Why I Shoot

A Part of Me

Living life behind the lens has become an immense part of my identity. My attempt to capture the beauty in both happiness and sadness, light and darkness, and night and day is only part of the challenge that comes along with some of the most captivating adventures. I attribute the dedication to my craft in fully apprehending the meaning of the word opportunity. I remember gazing into the eyes of my grandparents and listening to stories about war torn Italy. So much on the line and so much fear, however the immense passion they had for a better life lead them to America all in the name of one thing, opportunity. Through their adversity and times of much uncertainty, I was taught that success; true success isn’t measured in the quantity of material possessions but the quality of your happiness. It taught me that time is finite, yet incredibly valuable when used to strive for change. Most importantly, it taught me that the foundation to a wholesome life depends on your vision, that perspective is a crucial part of survival in times of such chaos. I learned at a young age that if you want to succeed in something, passion must be your everything. Then from passion, comes purpose. This being said, there is no denying that there is an apparent distinction between someone who loves something and someone who is simply good at something.

I believe all photography is alive in one way or another, evoking life in its purest form and of course, worth quite more than a thousand words. I strive to capture photographs that refine perspective and move minds in a direction opposite from ordinary, much like that of a planet in retrograde. Photography to me is about being focused enough to take control of the moment. It’s about pushing yourself to see just how well you can open your eyes, take what you see, and turn it into a story. It is perhaps the most elusive form of story telling, because there are no words, just raw emotion captured like a firefly and put into the jar of time.

I ran with the inspiration from an American-Italian heritage and used what I learned in an attempt to inspire others through my simultaneous take on both life and art. In my years of photography, I have learned a great deal about myself through moments both behind the lens and time taken away from it. Behind every photograph is a message conveying an underlying meaning. Whether that meaning is immersed in an ocean of darkness or a sky filled with light is up to you.

What I can say is that pain is temporary and lessons are forever, so never settle. Don’t waste your time surrounded by people that have no drive and no vision. People who don’t want to become anything better, anything other than what they already are. If your vision is there, it’s up to you. Is everything lined up in your mind? Pull the trigger and go for it. The only thing that can interfere with God’s plan for you is your own mind, further proving we really are our own worst enemy. Absolutely no one and nothing else can destroy you unless you give it permission too. Give life your all, pay attention to the people who come and go, but never let them stop you from achieving greatness; never let them block your vision. Have that mindset, and you’ll capture the moment faster than a camera can. After all, the greatest story ever told is the one you write yourself.

-Michael Maimone

Credentials

The New York International Auto Show

Present – Annual press photographer and filmmaker for the New York International Automobile Show in New York City, New York. Produces a wide range of quality media covering a wide range of multimedia including photography, film, and automotive journalism. Among the youngest attendees admitted to the event beginning in 2016 at 19 years old.

Club Loose Racing / Formula Drift

Present – On race-track photographer for Club Loose events in New Jersey. Experience shooting high performance and high speed drift racing often just feet away from cars. Experience shooting post Formula Drift events on Club Loose tracks with automotive legends Vaughn Gittin Jr. and Chris Forsberg.

Automobili Lamborghini

2020 – Photography published on the Instagram page of Lamborghini of Paramus in Paramus, New Jersey. This is one of only 34 Lamborghini locations in the United States of America.

The Penn State Science Journal

2019 – Scientific photographer and science writer for the Pennsylvania State University’s Winter 2019 and Summer 2019 issues of the Science Journal. Photography printed on the back cover of over 52,000 Winter 2019 issues, totaling over 100,000 combined copies published with an international distribution.

Mercedes-Benz USA

2018 – Assistant photographer for the arrival of new vehicles to Mercedes-Benz of State College in State College, Pennsylvania.

The Ford Motor Company

2017 – Photograph used as advertisement via Twitter (@FordMustang).

2015 – Publication regarding my photography titled Mustang Muse, published in the My Ford magazine.

The New Hope Auto Show

2016 & 2017 – Classic car judge for America’s second oldest auto show in New Hope, Pennsylvania. Judged classic domestic and imported cars based on appearance, quality, and originality of restored materials.

The Abington Review

2014 to 2017 – Associate Editor of The Abington Review: Penn State University’s Literary and Arts Magazine. Nationally awarded 2015 Issue with published photography currently in the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum in Hiroshima, Japan.

Photographic Society of America

2013 – Award winning photograph on display at the 2013 Photographic Society of America Youth Photography Showcase Exhibition held in Portland, Maine.