Michael Thad Carter, Photographer

A native of Pass Christian, Miss., Michael Thad Carter wasn’t always headed for a career in photography. Years ago this Renaissance man went country in Nashville as he explored a possible music career. He also got granola as a mountain adventurer for a stint in the Rocky Mountains. Of course, there was also the time he won six gold medals at the 1994 Mississippi state gymnastics championships. But it was behind the lens that Carter finally found his true calling. With a degree in graphic design, the self-taught photographer set out on a freelance career, and he hasn’t looked back. He has photographed everything from glamorous fashions in the nooks of Hamilton Pool to the faces of rockabilly culture in Austin. His work has been featured in the pages of publications such as Kiplinger’s, D Magazine, Forbes and Texas Monthly. Michael spends most of his time refining his skills and exploring new tools to improve what he sees. When not in Austin, he’ll hit the road like a nomad and explore what’s around him. He’s constantly connected with his environment and what’s around him and has a unique bond with his twin sister. Carter's most recent work can be viewed on his website at www.mtcphotography.com. His passion for photography stems from his desire to find the extraordinary in the ordinary. It's his curiosity of the complexities within the human mind and the connections of people with people that drives Carter to tell their stories.