BIOGRAPHY
American, b. 1960
Michael Kahn is a photographer whose luminous and powerful images represent his two life-long passions: the ocean and classic sailing yachts. He travels the globe to produce his series of work. He hand prints his images using a process he developed over many years researching and working in the darkroom. Michael’s warm, sepia-toned images are unique and demonstrate his expertise as a fine printer.
As a lover of nature, the sea, and sailboats, Michael’s work perpetuates the beauty and majesty of our all too-fragile environment and celebrates the architecture of sailing vessels and those who preserve them.
Michael Kahn’s works are also held in both private and large corporate collections, such as McGraw Hill, Liberty Property Trust, and MBNA Bank. He photographed, under assignment, for EXXON, DuPont de Nemours Company, and Nations Bank Visa. His prints are seen in set designs for films by MGM, his still shots appear in the Warner Brothers film, Message in a Bottle, and were used in the James Bond film, "Die another Day".
Michael has been profiled and his images showcased in prominent magazines and newspapers such as National Geographic, Coastal Living, Architectural Digest, Classic Boat, Sailing World, the New York Times, and the The Wall Street Journal. Michael recently published two new books, Sailboats and East Coast Atlantic Beaches.
As a lover of nature, the sea, and sailboats, Michael’s work perpetuates the beauty and majesty of our all too-fragile environment and celebrates the architecture of sailing vessels and those who preserve them.
Michael Kahn’s works are also held in both private and large corporate collections, such as McGraw Hill, Liberty Property Trust, and MBNA Bank. He photographed, under assignment, for EXXON, DuPont de Nemours Company, and Nations Bank Visa. His prints are seen in set designs for films by MGM, his still shots appear in the Warner Brothers film, Message in a Bottle, and were used in the James Bond film, "Die another Day".
Michael has been profiled and his images showcased in prominent magazines and newspapers such as National Geographic, Coastal Living, Architectural Digest, Classic Boat, Sailing World, the New York Times, and the The Wall Street Journal. Michael recently published two new books, Sailboats and East Coast Atlantic Beaches.
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS:
2019, Gallerina Silecchia, Sarasota, FL
2019, LIGHT water + stone, MASSONIART, Chestertown, MD
2018, Stanhope and Spencer, Rockland, ME
2017, “Spirit of the Sea” Martin Gallery, Charleston, SC
2017, “Spirit of the Sea” Sheldon Gallery of Fine Art, Newport, RI
2017, "Set Sail" Preview of the 62nd Annual Arts Festival, Solo Exhibition, South Shore Arts Center, Cohassett, MA
2017, "Summer 2017- Featuring the J Class Revival Photographs" Two-Person Exhibition, Carla Massoni Gallery, Chestertown, MD
2017, "Balancing Act" Two-Person Exhibition, Carla Massoni Gallery, Chestertown, MD
2016, “Photographs of the Sea” Solo Exhibition, Mystic Seaport Museum, Mystic, CT
2016, “Just This” Two-Person Exhibition, Carla Massoni Gallery, Chestertown, MD
2015, “Over the Dunes,” book release, signing, gallery tour, North Water Gallery Martha's Vineyard; Focus Gallery Chatham MA; Martin Gallery, Charleston, SC
2015, “Sailing,” Three-Person Exhibition, Art Complex Museum, Duxbury, MA
2014, “First Light,” Two-Person Exhibition, Carla Massoni Gallery, Chestertown, MD
2014, Gallery talk, Focus Gallery, Chatham, MA
2014, Gallery talk, North Water Gallery, Edgartown, Martha’s Vineyard, MA
2014, “Becalmed,” Two-Person Exhibition, Martin Gallery, Charleston, SC
2013, “Work Zone,” Group Exhibition, Carla Massoni Gallery, Chestertown, MD
2013, “Close to the Edge,” Group Exhibition, Hard Castle Gallery, Centreville, DE
2012, Centennial Juried Exhibition, Delaware Museum of Art, Wilmington, DE
2012, “For the Love of Boats,” Exhibition, Shaw Contemporary Jewelry, Northeast Harbor, ME
2012, “At Night: Images in the half light,” Exhibition, Holden Luntz Gallery, Palm Beach, FL
