“As a documentary and travel photographer, I enjoy the best of both worlds. I love documenting and learning about different cultures, all while traveling the globe. I am in search of authenticity, beauty, and emotion. I try to blend all three of these to create images that truly ‘Evoke Emotion.’
I capture authenticity by blending into the environment and assimilating with those around me. Make others feel comfortable in my presence. Get people around me to let their guard down. Invite me into their space without them even realizing it. It’s sort of like breaking the ice on a first date, except this date might only last a few seconds or minutes, or however long it takes to get that great shot.
I look for beauty, even if, on the surface, it doesn’t appear to be beautiful. Beauty is everywhere.
You just have to find it. I use light to enhance beauty. Light and shadow work together to create drama.
Creating images that Evoke Emotion is always been my goal. There is no recipe, no secret formula. But, once I’ve managed to find authenticity and beauty, I can create emotion. It’s essential to create an image that evokes a deeper meaning beyond the obvious visual.”
-Michael Chinnici
EXOTIC BEAUTY. While dining at the new Jesus Maria 20 restaurant in Old Havana, I felt compelled to introduce myself to our waitress Dayle. After talking about Cuba, modeling, and traveling, I asked her if I could take a few shots of her at the bar. I loved her 50’s retro look. She’s all Cuban, but an exotic blend of Spanish, Chinese, American Indian, and Indian. She grew up on a farm west of Havana, but now she calls Central Havana her home. Dayle rides a vintage bicycle that needed an old-fashioned bell, so I brought her a matching vintage bell the next time I saw her. You can find beauty everywhere. Just ask and capture it. Old Havana, Cuba 2019
Michael Chinnici © All rights reserved.
KANDY MUSE. Kandy hails from Queens, New York, but she performs all of the United States. It was a blast to watch her transform into this glamorous drag queen. Born November 3, 1994, Kandy Muse is the stage name of Kevin Candelario, an American drag queen, artist, and performer. She’s been a part of the House of Aja and is best known for being the runner-up on the thirteenth season of RuPaul’s Drag Race. Lower East Side, New York, USA 2017
Michael Chinnici © All rights reserved.
Michael was introduced to photography by his father at the tender age of 11. He began his lifelong love affair with photography using his dad’s WWII-era Argus C3 and a basement darkroom.
Although Michael spent the early years of his career in marketing and design (heading up his own New York City Ad Agency), he founded New York’s first digital photography studio “Icon Digital” in 1995. He is the father of two girls and two boys, one of whom is a cinematographer.
When Michael isn’t on assignment, in the studio, or on a global adventure, he can be found traveling the world searching for unique photo opportunities, exceptional hotels, and amazing restaurants.
Michael Chinnici is a New York-based documentary photographer, creative director, and designer. He has traveled the world photographing people, streets, architecture, landscapes, motorsports, aerial, and fashion. He enjoys the challenges that various photographic disciplines present. Michael is the Founder and CEO of Photo Workshop Adventures, a premier photo tour company offering over 150 photo-centric cultural adventures in over 50 countries.
Michael loves sharing his photography experiences and is a frequent speaker at events where he discusses his ‘Evoking Emotion’ approach to photography.
Currently, Michael is pursuing several ongoing personal projects, including a beautifully curated large-format visual storytelling book titled ‘VANISHING CUBA.’ This limited edition book includes a stunning collection of over 300 photographs and stories from Michael’s 24 trips to Cuba. Vanishing Cuba is about capturing the ‘Soul of Cuba’, and Michael’s love affair with Cuba and the Cuban people comes through in this compelling and beautifully produced book, handcrafted in Italy. The book will be available beginning in October 2021.
LITTLE SAKINA. Like her older sister Pilleo, Sakina possesses a radiant beauty from the moment you meet her. At ten, she’s just a child, but children, especially girls, grow up fast in the nomadic life of the Mir tribe in Gujarat, India. She was excited to see us and show off the different outfits that she keeps in her tent. I photographed this young woman named Pilleo in Gujarat, India. She belongs to the Mir tribe. These mainly Muslim nomads wear self-embroidered jewelry and intricate, handmade clothing and often line their eyes with charcoal. They live in tents made of tarps and twigs and earn money by selling handmade crafts. Gujarat, India 2020 . Michael Chinnici © All rights reserved.
“Western cultures are more progressive, harnessing changes in fashion, trends, alternative lifestyles, modernization, and technology, to name a few.” -Michael Chinnici
This portrait was shot while photographing my friend Nagdaly (Natalie) Wong along Havana’s Malecon for a shoot that would feature her in front of Meyer Lansky’s historic Riviera Hotel. The 1957 hotel features a beautiful aquamarine color, which nicely complemented Natalie’s teal and turquoise wardrobe. She’s part Spanish and part Chinese, but all Cuban. Vedado Havana, Cuba 2015
Michael Chinnici © All rights reserved.
“I capture authenticity by blending into the environment and assimilating with those around me. Make others feel comfortable in my presence. Get people around me to let their guard down. Invite me into their space without them even realizing it. It’s sort of like breaking the ice on a first date, except this date might only last a few seconds or minutes, or however long it takes to get that great shot.”
-Michael Chinnici
