Portrait of Michael Kirchoff

More than a decade ago, I created a series of interviews spotlighting the individuals who help sustain the photographic ecosystem: curators, gallerists, editors, festival directors, reviewers, and the many people photographers encounter along their creative journeys. I called the series MIXTAPES, borrowing from the idea of a carefully assembled collection that is personal, eclectic, and revealing. The interviews were intended to offer insight into the people working behind the scenes, shaping conversations around contemporary photography while often remaining outside the spotlight themselves.

It feels especially fitting to revive the series with my longtime friend Michael Kirchoff . These days, Kirchoff seems to be everywhere at once: photographer, juror, reviewer, curator, editor, mentor, and creative connector. There is scarcely a corner of the photographic community that he has not touched in some meaningful way. Living in Los Angeles, our paths have crossed and intertwined for nearly twenty years, including a memorable trip together to China for a photography festival in 2011. Through it all, Michael has remained a deeply generous and optimistic presence. He is someone who consistently supports artists and fosters community with intelligence, humor, and enthusiasm. I can think of few people more deserving of recognition.

First and foremost, however, Michael is a photographer with significant and deeply personal bodies of work. When he is not earning his living as a commercial photographer, often working behind the scenes on television and film productions, he is traveling the world creating long-form projects such as An Enduring Grace and Sanctuary. His photographs reflect a particular spiritual sensitivity to place, with his signature off kilter focus that comes from large format photography. Whether working commercially or artistically, Kirchoff approaches image-making with curiosity and empathy, qualities that also define the many other roles he occupies within the photography world.

©Michael Kirchoff, Castle Gate, from Gothic Heart

©Michael Kirchoff, Maarjamäe War Memorial, from An Enduring Grace

©Michael Kirchoff, Motherland Calls Clearing Storm, from An Enduring Grace

©Michael Kirchoff, Plaza Mayor Salamanca, from El Encanto de España

©Michael Kirchoff, Redwood, 2000, from Sanctuary

©Michael Kirchoff, Road to Red Square, from An Enduring Grace

©Michael Kirchoff, Trona Pinnacles, 2017, from Sanctuary

©Michael Kirchoff, Victory Trailhead, 2016, from Sanctuary

Kirchoff has spent his years capturing the still image of people, cultures, and landscapes from around the world, to around the block, with a very unique and distinctive style. A native Californian, Kirchoff resides in Los Angeles, though equally at home trudging through Redwood forests, riding the rails deep into Siberia, or navigating the chaotic streets of Tokyo. He photographs with many types of cameras and film, from a clunky toy camera to the latest digital model, using each as a tool for a specific use. Michael’s fine art imagery has garnered recognition from the International Photography Awards, the Prix de la Photographie in Paris, Photographers Forum, and Critical Mass. His work has been published in Harper’s, Black & White (U.S.), Black & White (U.K.), Seities, Esquire (Russia), New Statesman, Blur, Adore Noir, Fraction, SHOTS, Diffusion Annual, and Lenscratch. He also continues to exhibit his work internationally in both solo and group exhibitions, including prints in the public collection of the Wende Museum in Los Angeles, California, and the Lishui Photography Museum in Lishui, China. Michael was also an active Board Member for the L.A. chapter of the American Photographic Artists from 2006-2016 and was Editor at Blur Magazine from 2014 – 2018. Currently, he is also Editor in Chief at Analog Forever Magazine, Founding Editor at Catalyst: Interviews, Contributing Editor for the One Twelve Publishing online column, Traverse, and Co-Host of The Diffusion Tapes podcast. The wisest words Michael ever gleaned from his father were to do what you love as your life’s work. Truer words have never been spoken.

Analog Forever, Edition 4. Chris McCaw on the cover.

Tell us about your growing up and what brought you to photography.