2012, Art for Embassies 2012 Program, two silver gelatin photographs to the U.S. Embassy, Bahrain
2011, “Darkroom Photography: A Glimpse into Tradition,” North Water Gallery, Martha’s Vineyard, MA
2011-12, Solo Exhibitions, True North Gallery, Kennebunkport, ME
2011-14, Group Exhibitions, Focus Gallery, Chatham, MA
2011, Art by Geneve, A-D Galerie, Switzerland
2011, Biennial Juried Show, Portland Museum of Art, Portland, ME
2010, Exhibition, Martin Gallery, Charleston, SC
2010, Coral Springs Museum of Art, Coral Springs, FL
2010, Exhibition, Salty Dog Gallery, Southwest Harbor, ME
2010, Exhibition, Focus Gallery, Cohasset, MA
2010, “Maine’s Windjammers,” Penobscot Marine Museum, Searsport, ME
2010, Exhibition, Landing Gallery, Rockland, ME
2008, Exhibition, Galerie Aalders, Saint Tropez, France
2005-06, Group Exhibitions, Carla Massoni Gallery, Chestertown, MD
2005, Solo Exhibition, San Diego Maritime Museum, San Diego, CA
2004, Art for Embassies 2004 Program: two silver gelatin photographs to the U.S. Embassy, Katmandu, Nepal
2004, “The Spirit of Sailing,” Kip Marina, Inverkip, Scotland
2004, “The Spirit of Sailing” Solo Exhibition, eight galleries across the U.S.,
2003, “The Spirit of Sailing” Exhibit, Carla Massoni Gallery, Chestertown, MD
2003, “Sun Sand Sea” Exhibit, Carla Massoni Gallery, Chestertown, MD
2002, “Golden Age of Sail,” Solo Exhibition, 8 galleries,
2001, Group Show, Alinder Gallery, Gualala, CA
2001, Labor Day Solo Show, Gardner-Colby Gallery, Edgartown, Martha’s Vineyard, MA
2001, “Light, Wind and Water,” Solo Exhibition, Edward Carter Gallery, Lewes, DE, New York City, NY
1998, Mystic Maritime Gallery, Mystic Seaport Museum, Mystic, CT
1997, Solo Exhibition, The Butler Institute of American Art, Youngstown, OH
1997, “Wooden Ships of Maine,” Solo Exhibition, Harbor Square Gallery, Rockland, ME
1997, Gardner-Colby Gallery, Edgartown, Martha’s Vineyard, MA
1994, “Chiaroscuro,” Two-Person Exhibition, Somerville Manning Gallery, Greenville, DE
1990, Photo Exhibit, Chester County Historical Society, West Chester, PA
COLLECTIONS:
McGraw Hill
Exxon
DuPont de Nemours Company
Nations Bank VISA
MGM
Universal Pictures
Bostonian Shoes
The Territory Ahead
Nu Skin
Liberty Property Trust
MBNA Bank
First USA Bank VISA
Dean Witter Reynolds
Warner Brother
Lukens Steel, Inc.
Starnet, Inc.
Grisko, Inc.
BOOKS:
2020, Sailboats, Schiffer Publishing
2017, "Set Sail" Preview of the 62nd Annual Arts Festival, Solo Exhibition, South Shore Arts Center, Cohassett, MA
2017, "Summer 2017- Featuring the J Class Revival Photographs" Two-Person Exhibition, Carla Massoni Gallery, Chestertown, MD
2017, "Balancing Act" Two-Person Exhibition, Carla Massoni Gallery, Chestertown, MD
2016, “Photographs of the Sea” Solo Exhibition, Mystic Seaport Museum, Mystic, CT
2016, “Just This” Two-Person Exhibition, Carla Massoni Gallery, Chestertown, MD
2015, “Over the Dunes,” book release, signing, gallery tour, North Water Gallery Martha's Vineyard; Focus Gallery Chatham MA; Martin Gallery, Charleston, SC
2015, “Sailing,” Three-Person Exhibition, Art Complex Museum, Duxbury, MA
2014, “First Light,” Two-Person Exhibition, Carla Massoni Gallery, Chestertown, MD
2014, Gallery talk, Focus Gallery, Chatham, MA
2014, Gallery talk, North Water Gallery, Edgartown, Martha’s Vineyard, MA
2014, “Becalmed,” Two-Person Exhibition, Martin Gallery, Charleston, SC
2013, “Work Zone,” Group Exhibition, Carla Massoni Gallery, Chestertown, MD
2013, “Close to the Edge,” Group Exhibition, Hard Castle Gallery, Centreville, DE
2012, Centennial Juried Exhibition, Delaware Museum of Art, Wilmington, DE
2012, “For the Love of Boats,” Exhibition, Shaw Contemporary Jewelry, Northeast Harbor, ME
2012, “At Night: Images in the half light,” Exhibition, Holden Luntz Gallery, Palm Beach, FL
2012, Art for Embassies 2012 Program, two silver gelatin photographs to the U.S. Embassy, Bahrain
2011, “Darkroom Photography: A Glimpse into Tradition,” North Water Gallery, Martha’s Vineyard, MA
2011-12, Solo Exhibitions, True North Gallery, Kennebunkport, ME
2011-14, Group Exhibitions, Focus Gallery, Chatham, MA
