Michael Halsband

Michael Halsband is an American photographer. He makes portraits of celebrities, from musicians to artists, and produces work for fashion and lifestyle publications. He has also directed short films, music videos and commercials.

Early life and education Michael Halsband was born in 1956 in New York City. He grew up in Manhattan and at age 10 became interested in photography as a hobby. He took photography classes in high school. In college, he studied psychology but found himself unhappy with his path. When his mother suggested art school, Halsband showed his portfolio of drawings to the School of Visual Arts (SVA) in New York City, but they did not feel his drawing was up to par. When asked if he had anything else to show, Halsband brought them photographs he had made from age 10 to 19 and was accepted into the photography program in 1976. Halsband graduated in 1980 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. Part of his senior thesis at the School of Visual Arts was a series of portraits of singer Klaus Nomi, one of which ended up as the album cover for Nomi's 1981 eponymous debut album.

Photographic career Early beginnings Halsband began photographing professionally in 1978, while still attending SVA. By 1979, he had made enough money to buy his own studio, the Michael Halsband Studio. Among the people Halsband photographed at that time were artist Andy Warhol,

Tour photographer In the summer of 1981, Halsband got an assignment to photograph Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones for the cover of Rolling Stone magazine, and consequently ended up as tour photographer for the Rolling Stones' American Tour in 1981. He would work once again with the band in 1994 on their Voodoo Lounge Tour. In 1982, Halsband went on tour with the Who on their Farewell Tour of North America. He served as photographer on AC/DC's 1996 Ballbreaker World Tour and the Stiff Upper Lip World Tour between 2000 and 2001, as well as photographing the promotions and advertising.

Books Halsband released the book Surf Book in 2005. It is a collaborative book project with professional surfer Joel Tudor, which began in 1999. Halsband has called it "a portrait of surfing, through the people who have influenced it spiritually and technologically over the past 50 years."

Collections Work by Halsband are held in the permanent collection of the Museum of Fine Arts Houston, the Parrish Art Museum, and the SCAD Museum of Art.

Directing Music videos In the 1990s, Halsband directed music videos for, among others, blues musician Taj Mahal, R&B singer Kenny Lattimore, Nuno Bettencourt of rock band Extreme, and Psychedelic Furs offshoot Love Spit Love.

The Water Dancer The surfwear brand Quiksilver commissioned Halsband to shoot and direct three short films with professional surfer Stephanie Gilmore titled The Water Dancer, released on January 12, 2012. In the films, Gilmore is paired with three professional female dancers: choreographer Noémie Lafrance, ballet dancer Tiler Peck and hip hop dancer Casandra "Defy" Rivera, with the intention to explore the similarities between surfing and dancing.

Growing Farmers Growing Farmers is a 16-minute-long documentary film, shot and directed by Halsband, and produced in conjunction with the Peconic Land Trust. The film deals with the challenges of young aspiring Long Island farmers, such as the issue of affordable farmland and the industry's future. Growing Farmers premiered at the Hamptons International Film Festival in October 2012, winning the festival's Audience Choice award.

Personal life Halsband began playing the guitar when he was 10 years old and "couldn't get enough of it, and I couldn't play very well either", he said in 2015. "I was so frustrated, but I passionately loved music." Halsband cites the Rolling Stones and AC/DC as among his favorite bands.

Filmography Music videos Year Song Artist Album Credit 1994 Soulsville Shä-Key A Head Nädda's Journey to Adidi Skizm Director, 2nd camera 1994 Change in the Weather Love Spit Love Love Spit Love Director, 2nd camera 1996 Never Too Busy Kenny Lattimore Kenny Lattimore Director 1997 Crave Nuno Bettencourt Schizophonic Director 1997 Mr. Pitiful Taj Mahal Señor Blues Director 1997 Nothing but Strife Coolbone Brass-Hop Director, 2nd camera