Using cameras and making photographs was something I had frequently been doing from an early age. I have vivid memories of a school field trip to the San Gabriel Mission in California where I was the only one with a camera. I remember organizing group shots and taking fly-on-the-wall images of classmates the whole time. I don’t remember learning anything from the trip – only specific moments being behind the camera and having a blast. I don’t know where the camera came from, but it was highly likely that my father gave it to me. I suppose I was around seven or eight years old. Shortly after that, my father purchased a Polaroid SX-70 camera, and well, I think those who know me or my work would understand that that was a critical time for me. That camera was pure magic. I was hooked on it and continuously used up all of the available film I could get my hands on. I’ve found one photograph from 1979 that I’ll share here. I even titled and dated it at the time. You’d think that I had already started thinking about presentation and a professional life in the arts. Basically, all of the feeling and nuance (and darkness) of this photograph are how I often operate to this day. It’s about mystery and what you can’t see. I love that. Polaroid is still the most often used material in much of my personal work. I guess I’m a slow learner…

Michael Kirchoff as a child “The first time I ever wore a tie.”

Michael Kirchoff as a child, on Easter, “The last time I ever wore a tie.”

Savannah Group: The first organized group photo I ever made. 4th grade field trip.

©Michael Kirchoff, An early incarnation of my creative process with Polaroid film. Before I even knew what that was. 1979 Polaroid, Palm Springs

What is your title and job description and tell us about a typical day? (I know you have a variety of hats here)

Can I just write LOL here? Ok, fine, I’ll do my best to edit it down into something consumable for your readers…

Photography is my profession, my hobby, and my side hustle. I’m a commercial and fine art photographer as my day to day efforts go.

BTS, shooting The Bachelor group photo. Credit: Mollie Hewell

BTS, shooting The Bachelor group photo. Credit: Mollie Hewell

Holidays at the Universal Studios Backlot.

Jonathan Banks is way tougher.

Working through pandemic times. Sadly, I did not make the cut.

Waiting impatiently for Sharon & Ozzy, 2002.

Random Stage Portrait, Warner Bros. Studios (I think).

My buddy Norman and me. Universal Studios Backlot.

I also participate in a few side projects of a photographic nature. They include:

 Founding Editor of Catalyst: Interviews. Basically, a written blog of interviews with other photographers that I admire and learn from. The tagline goes “Interviews on the creative process, from photographers with vision, expertise, and knowledge to share and inspire.” The site is approaching 100 interviews. I’ve conducted far more than that, but not all are posted yet. Keep an eye on it – you’ll be glad you did.

Catalyst: Interviews early 2024 featured photographers.

Editor in Chief of Analog Forever Magazine. This includes both a robust website of feature articles, interviews, book reviews, and online exhibitions for the film and alternative/historical process lover. We also put out a bi-annual print journal that contains six features, four interviews, and a gallery of photographs in each edition. We do our utmost to make this a publication that we would love to be in ourselves, so hopefully that translates to plenty of happy creatives who have appeared there. We are currently about to put out our tenth edition. We do one print run and that is all. This is why we refer to each one as an edition. Our Founder and my partner at the magazine is Michael Behlen, and it was his initial idea for the project. He is the engine that keeps it all running. I just supply the fuel.

Analog Forever, Edition 6. Deborah Parkin on the cover.

Shipping out Edition 8 of Analog Forever

Contributing Editor at One Twelve Publishing. I had my own feature column, called Traverse, as well as wrote several features for their Poignant Portfolios articles. After my four years there, it has recently shut down so their hallowed founder, Blue Mitchell, could spend much needed time on family and new business endeavors with his talented wife. He needed the break after so much time and energy promoting other artists. However, he did keep one outside project going, which is…

Early article listing for the Traverse column on One Twelve Publishing’s website.

The Diffusion Tapes. I’m merely the co-host. Blue started it a few years ago and put out one season before the pandemic said time out. After hanging out during Photolucida a couple years ago, he asked my to join forces there. I was quite unsure of my abilities as a podcaster, but it has been a lot of fun and laughs. We get to talk to creative colleagues about life and all things photographic. How amazing is that?!

Blue Mitchell and me working on The Diffusion Tapes podcast.

Genius advertising for The Diffusion Tapes. Courtesy of Blue Mitchell.

I also do a lot of portfolio reviews for various groups and organizations around the country, as well as for the magazine. These happen both in-person and online. Occasionally, I’ll do some mentoring as time (Ha!) permits.

