About Michael

In 1977, after a stint simultaneously playing drums in a BeBop jazz band, bussing tables in a restaurant and doing personal photography, Michael decided he was a better photographer than a drummer and hung up the sticks. It was during this time that he started riding his 1971 Harley-Davidson Shovelhead (which he still owns and has been recently “bobbed” by Billy Lane) and photographing bikers. This work, along with a series on cowboys, was exhibited in group and solo exhibitions over the next few years. Prints were purchased for private and public collections: most notably by ARCO (Atlantic Richfield Corp.) and the Bibliotheque Nationale de France, in Paris.

In 1979, Easyriders Magazine started to publish some of Michael’s motorcycle photography, soon after which he began photographing smaller events and features specifically for them. By 1981, he was off on his third trip to Sturgis, now on assignment for Easyriders, for whom he has returned there ever since. Also in 1981, after a solo exhibition of his work at the Gallery of Photography in Dublin, Ireland, which was boycotted by the League of Decency, Michael became disillusioned with the “art world” and again changed course. He stopped publicly exhibiting his photographs in favor of publishing his motorcycle work in Easyriders and shooting the commercial advertising and corporate photography he had started doing. By 1982, his studio was open in Boulder, Colorado and it wasn’t long before he developed a clientele that included companies like IBM, Sun Microsystems and Kraft Foods.

Motorcycle and commercial assignments have taken Michael across America and abroad to Canada, Europe, Japan, Mexico and New Zealand. While he has published more than 800 articles on motorcycling and custom bikes, he has also shot annual reports, product photography, advertising, brochures and posters. He has even shot two cookbooks, covers for more than 60 beer magazines and 80 audio magazines. His motorcycle work has grown to include commercial clients like American Ironhorse Motorcycles, Big Dog Motorcycles, Perse Performance, Weld Wheels, Baker Drivetrain and many of the best custom bike builders in America.

Over the last few years, Michael has contributed work to many books on motorcycling including images that were requested by Willy G. Davidson for his 100th anniversary book on Harley, and has published eight of his own books, including books on Sturgis, custom bike builders and choppers. Michael has also returned to exhibiting his photography in public institutions. Since 2000, he has had solo exhibitions of his work at more than 15 galleries and museums. Michael’s reputation as a motorcycling photographer has led to Michael being featured in a number of television shows and in magazine articles in photography, motorcycling and general interest publications.

On a more personal note, Michael married his wonderful wife Catherine in 1982. They met when they were both on a 5-day holiday in Big Sur, California, Catherine having come all the way from Dublin, Ireland where she is from. They have two children, their daughter Kiera, who was born in 1985 and son Sean who was born in 1988. Incidentally, you couldn’t totally take the music out of Michael. While he wasn’t about to start lugging the drums around again, he discovered the Irish penny whistle could fit in his pocket. It has become a great outlet and perfect way to pass the time in the middle of a highway waiting for the right bike or the right light. If you are riding down an open highway and happen to hear an Irish jig coming from the photographer straddling the double yellow line way up ahead, it’s probably Michael about to take your photo. Michael’s main motorcycling website is www.lichterphoto.com. Commercial work can be viewed at www.lichtercommercial.com. To contact Michael with questions regarding motorcycle photography, commercial photography, stock photography, print purchases, or books, please fill out our information request form or call (303) 449-3906. To place a print order, call toll free: (877) 595-9819.