Born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canadian photographer Michael Tompkins, 41, has called Nova Scotia home since the age of two. In 1990 he opened a pizza restaurant in Truro, but after 10 years developing an eye for detail among the pepperoni and peppers, sold the business to concentrate full time on the craft he loves: photography. In preparation for his photography career, he studied with Greg Ruzzin at the Workshops, Rockport, Maine, and although recommended for admission to the Art Center in Pasadena, California, by respected and influential photographer Mary Ellen Mark, chose to attend the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design in Halifax. In the early stages of his career Michael acted as assistant to photographer Stephen Chung, and took color landscape photographs under the influence of famed New Brunswick photographer Freeman Patterson. Michaelís work has caught the attention of photographic icons such as Robert Frank and June Leaf, who have given him unreserved encouragement. Since 2003 Michael has been the stills photographer for Trailer Park Boys, one of Canada's most successful television comedy series. In 2004 he signed a three-year contract with filmmagic.com, a Los Angeles-based agency specializing in celebrity photography. Michael's work has taken him across ...
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