Michael is a native of New York and a graduate of Harpur College, State University of New York at Binghamton with a B. A. Degree in Art History. He served in the United States Air Force in Viet Nam from September of 1969 to September of 1970 as an English Language Instructor to the Republic of Viet Nam Air Force. After discharge in 1971 he moved to Puerto Rico and traveled extensively throughout the Caribbean before returning to California in 1978.

He currently makes his home in Santa Monica where he works as a professional photographer. His Fine Art photography, which consists of over 1000 black and white images depicting life in Viet Nam, continues to be sought after and shown in galleries throughout the Southland.