Artist Biography

Michael Williams is a camera artist whose specialty is night-time landscapes in the mountains of the Pacific Northwest.

Born and raised in what is now the Dome District of Tacoma, Williams majored in astronomy at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, California. However, after three years of studies he decided that a career as a professional astronomer was not his calling.

After marrying his wife Jean and beginning a family (sons Paul and David), Williams resumed his astronomy avocation in 1989. Using 35 millimeter cameras with fast lenses and recently developed high speed films, he discovered that night-time photographs could be made with relatively short time exposures. This allows the stars to appear naturally as points rather than as long trails. His photos also include comets and meteors.

Williams began displaying his images to the public in 2000 with his acceptance as a member of the Washington State Art Commission Artists Bank, and representation at a now-defunct Pioneer Square art gallery in Seattle. His works are currently available at Freighthouse Square Art Gallery in Tacoma. He also has been accepted into many juried art shows throughout the Puget Sound area, and has six works in the Washington State Art Collection.