About Michael

Michael Paul Marzano Jr. 
Photographer and Artist 
From East Quogue, New York
Currently living in Syracuse, New York

Self Portrait

How I fell in love with photography

At the age of 9 my grandfather gave me a box of old cameras that he was going to sell at a yard sale. I remember being fascinated with the moving parts and noises they made, but did not have any film to put in them as most were old Polaroid style cameras. One little camera in the bottom of the box was 35 mm and it was my favorite right away. It was a rangefinder camera made by TAC. It had split focusing and 2 lenses that could be screwed on the front along with numerous other little accessories. The brown leather case that went around it was worn and felt oily to the touch. From that moment on that camera went everywhere with me. My grandfather bought me a 5 pack of film from the drugstore and showed me how to load it. The camera was fully manual and learning the F-stops and shutter speeds was a challenge. But once I got the basics down I was hooked. For about 5 years I carried that camera with me on bike rides and walks every chance I got. Not having any money to develop my film it just sat in my dresser till my grandfather would develop it. When I would get the pictures, I would spend weeks studying them one by one. Always my toughest critic, I would get so frustrated with myself when a shot would not come out right. As years went on no matter what I have always kept that little camera and still have it on my desk today. Little did my grandfather know that the simple gift of a box of old cameras would define my life's work. 

Thank you Pops for the gift of self-expression.