Michael G Jackson (b.1966) is an experimental photographer based in North Dorset, England. He studied art at West Dean College in Sussex, then apprenticed under landscape painter Christopher W Baker and later discovered his passion for photography. He moved away from working with traditional camera techniques in 2015 and is currently progressing the Luminogram process into new directions in which he has become regarded as a leading practitioner.
His work has been exhibited internationally and is part of various private and museum collections including The National Art Gallery in Washington, USA.
"Far from being an exercise in nostalgia, this analogue technique offers Jackson, as it does other artists at the cutting edge of this art movement, a path to the future." - The Financial Times
About the work
Luminograms
Michael Jackson's Luminograms are a very special piece of photographic art. Not a photograph in itself but a creative medium of its own. Each one is meticulously crafted by Michael in his darkroom. There are many structured stages to go through before the photographic paper can be hand developed and permanently fixed. Once Michael is happy with a finished Luminogram print it's then toned in Selenium, which not only intensifies the prints tonality, but also increases the prints archival quality. Traditional photographic darkroom printing techniques have an unquestionable pedigree when it comes to the life expectancy of a photograph.
Each Luminogram is unique and only one silver gelatin print is produced of each image.
The images reveal themselves with a 3D quality; viewed in the flesh the abstracted surreal forms within the paper come alive to the viewer.
Michael Jackson's Luminograms were exhibited for the first time at MMX Gallery in 2016; The Self Representation of Light exhibition and the following year at Photo London 2017.
Recently, the luminogram work was paired with theologian Edwin A. Abbott in a book published by 21st Editions, titled after the author's famous work 'FLATLAND' and premiered in November at the Grand Palais in Paris, for Paris Photo 2017.
"A true avant-garde of photography, he is on his way to becoming one of the most renowned contemporary fine art photographers" - Lomography Magazine
Poppit Sands
These photographs were taken over an eight year period on Poppit Sands beach in Pembrokeshire, Wales.
Working with abstraction and detail these images formed a vital part of his next venture when Michael began experimenting with the Luminogram process.
The Poppit Sands series won Michael awards and accolades including being named a Finalist for the Hasselblad Masters Award (2008, 2009, 2010)
"I went there one evening and just by chance there was a low tide. I took a batch of photos and once I developed them at home I saw a certain light and a certain type of picture that I had never managed to get before. When I figured out what the ingredients were, it was the low tide and the sunset that made the pictures. That only happens about three times every fortnight, so the time is precious." - Michael G Jackson
Child's Landscape
This work is based on pencil drawings of the Pembrokeshire coast. Michael collected rocks and photographed them while they were submerged underwater.
"I wish that I could travel to undiscovered lands with towering cliffs and terrifying storms - but I cannot. So I make images in my studio using local rocks and things that I find. The landscapes that I build are as a child would imagine them to be - full of drama, excitement and adventure. I do not use computer textures or filters. I use my hands to dodge and burn the clouds and reflections over the long exposure time." - Michael G Jackson