on a reclaimed tugboat in Sausalito, just across from San Francisco. There you might find him indulging his daily water skiing habit, dodging the heavy marine craft on Richardson Bay.
