Todd Miller

A member of Alcoholics Anonymous since 2009, I have a sponsor. I sponsor men and share my “Experience Strength and Hope” at meetings that others may recover from alcoholism. Born in Duluth (1964), I began “taking pictures” in the early 1970s with a Kodak Tele-ektra 300. I could hardly wait to see the prints developed at the nearby Woolworth. Images of Lake Superior’s shoreline, Canal Park and the Ariel Lift Bridge, friends and family, but mostly architecture and the various elements of buildings were most fascinating to me. When I moved to Minneapolis in 1984, I began shooting skyscrapers as they were constructed–from groundbreaking to grand-opening. Earthmoving equipment, the first girders being placed, facade panels and windows attached, then exterior lighting. I visited New York City for the first time in 1989, and seeing the World Trade Centers was at the top of my priority list of things to see and photograph. Three times I’ve shot from the observation deck.

I found using a 35 mm camera to be very liberating. In my freshman year at the U of MN, I took a single photography course. I was hooked. In recent years I’ve found myself shooting familiar landmarks in Minneapolis (as well as NYC, France, and Germany), manipulating my images with strong saturated color and bold texture. Especially with more historic subjects, I find energy and dialogue through the accentuation of light and architectural elements. I’ve received five American Arts Awards, including First Place nationwide for “Manipulated Photography.” I’ve met so many interesting people who have acquired my work. My images can be found in Target Corp’s offices, Black Sheep Pizza, Lotus Vietnamese, Loring Park Rec Center, Uptown Theater lobby, and many other local establishments. I’ve donated my work for fundraising to Augsburg College, Animal Rights Coalition, Dining Out for Life, The Aliveness Project, Ronald McDonald House, MinneSober, and many other organizations. I feel strongly that the world could use as much positive energy and gentle beauty through art as possible.