All Photos by Mike Dillon
We’ve been enjoying Mike Dillon’s Muni photographs here on Muni Diaries for some time. I love that almost every photo that Mike takes comes with a short anecdote that lets us in on some behind-the-scenes details. He takes time to describe details like the light and shadow on a throng of shoppers on Clement Street heading toward the 2, or his love-hate relationship with the 33, which stars in many of his photos. We sat down with Mike to find out more about him.
Tell us a little about yourself and how you got into photography.
I’m just your friendly neighborhood microbiologist by day, and that guy who won’t stop taking pictures of everything the rest of the time. Originally from Washington State (the side that no one has ever heard of, where it doesn’t rain), I’ve been in the Bay Area for about five years now because, well, this is kinda the place you go if you’re a microbiologist. Plus, who wouldn’t want to live in San Francisco?
In the last few years, I’ve been itching to find an artistic outlet. I spent some time toying around with photography using a couple cheap point and shoot cameras, but never really got into it. I’m the type of person who, once I commit to something, will go all out on it, but I need to really commit to it first. So one day a bit over a year ago, I finally just went for it and picked up a dSLR and hit the streets with it.
Let’s just say there was a bit of a learning curve: I think I got two to five photos I actually liked out of the first six months. Over the last year or so, I’ve gradually learned the settings and received a ton of inspiration from a number of great local photographers, many of whom have had photos featured on Muni Diaries before me. I’m still new to this with a lot to learn, but I’m working on it by just getting my camera out to take photos every day and doing my best to meet and learn from members of the amazing San Francisco photography community.
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