Michael Evans (photographer)
Encyclopedia
Michael Arthur Worden "Mike" Evans (21 June 1944 — December 1, 2005) was an American
newspaper, magazine, and presidential photographer. He was President Ronald Reagan
's personal photographer during his first term as president from 1981 through 1985. Evans is best remembered for his 1976 iconic photo of Ronald Reagan wearing a cowboy hat taken while Evans was working for Equus Magazine, that made the covers of many magazines in the week after Reagan's death in 2004. He was nominated for Pulitzer Prize
while shooting for The New York Times
.
, Evans was the son of a Canadian diplomat and a registered nurse. Evans lived in Havana
and Cape Town, South Africa in his youth. His first job at the age of 15 was at the Port Hope Evening Guide in Ontario, Canada; then he worked as a photographer for The Plain Dealer in Cleveland, Ohio
, The New York Times
and Time
magazine.
He began shooting Reagan as a photographer for Time, when Reagan first ran for the Republican nomination for President. Evans continued to document his political career, moving to Washington, D.C.
in 1980 as the White House Photographer for four years.
In 1982 he founded The Portrait Project,” a nonprofit designed to photograph powerful people in Wasgington. Evans' portraits of 595 Washington personalities became a 1985 exhibit at the Corcoran Gallery of Art
, and a 1986 book People and Power: Portraits From the Federal Village.
After he left his job at the White House
, Evans returned to Time as a contract photographer for several years. Evans later became the photographer editor for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, creating computer software for digital cataloguing systems.
Evans was a lifetime National Press Photographers Association
Member and worked as the chief technical officer for ZUMA Press
. Some notable photos by Evans include Nancy Reagan
peering around the press room door with a birthday cake as a surprise for her husband, including images of the Reagan assassination attempt
by John Hinckley.
Evans was married to Story Shem in 1983, a former Carter administration aide and founding partner of Arrive, a Washington communications firm. They had six children.
Evans died of cancer in his Atlanta home.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
newspaper, magazine, and presidential photographer. He was President Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
's personal photographer during his first term as president from 1981 through 1985. Evans is best remembered for his 1976 iconic photo of Ronald Reagan wearing a cowboy hat taken while Evans was working for Equus Magazine, that made the covers of many magazines in the week after Reagan's death in 2004. He was nominated for Pulitzer Prize
Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
while shooting for The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
.
Life and career
Born in St. Louis, MissouriSt. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, Evans was the son of a Canadian diplomat and a registered nurse. Evans lived in Havana
Havana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
and Cape Town, South Africa in his youth. His first job at the age of 15 was at the Port Hope Evening Guide in Ontario, Canada; then he worked as a photographer for The Plain Dealer in Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
, The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
and Time
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
magazine.
He began shooting Reagan as a photographer for Time, when Reagan first ran for the Republican nomination for President. Evans continued to document his political career, moving to Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
in 1980 as the White House Photographer for four years.
In 1982 he founded The Portrait Project,” a nonprofit designed to photograph powerful people in Wasgington. Evans' portraits of 595 Washington personalities became a 1985 exhibit at the Corcoran Gallery of Art
Corcoran Gallery of Art
The Corcoran Gallery of Art is the largest privately supported cultural institution in Washington, DC. The museum's main focus is American art. The permanent collection includes works by Rembrandt, Eugène Delacroix, Edgar Degas, Thomas Gainsborough, John Singer Sargent, Claude Monet, Pablo...
, and a 1986 book People and Power: Portraits From the Federal Village.
After he left his job at the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
, Evans returned to Time as a contract photographer for several years. Evans later became the photographer editor for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, creating computer software for digital cataloguing systems.
Evans was a lifetime National Press Photographers Association
National Press Photographers Association
NPPA is the acronym for the National Press Photographers Association, founded in 1947. The organization is based in Durham, North Carolina and its mostly made up of still photographers, television videographers, editors, and students in the journalism field...
Member and worked as the chief technical officer for ZUMA Press
Zuma Press
ZUMA Press is one of the world's largest independent press agencies and wire services. It was founded in 1993 by photojournalist Scott McKiernan, with a global staff of over 50, covering over 100 news, sports, and entertainment events worldwide....
. Some notable photos by Evans include Nancy Reagan
Nancy Reagan
Nancy Davis Reagan is the widow of former United States President Ronald Reagan and was First Lady of the United States from 1981 to 1989....
peering around the press room door with a birthday cake as a surprise for her husband, including images of the Reagan assassination attempt
Reagan assassination attempt
The Reagan assassination attempt occurred on Monday, March 30, 1981, just 69 days into the presidency of Ronald Reagan. While leaving a speaking engagement at the Washington Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C., President Reagan and three others were shot and wounded by John Hinckley, Jr...
by John Hinckley.
Evans was married to Story Shem in 1983, a former Carter administration aide and founding partner of Arrive, a Washington communications firm. They had six children.
Evans died of cancer in his Atlanta home.
External links
- In memoriam: Michael Evans via White House News Photographers Association