I’ve also written for a few artist monographs, with the latest one (still a secret) coming out soon. I do have a very hard time calling myself a writer, since I never studied to do it. Like a lot of things though, I just decided to go for it to see what happens. If I fail, I figure I’ll learn something along the way and apply it to any future projects.

Sometimes in bio’s I’ll just write ”Advocate of the Photographic Arts,” as my title. It’s both accurate and vague enough at the same time. I like that.

Typical day? No such thing. Read through that list again. The only constant might be the coffee intake.

What are some of your proudest achievements?

 One would be when I no longer cared about what defines success. I don’t believe that anyone can tell you if you are one or not. I suppose then that my proudest achievement might be when I realized that everything I have, from home, to my strongest relationships, to travels, to my past, present, and future, all come from my life in photography. It’s a very satisfying feeling. I set out for a life in this field when I was a teenager, and somehow it worked out better than I thought it could. It has been a lot of hard work, but I’m also very fortunate to have worked with so many other talented individuals along the way.

Aruba, 1997. I didn’t see the posted danger sign until after this was taken.

What are your goals for yourself and your projects? 

Honestly, all of the side projects I maintain are about creativity, learning, and giving back to the community that has embraced me over the years. The goal will always be to keep them going as long as I am physically and mentally able. Working with other creatives is an extremely heartfelt endeavor, and my hope is that others will learn and grow from what I might put out into the universe. Sounds very cliché, I know, but it’s definitely how I engage with this community. We all need some help at times, and if it can be me that provides that, then I can sit back in my chair, sip my coffee, and relax a little. Oh, and if I can laugh a bunch along the way, all the better!

Any advice for photographers wanting to elevate their practice?

 Three things:

 Diversify: Never stop learning – and if it’s about yourself, all the better. Take as many opportunities as you can. If the opportunities don’t show up, make your own.

 Collaborate: Be kind and work with those you admire. You can’t have all the skills, so join forces with those of a similar mindset.

 Persevere: If someone says no to you – move on. And don’t let it bother you – you don’t have time for that shit. I always tell people that your audience is out there, but it’s up to you to find them.

Best advice for attending a portfolio review?

Be yourself and know how to describe your work. Have a clear idea about what you want from the reviewer. Be mindful that this is what you hope to be the beginning of a much longer conversation. And if there are any results, they often don’t show up for months or years, so pace yourself. Follow up after the review and stay in touch in a respectable way.

What is something unexpected that we don’t know about you?

 Your question is the answer. I prefer to be unpredictable. I try to fly under the radar as much as possible. For as much as people think I have my hands in a lot of projects, there are far, far more things I’m doing that I keep to myself. I don’t feel at all important, so any attention I get is sometimes received with embarrassment (though I am most certainly thankful for it). I like to just get my work done to the best of my abilities and move on to what’s next.

Alabama Hills self-portrait. A frequent destination.

Damn, I miss Haley.

Working on an oil rig in the middle of Lake Maracaibo, Venezuela, 1997.

“Working” in the Venezuelan jungle, 1997.

And since this is a Mixtape, what is your favorite song, band, and do you dance?

Maybe Pink Floyd or Black Sabbath. Their creativity in the face of adversity knew no bounds.

I’ve joked in the past that I have Triumph’s Fight the Good Fight playing in my head every day. Look it up.

Dance seriously? No. Dance around for a goof or to make myself or someone else laugh? Definitely.

And now we turn the turn-tables over to Michael for the final words…..

I’ve enjoyed myself immensely while working this bonkers field. The problem is that I have no idea of how to stop moving forward with the things I do. I’m always looking for more. I have a problem with turning down opportunities or offers. I get very overwhelmed at times. Time management will forever be my struggle. However, to do it differently would be insane to me, as this is what I enjoy. It’s just how I operate.

Most of all, I would want it to be known that I have done none of this by myself. The support system that has surrounded me has be absolutely critical to keeping me going. The list of people that I have the honor of engaging with on a frequent basis is extensive. It is to them that I owe everything. My thanks also to everyone taking the time to read this, and to Lenscratch for the opportunity to blather on like I do. If anyone needs a refund on the time lost here, email me and I’ll see what I can do. Cheers!

Shhhhh…incognito.

Thank you Michael, for all you do for photography!