Born in Liverpool, Michael Birt studied photography at The Arts University College Bournemouth. He has since been working in London and New York, taking portraits for publications including The Sunday Times Magazine, The Observer, The Independent Sunday Review, Easy Living, Radio Times, Glamour, Spectrum, Marie Claire, Tatler, Loaded and Q Magazine. In addition he has worked in the US for the New York Times Magazine, Newsweek, People, Time, Fortune, Forbes, and Tina Brown's Talk Magazine, where he was under contract. Special Stills Photography: Pride and Prejudice BBC, Emma ITV. Old Vic Theatre, Advertising and marketing photography. Exhibitions: Birt has also exhibited widely throughout the UK, Europe and US, including at the National Portrait Gallery, where he has over thirty portraits in their collection. Open Eye Gallery, Liverpool, solo show 1984. Stars of the British Screen, National Portrait Gallery, London, 1985. Twenty For Today, National Portrait Gallery, London, 1986 - an exhibition of Britain's 'Top 20 young British portrait photographers.' Famed - solo show, Photographers' Gallery 1988. Famed - solo show at the Harris Museum & Art Gallery, Preston 1989. The International Print Exhibition 1989 - The Royal Photographic Society. Camera Portraits - an exhibition celebrating 150 years of photography at the National Portrait Gallery, London Oct 1989 - Jan 1990. Olympians & Paralympians, the National Portrait Gallery, London 2004-5. 'IPG Autumn Collection' at the Independent Photographers Gallery, Battle, Sussex: A joint show with Terry O'Neill, Fay Godwin and Bill Brandt 2005-6. Michael Birt Portraits a solo show of 85 prints at Fulham Palace, 15 November 2006 - 17 March 2007. Off The Wall, a group exhibition and auction to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support. Other photographers include, Avedon, Penn, Bailey, Terry O'Neill, Donovan and Mario Testino. The Avenue, Piccadilly, 10-20 September 2007. Michael Birt Portraits, a solo show at The Avenue, Piccadilly, London, 5 November - 29 February 2008. The International Print Exhibition 2008 - The Royal Photographic Society, at Allen & Overy, London. The Taylor Wessing Portrait Prize, at the National Portrait Gallery, London. 6 November 2008 to 15 February 2009 and will tour: Laing Art Gallery in Newcastle from 25 April - 21 June 2009. The Arclight Hollywood on Sunset, Los Angeles. November 2008 - November 2009. 'Getty Images, showcasing a stunning interpretation of Los Angeles as seen through the eyes of its world-renowned portrait photographers.' from here to there. An exhibition representing fifty years of photography at The Arts University College at Bournemouth, including Nick Knight, Wolfgang Tillmans and Philip Townsend. 2nd February - 7th March 2009. The Royal Photographic Society International Print Exhibition 2009. Gold Medal winner - Allen & Overy Prize, at Allen & Overy, London. 19 May - 30 June 2009. The Taylor Wessing Portrait Prize, at the National Portrait Gallery, London. 2008-09. 5 November 2008 to 21 February 2009 and will tour: Shipley Art Gallery from 27 March to 6 June 2010 and then to The New Art Gallery Walsall from 16 July to 12 September 2010. Macmillan Cancer Support Auction 2009 at The Avenue, London SW1. The Taylor Wessing Portrait Prize, at the National Portrait Gallery, London. 2009-10. 5 November 2009 to 14 February 2010, travelling throughout 2010. Robin Bell's Silver Footprint, Richard Young Gallery, London W8. 5 November to 28 November 2009. The Royal Photographic Society International Print Exhibition 2010 - Allen & Overy, London 15 July - 31 August 2010. The Taylor Wessing Portrait Prize, at the National Portrait Gallery, London. 11 November 2011 to 12 February 2012. The Taylor Wessing Portrait Prize, at the National Portrait Gallery, London. 8 November 2012 to 17 February 2013. Publications: British Journal of Photography, February 1976 - a portfolio. British Journal of Photography Annuals, 1977/1985. Creative Camera International Year Book 1978 - a portfolio. Twenty For Today, The National Portrait Gallery, 1986 - a catalogue. Famed an anthology of his work was published by Harrap in 1988. Camera Portraits published by the National Portrait Gallery 1989. The International Print Exhibition 1989 - The Royal Photographic Society. The 100 Greatest Rock 'n' Roll Photographs 2002. The World's Top Photographers: Portraits published by RotoVision 2005. Michael Birt Portraits 2006, published by Fulham Palace. Off The Wall, a catalogue published by Macmillan Cancer Support. The Royal Photographic International Print Exhibition 2008, a catalogue. The Taylor Wessing Portrait Prize, The National Portrait Gallery, London 2008 - a catalogue. from here to there. A catalogue representing fifty years of photography at The Arts University College Bournemouth, including Nick Knight, Wolfgang Tillmans and Philip Townsend. 2nd February - 7th March 2009. The Royal Photographic Society International Print Exhibition 2009. A catologue. The Taylor Wessing Portrait Prize, at the National Portrait Gallery, London 2008 A catalogue. The Taylor Wessing Portrait Prize, at the National Portrait Gallery, London 2009 A catalogue. Robin Bell's Silver Footprint. Published 2009 The Royal Photographic Society International Print Exhibition 2010 - Allen & Overy, A catalogue. The Taylor Wessing Portrait Prize, at the National Portrait Gallery, 2011-12. The Royal Photographic Society International Print Exhibition, 2011-12. The Macmillan Cancer Support Auction at Bonhams, 2011. Hidden Gems, Variety Club publication, 2011. The Taylor Wessing Portrait Prize, at the National Portrait Gallery, London, 2012-13. A catalogue Recent Interviews and Articles: Black & White Photography February 2006 Hotshoe International October/November 2006 Black & White Photography Cover Story December 2006 Contact Fuji Magazine Autumn Winter 2006/7 Professional Photographer Cover story December 2007 Digital Camera Article January 2008 Calumet Focus Cover Story March/April 2008 PhotoIcon Issue 6 Cover Story 2008 PhotoIcon Issue 7 Rock 'n' Roll Issue, Summer 2008
Black + White Photography January 2013
Stefan Moses, Black+White Photography, 166, Main Feature