About Michael Goltz
By: Sonja Steward
Michael Goltz is a dynamic photographer and gifted painter who hails from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania . In 1990, while in high school, he discovered his passion in photography while learning to shoot on a manual film SLR camera. Michael has worked professionally in digital portraiture for nearly a decade. Michael’s natural talent as a gifted painter has been his secret weapon for having a keen eye in photography. This multi-talented artist is as amazing with a paintbrush in his hand, as he is with a camera. He has completed remarkable canvas pieces and panels in the style of Byzantine Iconography, since September 1996. His mastery in the artform has afforded him the opportunity share his knowledge of the subject for 7 years with a student. He has taught college credited art classes.
This ever busy modern Renaissance man, has recently, began expanding his paintings and drawings to include modern abstract art. His notable art work has been published in many books, textbooks, magazines, and on greeting cards. Michael’s photography has been published in magazines as well. Since 2009, his skills in photography have allowed him to work with over 300 clients. Some of his clients have included Google Maps, PBS, Gran Marnier, Guiness, Captain Morgan, Duquesne University, The Archdiocese of Western Pennsylvania of the Orthodox Church in Amercia, and PetCo. He is a go to photographer for established models, or those aspiring to be. Aside from commercial print, he has an extensive list of private individuals who he has collaborated with on various projects. Some of Michael’s professional photographing events have included the Ordinations of Eastern Orthodox Bishops, Priests and Deacons, over 30 Weddings, Baptisms, Sporting Events, Concerts and countless Fashion Shows.
While Michael excels in event photography, he feels that his best work is done when working with models. Model photography enables Michael to explore ideas and themes with subjects who are trained, or instinctively, understand how to properly pose for the camera. Thus enabling him to create beautiful images.
While photographing events, Michael thoroughly enjoys taking photos of people who are taking selfies of themselves and plans to one day publish a book of these collected images. Michael also enjoys pet photography of the most adorable animals. When rescuing stray kittens he would give them a flea bath and get the kittens to eat solid food before finding them homes. During the flea bath Michael would often photograph the kittens in various stages of swimming in the bathwater. Michael also enjoys including his dogs in on his model shoots.
When not working with photography and art, Michael enjoys spending time with his cocker spaniels, the music of Billy Joel and Pink Floyd, as well as 80s rock. He writes a blog about undoing the personal struggles of his childhood, his photography and his art. He received a Bachelor of Arts in 20th Century German History. He also speaks and reads fluent German. Although he came just short of completing a BA in Philosophy it still plays a major role in his life.
Michael enjoys travelling and has, of course, visited Germany 3 times. He plans to write a book comparing the similarities of Byzantine Art, the Propaganda Art of the 3rd Reich, and the Art of Norman Rockwell. In addition, Michael also enjoys puffing cigars and drinking India Pale Ale. Of course, as a true Pittsburgher, he is an avid fan of the Steelers and Penguins. Due to his sharing his birthday of August 11th with the feast of his favorite icon, The Face of Christ not Made by Hands, Michael’s favorite number is 11. He also thoroughly enjoys the joke from the movie “This is Spinal Tap” about the amplifiers going up to 11, because 11 is one louder than ten.
Michael’s work can be seen at facebook.com/goltzphoto/, facebook.com/pencilopus/, facebook.com/goltzicons/, blog @ https://medium.com/@michaelmgphotographygoltz, @goltzphoto on Twitter and michael.goltz on IG.
NB: Every article that I post on my blog is written by me. This is the single exception. It was written by a friend based on information that I supplied to her. It will be published in the Feb 2018 edition of Gold Star Magazine along with a photo layout of me. In the same edition there will be a photo layout of my friend, the model Hope Whittier (of MOSTLY my photos) with an essay which I wrote about her. Fun Stuff!
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