Canadian photographer living in Nanaimo BC Canada
Began photographing in the 1980’s, self taught, influenced by the arts community.
Developed a technique with slide film to create painterly images that became known as the “Orton Effect”. (The digital version is now widely used, Adobe contracting to include a guided action called the “Orton Effect” in Adobe Elements 10 released in the fall 2011.)
1992 - “Once Upon an Island” – Images of Vancouver Island, published by Orca Book Publishers, Victoria BC.
Starting in 1992, Articles on his techniques were published in Popular Photography, Peterson’s Photographic, UK’s Amateur Photographer, and PhotoLife Magazine.
Gallery Shows -- Striking Faces and Mystical Places --- Two person show with photographer Wayne Buhr.
Nanaimo Art Gallery – Nanaimo BC.
Old Schoolhouse Gallery –Qualicum Beach BC.
1993- Invited to sign a contract for stock photography representation with Allstock of Seattle Washington, leading to a contract with Getty Images.
Images licensed worldwide to Ford, Timberland, Microsoft, National Geographic, L’Oreal, Penguin Books, New Yorker Magazine, Oxford University Press, Time Warner, Hallmark, Eastman Kodak, IBM, Samsung, Colbert Report, LG, AOL, Sony, MTV, Toyota, Eddie Bauer, to name a few.
Feature presenter at national photography seminars, Abbotsford Photo Arts 1992, Okanagan Summer School for the Arts 1993, Camera Canada College 1996 and 2000. A love of music was influential in these evocative multimedia presentations.
2001 - “Photographing Creative Landscapes”, published by Amherst Media New York.
2009 and 2011 – Podcasts posted on techniques with Marko Kulik on Photography.ca.
He has returned to his roots in the creative side of photography, further exploring intentional camera motion to produce a new series of images. These are the foundation of the ICM galleries on this website.
Another series that he has worked on in the last few years are the reflections on water images.
2011 to present day produces videos with original soundtracks, available for viewing in HD on YouTube channel- michaelortonphoto
ICM -- The Liquid Landscape, A Walk in the Palm Grove, Illusion.
Videography – River of Light, Surface, Focus
Music creations uploaded regularly to Soundcloud.
Our Story
I am a husband, father, grandfather and photographer. A camera has been a part of me for a large part of my adult life and has taken Mary and I on a wonderful ride. In 1992 Orca Book Publishers published our first book “Once Upon an Island” and as luck would have it, the owner of a stock agency found it in a bookstore in Seattle and our 20 year stock photography career began.
Once Upon an Island contained some of my first painterly impressionistic images, which have since become referred to as “Orton Imagery” by other photographers. (I believe Darwin Wiggett started this reference)
Adobe Elements 10 was released, containing a UI to allow a computer generated version of this effect calling it the “Orton Effect”
Early in my career I had begun working with a dissolve / projector / music presentations, allowing audiences to experience the combination of music and imagery in the theatre setting. Camera Canada and Abottsford Photographic Seminars, Okanagan School of the Arts. University of Victoria, Vancouver Island University Theater were some of the venues.
In 2000, “Photographing Creative Landscapes” was published by Amherst Media. This book presented a look at creativity as it pertains to photography from my own experience. At the heart of my path is what I refer to as the “inner conversation”, the flow of questions and answers that is the source of my responses and actions and the resulting images.
We have made our home in Nanaimo BC Canada for the last 45+ years, with our 2 sons and families close by.
Artists Statement
While I appreciate and understand the defined moment, I have sought to reach beyond the parameters of documentation. For me, it is important to see my surroundings as simply raw material. The sense of freedom and empowerment that this has given me continue to provide inspiration. I have recently returned to exploring Intentional Camera Movement, blending color and line, looking beyond the obvious image to produce works that have renewed my passion for photography. The vast color combinations and unique variations of light found in the natural landscape, used with the wide variety of choices in compound camera motion provide an exciting challenge.
“There is a place within each of us that holds the hope that we may hear for even a few moments, a chord or a chorus of that which has inspired painters, sculptors, poets, musicians, writers and photographers to reach beyond themselves. Listen carefully and you can hear it, though sometimes faint in our modern world. Stand on a hilltop, walk the autumn woods, feel the wave driven mist, touch a frosted leaf and a few notes are yours. If it were possible to capture enough notes and release them in a flood, you would hear an ethereal work beyond belief.”
Michael Orton -- Earth symphony
Music
The soundtracks used with michael's videos are from his original compositions.
One exception is the soundtrack of "River of Light", with permisions granted and credit given to the owner
Michael's More recent music compositions can be found on Soundcloud