About MMFA

Michael Milner

FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHER/ARTIST

My passion for creating often drives me to rise before dawn, braving the bitter cold to hike long distances in pursuit of a single photograph. I’ll admit — I’m not a morning person. But when inspiration calls, that passion overpowers every discomfort and inconvenience. For over 25 years, since the day I first picked up a camera, this creative fire has fueled my journey, no matter the time of day.

The path to earning a living through photography is not an easy one. To share your deeply personal vision with the world is both exhilarating and daunting. Passion is only the first step in a long chain of skills required to turn dreams into a career. The journey demands risk, resilience, and the courage to face rejection. Yet, I believe life’s highs and lows, its unexpected twists and turns, add challenge, depth, and ultimately, great reward—especially when dreams come to life.

This may read like an “About Me,” and in some ways it is. But really, it’s about a question I still wrestle with: what drives me? Am I defined by successes or failures? In truth, a little of both. But the reality is, I’m still a work in progress—constantly evolving, striving toward the person I want to become.

At my core is a commitment to kindness, compassion, and a profound appreciation for the beauty of this world. Photography is part of that journey, giving me a way to explore and celebrate my connection to the environment and the greater universe we all share. The grand design of this existence is endlessly inspiring, and I feel I’ve only just begun to scratch the surface of what’s possible.

As a child, I saw school as a chore. The final bell meant freedom—freedom to escape into the bushland near my home, exploring gullies, ridges, and hidden hideaways. It wasn’t until later in life that formal education found its true place in my story. I completed night classes to earn my diploma, which led me to university and eventually a degree in Archaeology. It was a summer course in Hawaii, however, that changed everything—igniting my passion for photography and inspiring me to change my major. Exchanging the rigid structures of academia for the self-directed exploration of light was liberating, exhilarating, and life-changing.

Since then, photography has carried me on a remarkable journey, filling a void left by my former career in engineering. Where it leads next, I cannot say—and that is its greatest gift. Every day holds the potential for discovery, each moment through the lens offering something unexpected. Tomorrow, I’ll pick up my camera again, eager to see where it takes me.