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Art medium(s): Photography.

How do you describe your art? My art strives to capture both the peacefulness and chaos of city life; to tell stories of the street while attempting to show the beauty in the ordinary and help the viewer appreciate the world around them.

Were you always interested in following a creative path? I was always a creative person during my school years. I loved creative writing and art. When I took my first photojournalism class at UW-Oshkosh I was hooked. My photography has taken many twists and turns but the great feeling of creating something has never left.

What does your “day-in-the-life” look like? I photograph real estate during the week so I’m shooting and editing constantly. When I have time between shoots, during a slow week, or on the weekends I like to head downtown in search of interesting images.

Where do you get your creative inspiration? I get my creative inspiration from older street photographers from the middle to late 20th century. Saul Leiter’s work was a revelation and a huge influence on my color work. I also love to view images by Ernst Haas, Fred Herzog and Vivian Maier to inspire me.

Why do you love what you do? I love the fact street photography is part photojournalism and part art. Sometimes it takes fast reflexes; other times it takes patience to wait for the right moment. I also love that I’m capturing images of city life that people wouldn’t even notice.

One thing most people don’t know about being an artist, in your opinion: As a photographer it’s my job to make the ordinary extraordinary, which takes patience, time and experience. The challenge is finding my art and getting inspired by what I see.

Early bird or night owl? Early bird.

Last movie you watched or book you read: I’m currently reading “Shooting War” by Susan Moeller, which is about photography and the American combat experience.

Is the glass half full or half empty? Half full… or at least I strive to see things that way. An attitude of gratitude!

What makes you happiest: What makes me happiest is the satisfaction I get from helping others.

Find more of Mike’s work at www.focalpointartphoto.com and on YouTube @streetlifeinappleton