Dr Michael Coyne is an award-winning Australian documentary photographer, photojournalist, author, and Fujifilm X Photographer whose powerful images have captured political, cultural, and humanitarian stories across six continents for some of the world’s leading publications and brands.
Last week on The Camera Life podcast, Justin and Jim got to meet one of their photography heroes, Chris Benny. This week, it was my turn! I first met Dr Michael Coyne at a Fujifilm event in Sydney, Australia, in late 2019.
How I (Greg) met Dr. Michael Coyne;
Being the number one ticket holder for the Fujifilm Fanboy Club (not a real thing), Fujifilm invited me to Sydney for the X-Pro 3 launch in 2019. Dr. Michael Coyne was the keynote speaker and talked about his documentary work and experience with the X Pro range. The event was amazing, and Michael’s talk and images were mesmerising. As it turned out, Michael and I were staying at the same hotel, and after the official event, we spent an evening talking about photography in the hotel bar. It was an experience I will never forget. Imagine my delight, all these years later, to have Dr. Michael Coyne join us for a long chat on The Camera Life podcast.
- Iranian soldiers marching through the city of Tehran on the sixth anniversary of the Islamic Revolution.
- Hooded participants walk through the streets of Alquerias during the Easter Semana Santa procession in Murcia, Spain.
Dr Michael Coyne has done it all! He is an award-winning Australian documentary photographer, photojournalist, author, keynote speaker, university lecturer, and Fujifilm X photographer. He has travelled to countless countries to chase the light and document humanity's ever-changing political, cultural, and environmental impacts. Throughout his career, Michael’s images and stories have appeared in some of the world’s leading newspapers and magazines, and his corporate client list features some heavy hitters! Michael’s most significant assignments have placed him front and centre in some of the world’s most notorious hotspots for hostility, especially towards Western journalists. Despite the dangers and his efforts to avoid being shot (not a joke), Michael’s images are windows into worlds we can only imagine. Images that tell the story of a time and place while honouring the people involved at key moments in history. The human impact seems to catch Michael’s eye the most.
- Female members of the Yi tribe mourn the death of an elderly man in Zhaojue, Sichuan, China.
When it comes to impressive corporate clients, Michael has worked with more than his fair share from Australia and abroad. Over the course of his remarkable career, his clients have included Pepsi, UTC, Exxon, McDonald's, Citibank, Kraft, Ernst & Young, FMC, Fosters, Mayne Group, IBM, Villa Maria Society, NewsCorp, Pacific Dunlop, PricewaterhouseCoopers, ABB, General Motors, and Gateway Computers. From a publication standpoint, Michael’s images and work have featured in Australian and global print publications. Given his proximity and timing for key political and cultural shifts, it’s no wonder his images have appeared so prominently. Michael’s work has graced publications such as Newsweek, Life, Time, National Geographic Magazine, New York Times, Sports Illustrated, Smithsonian, German Geo, French Geo, Paris Match, Madame La Figaro, London Observer Magazine, London Independent Magazine, Travel Holiday, and Vogue. Given the breadth and depth of his work, it’s impressive that Michael shows no sign of slowing down and that his need to chase the light is just as prevalent. He still sees stories that need telling.
- Italo Mondovecchio serenading his favourite chicken on his farm in Castiglione, Tuscany, Italy.
Putting aside the corporate and publication side of his work, Michael is a multi-award-winning photojournalist and documentary photographer whose work has been exhibited in Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, China, South America, and North America. With regards to his achievements and accolades (aside from surviving countless dangerous adventures), Michael has continued to be recognised for his work and its impact. His Australian and international awards include, American National Press Photographers Association, Overseas Press Club of America, FCC Hong Kong Human Rights Certificate, Children's Book of the Year, and the Religious Book of the Year. As if that’s not impressive enough, Michael was also awarded the Centenary Medal by the Australian Government. The Centenary Medal is designed to commemorate 100 years of Australia’s Federation and recognise Australians who have made a significant contribution to Australian society. So it’s a big deal! One of Michael's most significant contributions is to the academic space as a lecturer. Having received his Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD) (By Publication) in Documentary Photography at Griffith University in 2008, he has also taught at RMIT University (Melbourne, Australia), Photographic Studies College (Australia) and Hong Kong University.
- A bride celebrates her Hens Day with friends as they travel on a bus in Northern Victoria – Australia.
- A prison guard performing karaoke for the prisoners at a local jail in Malaybalay, Mindanao, Philippines.
While I sometimes wonder where Michael finds the time or energy to achieve all this, he has also published several books featuring his journey, images, and tales. Kicking it all off is A Life in Documentary Practice - Michael’s PhD doctoral thesis exploring the practice of documentary photography. Michael’s books also include Numurkah Lakes & Roses, Second Spring - The Regeneration of the Jesuits, The Oz Factor, A World of Australians, Contemporary Photographer: Australia - MICHAEL COYNE, The Jew Called Jesus, Tour of Duty - East Timor, Lonely Planet - People Photography, How To be A Child, Armageddon, and VILLAGE Hearing the Grass Grow. VILLAGE is Michael’s most recent book project and one that’s taken him over two decades to achieve. During our conversation, we discussed an image he captured of the last known person speaking a culture’s native language. It was so powerful and shocking when Michael revealed that when that villager died, his language would be lost to time.
- A coal miner rests in a change room at the end of his shift in an underground mine. Parts of his body are covered in coal dust; it was ingrained in his clothes, hands and face. There were also tiny bits of coal embedded in his lips. Xingyu, Yunnan, China.
- Female members of the Yi tribe mourn the death of an elderly man in Zhaojue, Sichuan, China.
“For twenty years I travelled to through six continents and fifty-two countries documenting village life at the beginning of the twenty-first century.
My journey coincided with a worldwide demographic shift- for the first time in history more people now live in cities than in rural areas. Climate change, change of agricultural practices, and globalisation are impacting lives and lifestyles and many of the hamlets and villages scattered throughout the countryside will soon no longer exist.
Indigenous cultures, language, and customs will be likely lost forever.”
- A Nenets Reindeer people camp in the Yamal Peninsula, Siberia, Russia.
As mentioned at the top of this article, having Michael Coyne join us live on The Camera Life podcast was an absolute pleasure and yet another opportunity for me to hear his stories. Michael is a born storyteller, both in how he recounts his adventures and in the powerful messages his images tell. We spoke for nearly three hours about his life’s journey as a visual creative and marvelled at his harrowing and sometimes near-death experiences - all in the pursuit of capturing moments that often shape the world. Chasing the light is one thing. But chasing the light while bullets, land mines, and artillery are firing around you is next level. Actually, it’s several levels above the next level! However, throughout our discussion, it became clear (once again) that Michael’s drive and dedication allow us (in relatively safe Western cultures) to witness, understand, and learn from village folk surviving in a shrinking world, or world leaders who stop at nothing for victory and power. That is the power of photojournalism! Michael’s images, all captured on Fujifilm cameras and lenses, pull back the curtain on ‘how the other half live’; it was an honour to create space for him to share that.
- Luis Maciel is a gaucho, working with his dogs on a ranch in Tacuati, Misiones, Paraguay.
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- Ruziboy, 91 years old, relaxes at home. He was a shepherd for 50 years in Ashraf, Nurata mountains, Uzbekistan.
Find Michael Online:
