06/10/2026
Yesterday, one of the all-time great photographers left the world after 94 years. There was never anyone like him and my guess is there won’t ever be one like Duane Michals in the future. An irascible comedian who loved to shock us, once, while on the stage at the Annenberg Theater at the Palm Springs Photo Festival 2018 telling hysterical jokes at full speed, suddenly dropped one of the most important nuggets of insight a photographer could ever receive: “Don’t show me what’s in front of your camera, show me what you want me to see.” Doesn’t get more profound.
Born on February 18, 1932 in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, Duane arrived on the photography scene in New York in the 1950s. He began telling stories with his photographs for his personal work and changed the way we thing about photography.
I had the great honor of welcoming Duane to four of the 19 Palm Springs Photo Festivals. I can’t think of a more inspirational four days than to have spent them with Duane. I first met Duane in Arles in 1988 but didn’t really get to know him until 2009 when he accepted my invitation to come to Palm Springs. He returned in 2014, 2019 and again in 2024.
One last great story: At the last festival, Duane, then 92, wanted to go to the liquor store to but a dozen newspapers. We took him there and bought them. On the way out of the store he tripped (!) and went straight down. We all froze! OMG. A second later he turned to us and said “I think I broke my dick.” You can’t make that up. (He was unhurt).
All of our lives were better for having known Duane. RIP. Regards to Fred.
