Michael Bates’ interest in Nature photography started several years ago when he moved to Austin, Texas from the Midwest (Illinois) in 1990. Although his interest and respect for Nature began as a young child, he began his photographic endeavors after discovering the flora and fauna of the Texas Hill Country – the wildflowers in the Spring and the infinite variety of wildlife that can be found in this part of the world! In May, 1999 a career move brought him to the Houston area where he discovered a whole new world of photo opportunities - from alligators to wading birds - just minutes away from his front door. Michael is a broad-based photographer who doesn’t limit himself to one particular type of subject. His personal conviction is Preserving the Beauty of Nature...one click at a time. His portfolio focuses on the natural world of Central/Southeast Texas and parts of Oklahoma.
He has had articles published on several online magazines including Nature Photographers.net and Birdzilla.com. His work has been displayed on Gloria Mundi Press.com, Wildportraits.com and PBS.org and Nature Photographers.net. He is a member of The Nature Conservancy, the Houston Audubon Society and the National Audubon Society. Michael has also donated several images to non-profit organizations to help educate the public on environmental awareness and species preservation.
