Michael Barath

My name is Michael Barath. I’m a photographer, an educator, and human being navigating a lifelong curiosity about the world. For as long as I can remember, I’ve wrestled with a question that has shaped much of my life: is it better to be pretty good at many things, or world-class at just one? 

The truth is, I’ve never been able to commit to a single pursuit for long enough to know. My interests have always shifted every few years — birding, rock climbing, bicycle racing, dog training, and a number of other fascinations that have temporarily captured my attention. Each brought its own learning, its own set of skills and satisfactions. And yet none held me indefinitely - none, that is, except photography.

Photography has endured where other passions faded. It has a unique capacity to absorb and reflect all of my interests. It allows me to explore the things I care about, to document the natural world, human relationships, and fleeting moments that would otherwise pass unnoticed. The camera becomes a way to stay connected—to people, to places, and to myself.