User:Michael Slade
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So it seems if I'm going to be a contributor to the Wikipedia I need to create a user page. Not sure what it all means, but it seems important, so here goes.
I'm a 38 years old, live in Riverton, Utah, USA, with my wife and two children. I have a BA from Utah State University in '95, and am working on my MFA, also from Utah State University. I anticipate finishing the program in spring of '08.
I have been a commercial photographer for 15 years, having worked for major newspapers, wire services, magazines and news agencies. I am currently just calling myself a 'photographer' which is different from being a 'commercial photographer' in that my goals with my photography right now are not solely commercial based (i.e. making a buck), but are also heavly involved in Fine Art photography (do a Wiki on Fine Art to see how much a load of bunk that phrase is). In any case, my MFA degree will allow me to teach at the university level and be a tenure-track professor.
I am currently an adjunct professor at BYU-Idaho in Rexburg, and also at BYU in Provo, Utah. I am also teaching classes in photography at Utah State University in Logan as part of my MFA studies.
My thesis project while studying is a broad photographic documentation of Utah's Great Salt Lake. For my artists statement and to see the project on-line, you may visit it here:
I also have a website for my commercial photography, located here:
My hobbies range from cooking, map reading, exploring, off-road driving, and building and modifying custom Land Rovers to allow me to photograph in remote locations.
I am a member of the LDS church.
I am rather conservative, but being in the 'arts', have a bit of a social conscience that some might say borders on being a moderately luke-warm, liberal thinking, free-minded, photographic image maker. (interpret freely)
I grew up in Nibley, Utah. My father taught animal science at USU, my mother taught voice. So, I was raised feeding horses, taking piano lessons, and playing in the band in high school. I graduated from Mountain Crest in Hyrum, Utah, in 1987.
I served an LDS mission to Seoul, South Korea.
I have been back to South Korea one time, working for the Sygma Photo Agency and Newsweek magazine covering the 1992 presidential elections for 6 months. I have plans to return to Seoul and photograph for 3 1/2 weeks this coming spring.
My Korean language skills are *rough*. Most Korean's language skills are also *rough*. Hehe.
As you can see, I try not to take myself too seriously, as this Wiki-introduction probably shows.
