Michael Paul Franklin has been a photographer and photo editor for three decades. As an award-winning photographer for The San Diego Union-Tribune, he covered a wide variety of assignments from The Pope's visit to the plight of the Mexican Farm Workers. That training helped shape his creative eye.

As a photo editor and Director of Photography, Michael worked to inspire and motivate a staff of very talented photographers and was honored with awards from organizations like the National Press Photographers Association, Society for News Design and Pictures of the Year.

Michael has been a judge for The Red Bull Illume action photography contest, Best of Photojournalism, Ohio Newspaper Photographers Association as well as several state, regional and local photography contests. He has been a speaker and panelist for CNPA, AAJA, as well as a faculty member for the Pinnacle photojournalism workshop and a photojournalist in residence for San Jose State.

With a deep respect for his subjects, Michael approaches any assignment with enthusiasm and dedication. Always with eyes wide open to the possibilities. He loves strong dramatic light and looks for it in nature as well as creates it on location assignments.