TEXARKANA MONTHLY
hours to complete and they are all done entirely by himself. He works meticulously, using a tripod, to get each angle and pose just the way he wants them and then works the rest of his magic with his computer. “I always try my hardest to be true to myself and honest and pursue ideas that challenge me mentally and as an artist.” As has been true of many of the Renaissance Men of the past, Michael’s skills have been self-taught. Besides a handful of graphic design classes in college, he’s never had formal training for photo, video, or editing. Life, exploration, and a willingness to try new things were all the ingredients necessary to set this high-tech mastermind on his way. “I learned how to shoot and edit videos by just playing around with the equipment at my church in 7th grade. Back then, YouTube didn’t exist, and the internet wasn’t anything like it is now, so I didn’t have too many resources or tutorials to help me learn. It was a long process. I’m continually learning new things and one of my mantras
COMFORT by Michael Ulmer
to me. It was my leap into the unknown and I remember looking at it after I finished it and being like, ‘I made that?’ and feeling so accomplished. It has my child (dog), Aria, in it, who passed away a few months after the photo, so it’s even extra special.” Michael
said. “I also love the piece ‘Comfort’ from this year, because the message is so much bigger than myself. It caused me to do a lot of self-reflection, and I had no clue if I could actually pull it off. It was a huge challenge.” On average, each piece takes Michael 12-20
25
COMMUNITY & CULTURE
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