2011, Art by Geneve, A-D Galerie, Switzerland
2011, Biennial Juried Show, Portland Museum of Art, Portland, ME
2010, Exhibition, Martin Gallery, Charleston, SC
2010, Coral Springs Museum of Art, Coral Springs, FL
2010, Exhibition, Salty Dog Gallery, Southwest Harbor, ME
2010, Exhibition, Focus Gallery, Cohasset, MA
2010, “Maine’s Windjammers,” Penobscot Marine Museum, Searsport, ME
2010, Exhibition, Landing Gallery, Rockland, ME
2008, Exhibition, Galerie Aalders, Saint Tropez, France
2005-06, Group Exhibitions, Carla Massoni Gallery, Chestertown, MD
2005, Solo Exhibition, San Diego Maritime Museum, San Diego, CA
2004, Art for Embassies 2004 Program: two silver gelatin photographs to the U.S. Embassy, Katmandu, Nepal
2004, “The Spirit of Sailing,” Kip Marina, Inverkip, Scotland
2004, “The Spirit of Sailing” Solo Exhibition, eight galleries across the U.S.,
2003, “The Spirit of Sailing” Exhibit, Carla Massoni Gallery, Chestertown, MD
2003, “Sun Sand Sea” Exhibit, Carla Massoni Gallery, Chestertown, MD
2002, “Golden Age of Sail,” Solo Exhibition, 8 galleries,
2001, Group Show, Alinder Gallery, Gualala, CA
2001, Labor Day Solo Show, Gardner-Colby Gallery, Edgartown, Martha’s Vineyard, MA
2001, “Light, Wind and Water,” Solo Exhibition, Edward Carter Gallery, Lewes, DE, New York City, NY
1998, Mystic Maritime Gallery, Mystic Seaport Museum, Mystic, CT
1997, Solo Exhibition, The Butler Institute of American Art, Youngstown, OH
1997, “Wooden Ships of Maine,” Solo Exhibition, Harbor Square Gallery, Rockland, ME
1997, Gardner-Colby Gallery, Edgartown, Martha’s Vineyard, MA
1994, “Chiaroscuro,” Two-Person Exhibition, Somerville Manning Gallery, Greenville, DE
1990, Photo Exhibit, Chester County Historical Society, West Chester, PA
COLLECTIONS:
McGraw Hill
Exxon
DuPont de Nemours Company
Nations Bank VISA
MGM
Universal Pictures
Bostonian Shoes
The Territory Ahead
Nu Skin
Liberty Property Trust
MBNA Bank
First USA Bank VISA
Dean Witter Reynolds
Warner Brother
Lukens Steel, Inc.
Starnet, Inc.
Grisko, Inc.
BOOKS:
2020, Sailboats, Schiffer Publishing
2020, East Coast Atlantic Beaches, Schiffer Publishing
2015, Over the Dunes, Brilliant Press
2004, The Spirit of Sailing: A Celebration of Sea and Sail: Courage Books
1990, Brandywine, The Jarad Company
MAGAZINES:
2004, The Spirit of Sailing: A Celebration of Sea and Sail: Courage Books
1990, Brandywine, The Jarad Company
MAGAZINES:
41N Magazine
N Magazine
HL Photo, New Arrivals
Chestertown Spy, Interview
The Eye of Photography, Interview
Conde Nast Traveller
Captain’s Guide
Martha’s Vineyard Arts & Ideas
Shadow & Light
Ocean Magagzine, Australia, Lens Flare Feature, January 2015
Adirondack Life, August 2014
Cape Cod HOME, Early Summer 2014
Cruising World Magazine, March 2014
Cape Cod Life 2014 Annual Guide
Dialogs with Great Photographers, Holden Luntz Gallery
Beaufort Magazine, Finland
dodho
Lucky Compiler
Gaastra blog
BoatUS
Classic Yacht
Ocean Magazine
Shutterbug Magazine - website profile
N-D Magazine
Small Craft Advisor
Classic Boat, UK
Elle Decor
WoodenBoat
Photography Journal, Ukraine
Focus Magazine
Fotoform International, Germany
Segeln Magazine, Germany
Coastal Living
Forbes Life
Chesapeake Home
Attaché
Woman’s Day
The Hunt
Classic Boat
Sailing Magazine
Sailing Journal, Germany
The New York Times
Town & Country
Homes & Interiors, Scotland
Homes Plus, Scotland
Photo Technik International, Germany
Maritime Life and Traditions, USA/France
Marine Art Quarterly
Rangefinder Magazine
Chesapeake Bay
Country Living
Sailing World
Cruising World
Delaware Today
Family Circle
Historic Preservation
Latitudes
Mid-Atlantic Country
Mid-Atlantic Magazine
Architectural Digest
The Boats:
Seldom in man’s history have we created something as beautiful and as functional as the sailboat. These boats symbolize more than just basic transportation. They represent the ability of man to work with nature. To harness the power of the wind and endure the strength of the sea is an awesome achievement. Rarely has man made a machine that perfectly meets his needs and is as beautiful and graceful as the sailing vessel.
