Interview with Member Artist Mike Buchheit

What is your medium and why did you chose it?

Photography. I like the immediacy of this art form, and the fact that it lends itself so well to widespread distribution (social media etc.).

How long have you been making art?

I've been an artist in one sense or another my entire life. I have been a fine art photographer since moving, taking up residence in Grand Canyon National Park in 1994.

Where do you get your inspiration?

I am primarily a landscape and wildlife photographer. Mother Nature is my main inspiration.

What does your studio look like?

A Macintosh computer and a few external hard drives containing backups of my entire photo collection.

What is your favorite time of day to make art?

As a landscape photographer, my best shots have occurred during the golden hour (one hour before/after sunrise/sunset). The angled sunlight often provides lovely hues and shadows during these windows.

Do you listen to music or have complete silence when you work?

Natural quiet is a natural resource in my mind, and should be protected as such for all humankind. I rarely listen to music when on a shoot.

Describe your creative process.

I'm a cloud chaser. I watch weather forecasts, prevailing skies, and unique cloud buildups and formations when choosing where/when to set up my tripod. I try to compose every shot (despite relying on digital cameras that are low cost to operate after initial investment). Once back in my studio, I go through the my photos w/ a critical eye. Deleting the duds. Playing with the promising captures. I save and catalog the latter, and spend my free time looking for opportunities to sell or showcase my work both online and in-person.

What else would you like people to know about you or your art?

The Grand Canyon has been my primary subject matter for thirty years. I do shoot other locales -- and when I do so, I strive to put forth a "new take" on visually popular places, rather than recreate the shots of others. Also, my art supports a healthy lifestyle of hiking, fresh air, and always exploring new places.