Michael was born in the vibrant city-state of Singapore and moved to ‘sunny’ Belgium in the late 80s. Today, he calls the beautiful city of Brussels home.

As a child, he dreamed of becoming an astronaut. His journey into photography began at the age of eleven when he “permanently borrowed” a simple Kodak point-and-shoot camera from his mother.

At night, he would aim it at the stars, hoping to capture the wonders of space. The results were disappointing—the stars were barely visible, lost in underexposure. It was then he realized that a camera doesn’t just record what the eye sees; it freezes moments in time and space. Those early experiments sparked his fascination with photography as a way to bring imagination to life.

Before the rise of digital photography, Michael was inspired to share his passion for the art form by simplifying it in a way that was clear and accessible.

In 2001, during a trip to India, the foundation for the original Basic Photography Workshop was laid. While in Varanasi, Michael developed a 10-session course focused on understanding basic camera techniques and darkroom skills—essential in the film-based era. This course was initially aimed at English-speaking residents of Brussels.

Unfortunately, his journey was cut short by pneumonia, prompting his return to Brussels. 

He expanded the concept, and in 2002, Creatif Image Photography Workshops was launched. Starting with analogue photography and darkroom techniques, the workshops have since evolved to embrace modern digital media, adapting to new technology while staying true to their roots.

Today, Creatif Image proudly stands as the original and longest-running English-speaking photography workshop in Brussels.I’ve had the privilege of sharing my passion for photography with thousands of people in Brussels—it’s been an incredible journey!"

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"I has been an incredible journey and pleasure to share my photography experience and passion to thousands of local people in Brussels!"