While modern methods of transportation may appear to be more efficient, their negative impact on our ecosystem is very noticeable, thus raising questions to their long-term impact on our fragile natural world. As to the aesthetics and the romance of sail, few inventions evoke more emotion than the majestic yachts and square rigged ships fighting through storms and calms to reach a new land and deliver its passengers and cargo safely on a new shore.
Through my photographs, I celebrate the esthetic, architectural and emotional qualities of the sailboat and applaud the preservation efforts of the people who sail the classic ships.
The Seascapes:
The location where seas meet land is a magical place. It is where we can see an unobstructed view of the continuously changing power of the ocean. As we gaze out over the water, our minds are allowed to run free. We think of the mighty storms, early discoverers, dream about what lies on the other side, and of the life below the surface.
The seashore is enchanting place where sounds of crashing waves fill our ears and low slanting sunlight illuminates the wind blown spray off the rolling waves. Behind the dunes, covered in sea oats, lay the marshes; teeming with life, they are the nurseries of the sea. Many inhabitants of the seashore are endangered due to man, for we flock to the ocean and its tributaries as we attempt to capture a part of these magical places. These tributaries, marshes, and beaches are home to many species and it is of great importance that we protect these sensitive areas. I try to convey the beauty of the seashore and the importance of its preservation in my photographs.
The Eye of Photography, Interview
Conde Nast Traveller
Captain’s Guide
Martha’s Vineyard Arts & Ideas
Shadow & Light
Ocean Magagzine, Australia, Lens Flare Feature, January 2015
Adirondack Life, August 2014
Cape Cod HOME, Early Summer 2014
Cruising World Magazine, March 2014
Cape Cod Life 2014 Annual Guide
Dialogs with Great Photographers, Holden Luntz Gallery
Beaufort Magazine, Finland
dodho
Lucky Compiler
Gaastra blog
BoatUS
Classic Yacht
Ocean Magazine
Shutterbug Magazine - website profile
N-D Magazine
Small Craft Advisor
Classic Boat, UK
Elle Decor
WoodenBoat
Photography Journal, Ukraine
Focus Magazine
Fotoform International, Germany
Segeln Magazine, Germany
Coastal Living
Forbes Life
Chesapeake Home
Attaché
Woman’s Day
The Hunt
Classic Boat
Sailing Magazine
Sailing Journal, Germany
The New York Times
Town & Country
Homes & Interiors, Scotland
Homes Plus, Scotland
Photo Technik International, Germany
Maritime Life and Traditions, USA/France
Marine Art Quarterly
Rangefinder Magazine
Chesapeake Bay
Country Living
Sailing World
Cruising World
Delaware Today
Family Circle
Historic Preservation
Latitudes
Mid-Atlantic Country
Mid-Atlantic Magazine
Architectural Digest
The Boats:
Seldom in man’s history have we created something as beautiful and as functional as the sailboat. These boats symbolize more than just basic transportation. They represent the ability of man to work with nature. To harness the power of the wind and endure the strength of the sea is an awesome achievement. Rarely has man made a machine that perfectly meets his needs and is as beautiful and graceful as the sailing vessel.
While modern methods of transportation may appear to be more efficient, their negative impact on our ecosystem is very noticeable, thus raising questions to their long-term impact on our fragile natural world. As to the aesthetics and the romance of sail, few inventions evoke more emotion than the majestic yachts and square rigged ships fighting through storms and calms to reach a new land and deliver its passengers and cargo safely on a new shore.
Through my photographs, I celebrate the esthetic, architectural and emotional qualities of the sailboat and applaud the preservation efforts of the people who sail the classic ships.
The Seascapes:
The location where seas meet land is a magical place. It is where we can see an unobstructed view of the continuously changing power of the ocean. As we gaze out over the water, our minds are allowed to run free. We think of the mighty storms, early discoverers, dream about what lies on the other side, and of the life below the surface.
The seashore is enchanting place where sounds of crashing waves fill our ears and low slanting sunlight illuminates the wind blown spray off the rolling waves. Behind the dunes, covered in sea oats, lay the marshes; teeming with life, they are the nurseries of the sea. Many inhabitants of the seashore are endangered due to man, for we flock to the ocean and its tributaries as we attempt to capture a part of these magical places. These tributaries, marshes, and beaches are home to many species and it is of great importance that we protect these sensitive areas. I try to convey the beauty of the seashore and the importance of its preservation in my photographs.