Michael Coyne has worked for 30 years as a photographer covering wars, revolutions and international events in places such as The Philippines, Cambodia, Indonesia, Central Africa, East Africa, Latin America, North America, Australia, New Zealand and England.
He has worked on assignments for, and his work featured in, magazines such as: Newsweek, Life, Time, New York Times, Sports Illustrated, Smithsonian, German Geo, French Geo, Paris Match, Madame La Figaro, London Observe Magazine, London Independent Magazine, Travel Holiday, and Vogue.
Michael has also photographed several assignments for National Geographic Magazine, including a twenty-eight-page spread about Iran.
He spent eight years in the Middle East documenting the rise of Islamic fundamentalism, the Iranian revolution and the Iran/Iraq war. He also did in-depth stories on the Palestinian Liberation Army, especially documenting the life of the PLO Chairman, Yasser Arafat. For his work in the Middle East he received a number of awards from prestigious organisations including the American National Press Photographers Association and the Overseas Press Club of America.
Michael has had a number of solo and combined exhibitions in Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and America. His photographs are also held in collections in Washington, New York, San Francisco, Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Hong Kong, London and Rome.
His two very successful books on Australia, The Oz Factor and A World of Australians, have resulted in National and International awards including, New York Art Directors Award and Book of the Year. The National Museum of Australia has bought a complete collection of the photographs from his book, A World of Australians. The children's book, The Jew Called Jesus, which he completed in 1993 was awarded Children's Book of the Year. He spent four years documenting the life and work of the Jesuits for a book, Second Spring. This international best selling book won an award in 1998 for The Religious Book of the Year. His book Tour of Duty is about the people of East Timor. Michael demonstrated how to take better travel pictures of people in a best selling book titled Lonely Planet - People Photography. In 2006 he released a book titled How To Be A Child. His latest book, Contemporary Photographers: Australia - Michael Coyne is a collection of his photographs from thirty years of work.
He has worked on a number of the Day In The Life projects as a photographer. He was a photographer and Director of Photography on Planet Vegas, the award-winning book about Las Vegas.
Michael Coyne has had three documentaries films made about him and his international images. An Italian film crew flew to Australia to make an award-winning documentary about the spiritual images that he produces.
In July 2000 Michael played the role of himself in Second Spring: A Letter to My Daughter, a play dedicated to his life and work.
In April 2003 Michael was awarded the Centenary Medal by the Australian Government for Service to Photography. In 2007 The AIPP (Australian Institute of Photography) awarded him an Honorary Fellowship the highest award a photographer can receive in Australia.
Dr Michael Coyne completed a Ph.D. on Documentary Photography and is an Adjunct Professor at RMIT University, Melbourne.
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