About ten years ago I decided to take a weekend workshop with Michael A. Smith and his wife Paula Chamlee. But first we communicated via email due to the fact that I was a kosher vegetarian. That is because both he and Paula were very interested my somewhat interesting food regimen and wanted to make sure that anything they served me would meet my dietary requirements.  This discourse went on for a number of emails and I finally did make it to their workshop. It was a great weekend and I really ate well!

I owe a number of things to Michael and Paula. It was while driving through Doylestown on route that I discovered completely by accident exactly where I would like to live! And then there was the action packed weekend I spent assisting him print some 100 photographs for a book and show on the city of Chicago.  I’ve worked for three Undersecretaries of State, held a senior position in the Executive Office of the President, and negotiated with the Soviets, but this was intense! Have you ever got up and started printing shortly after the crack of dawn and pretty much gone straight through the day until late at night?  I did … once. I learned a lot from a Master printing for several days in a row, while barely coming up for air.

We stayed in contact over the years. I visited them a number of times and attended events related to exhibits of their work at the Michener Museum. I couldn’t afford Michael’s prints but I was lucky enough to own several wonderful books of his and Paula’s work, as well as others they printed and published through their Lodima Press.

Earlier this year Michael suffered a stroke. I visited him and Paula while he was at recuperating at Doylestown Hospital and kept in contact with Paula afterwards. A couple of months ago I saw them at a lecture at the Michener Museum for View Finders: Four Photographic Voices, a wonderful show that included their photographs. Shortly after that I met for coffee with Paula and gratefully accepted hand delivery of their two new books, Iceland: A Personal View, Vol. 1 and 2.  Michael was doing better and there were a number plans in the offing. But a little over two weeks ago I learned of Michael’s passing and subsequently received the following email that I want to share:

“It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of a true visionary, Michael A. Smith, Founder of Lodima Press.Michael’s passion for making, promoting, and teaching photography remained sincere and strong throughout his more than 50-year career as a leading figure in fine-art photography. As a result, Michael was known internationally as a brilliant photographer and as an extraordinary teacher, theorist, critic, and publisher. No matter which hat he wore at any given time, Michael never tired of giving his time, knowledge, and passion to the visual arts.

Moreover, Michael always dreamed big. His greatest dream (indeed, his ultimate dream) was to continue giving back to the world of photography—a world that had given him so much success, sense of purpose, and simple joy. In particular, Michael wanted to give back by fostering scholarship, organizing exhibitions, and advocating appreciation, not only in photography but also to allied areas of the visual arts.

Before his passing and, most movingly, since then, many people around the world who knew Michael, his work, and his mission have asked what they can do to make the dream come true. If you feel motivated to contribute to that essential effort, please make a donation to Arts of Our Time, the not-for-profit organization that Michael founded in 2003. By contributing, you will enable Paula Chamlee, his wife, partner in the arts, and AOT co-founder, to honor Michael’s memory, ensure his legacy, and keep his dream alive for the benefit of future generations of visual artists as well as for the many people who care deeply about the arts.

A memorial service is being planned at the Michener Art Museum in Doylestown to celebrate his life and work. The date is yet to be determined, but will take place sometime after the holidays.”

At the View Finders: Four Photographic Voices lecture both he and Paula presented a wonderful distillation of their approach to photography and what is important to them for making great images. From a previous posting, here are the highlights of what Michael said:

• An important point of photography is to have an experience; it’s much more than just clicking the shutter. Their way of working is quite the opposite of the digital capture routine.
• Neither he nor Paula worries about what time of the day they make photographs. Photographs are made whenever they present themselves.
• Always be aware of the spaces in the photograph using the edges and the corners to define the boundaries.
• Everything in the photograph is important and must be in the right place.
• When photographing people with the view camera everything and everyone has to be in the right place at the right time; you have to wait for the right moment when everything relates to one and other as you only have one shot.
• When photographing he has no preconceptions and never has any idea of what he will photograph.

As I have previously said, if you are unfamiliar with Michael and Paula’s work you need to check out their website ( http://www.michaelandpaula.com) or their many beautifully printed books. Of course it’s best to see the real prints. Their photographs are beautiful and the print quality is incredible! Both use large format cameras and primarily contact print from 8×20 (Michael) and 8×10 (Paula) black and white negatives using their own Lodima silver chloride contact paper.

Michael was an outstanding photographer, wonderful teacher, critical thinker and a true visionary. He did much to inspire others to take up large format photography, kept important photographic materials alive and published a wide range outstanding books of his and Paula’s work, as well as that of other important photographers. He was a genuine original with a true passion for art and life. I was lucky to know him and experience his vision.