CONTACT
Michael F. Coles P.O. BOX 1336 Murphysboro, IL. 62966 (618) 687-2108 E-mail

A Different Kind Of Image is a name I adopted in response to the diversity and uniqueness of the images I capture within the genres in which I work. The name not only represents who I am and how I feel this world tends to see me, but also represents every person and every image I capture.


I began taking pictures at a young age, but was more often occupied with doodling, painting, and writing. My father had a studio in the late 70’s through early 80’s, providing post cards for the majority of the southern Illinois region and other surrounding states. On occasion, I would accompany him on shoots, never really imagining how much of an influence this had in my life until much later.

My sophomore year in high school, I wrote a letter to a local photographer in my area whom I found to be a unique and very interesting individual. I had asked him if he would be interested in “teaching me the ropes” and making me his apprentice, so to speak. I hated school and figured if my grandfather owned a market and my father owned a studio, why couldn’t I just drop out of high school and start working on something I knew I loved doing? It seemed logical to me. Although I did get a response from this certain photographer, I guess my “childish” dream wasn’t all that logical for my family to accept.

I began my “career”, or what I will call a starting point, by self-publishing and editing a music magazine that involved a lot of writing and photographing, something that still occupies my time when extra time is available. Although the original format was a printed publication, all past issues of The Outcast and all current interviews, live concert photographs, reviews, etc., can only be viewed on-line.The majority of the pictures featured are from bands that Lieff (journalist) or I would interview. The Outcast, the name of the magazine, also influenced the name I decided to go by (ADKOI).