Platinum Print Photography by Michael Cantwell
Born in Kentucky, raised in New Jersey, and educated in Philadelphia, I have spent most of my life in South Florida. This diverse background might help explain why it took me years to discover my passion for fine art photography. Balancing a full-time job, a side career in writing novels, and raising a family while watching my grandkids explore the world has shaped my artistic journey. As John Lennon once sang, "Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans."
I still relish wandering the banks of the local lake with my camera and lens in hand, striving to capture that magic moment, whether it's my grandson's radiant smile or his fleeting disappointment. My mission as a photographer is as vast as the night sky, yet my real aspiration is to create something enduring, a legacy that can be cherished across generations.
My current labor of love focuses on platinum palladium prints, a photographic method celebrated for its permanence, tonal depth, and material integrity. Each of my projects culminates in hand-coated platinum prints, made from the original negative and processed entirely by hand—distinctive features of Michael Cantwell photography. Unlike contemporary photographic printing, the platinum printing process embeds the image in the fibers of the paper itself, resulting in artworks renowned for their stability and subtlety. With proper care, platinum prints rank among the most enduring of photographic works, boasting an expected lifespan of centuries.
As life has slowed, so has my work in fine art photography. Creating platinum palladium prints requires a slow and deliberate approach. This meticulous process does not permit automation or mass production; each print is made individually, demanding careful preparation and development. Subtle variations are inherent to the process and celebrated as part of each work's character, rather than seen as imperfections.
Like my grandsons, each image represents a limited edition. However, unlike them, each print comes signed, dated, and accompanied by a Letter of Authenticity that documents the process, edition number, and date of printing. Once an edition is complete, no further platinum prints of that image will be created—period.
My photographs aim to exist as physical objects with extended lives, rather than disposable digital snapshots lost in the sea of social media. Each is a unique expression that harmonizes historical photographic traditions with a contemporary practice.
I believe my work will gain meaning over time, care, and presence, which the platinum process uniquely preserves. I’ve already told my grandsons that I fully expect them to pass down the one-of-a-kind portraits I've taken of each of them, framed in their homes. I hope to do the same for you.
