Michael Wolf (1954 – 2019) captured the life of cities with great intensity. Whether it was his up-close work, such as the exhausted faces on the Tokyo metro, or the condensed high rise accommodation in Hong Kong, or the more distant rooftops of Paris, the life of the city was there for us to feel, imagine and understand.
I had seen a lot of his work online and in books, and was lucky to see it in person at Rencontres 2017. The people and buildings of Tokyo and Hong Kong, contrasted splendidly with its setting in an old church in Arles. His work has had an impact on my own photography, and also helped me to look more closely and from a different angle during my recent trip to Hong Kong.
Sadly, Wolf died on 24 April 2019, in Hong Kong, but he has left behind a feast of wonderful work for us to enjoy and continue to be inspired by.
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Copyright Debbie Smyth, 30 April 2019
Travel with Intent 
So sad to see such talent n o longer available. Especially when they are younger than me. May all artist continue to show the beauty of their gift.
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I’ve seen very little of his work, but your post has inspired me to go and find out more about it. Thanks Debbie.
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It’s worth a look. He had a particular love of Hong Kong, and lived there for the last 25 years or so of his life.
I’m sure we’ll see some retrospective exhibitions pop up
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🙂
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What amazing work….you’re lucky to have seen the Arles exhibits
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Looks amazing, Debs. I’m not really familiar with his work. I feel so ignorant sometimes.
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🙂 I never think that of you, Jo
as for me knowing him a) I’m lucky to have been to the huge Arles exhibition a few times (the lazy way to see photography) and b) his work was my kind of photography so it stuck in my head.
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