- As a US Navy photojournalist during the Vietnam War, Michael stood on the tarmac at Clark Air Base in the Philippines in March 1973 when the first ex-POWs returned from Hanoi. Next to the aircraft, he photographed Army Capt. Floyd Thompon, longest-held American POW, to Navy CDR Jim Stockdale and LCDR John McCain.
- Driving force behind the creation of archival PVC-free polypropylene slide and negative sheets by 20th Century Plastics, now called Century Photo.
- Was chairman of I.F.G.A. foundation. This international non-profit focused on awareness surrounding the x-ray process and it's effect on film at airport scanners.
- Michael was the photographer on Entertainment Tonight's interview with the "MacKensie Brothers and Father Guido Sarducci" two days before John Belushi died from a drug overdose. Belushi was sitting in the background and didn't like a photographer aiming his camera in his direction and attacked Michael, only to be saved by the ET producer. This incident was reported by Dave Thomas in a Rolling Stone article, and was also founds in the book "Wired.".
- U.S. Representative Jane Harmon liked Michael's photograph so much that she used it as her official handout rather than the one taken by the legislature's photo division.
- Entertainment Tonight said Michael was the most articulate photographer in Hollywood.
- Michael was the first photographer for "Access Hollywood".
- Michael had the first color photograph on the front page of the Hollywood Reporter (Princess Anne).
- President Reagan loved the candid shot that Michael took, so much that he had it on his desk for over two years,.
- Michael was the first photographer for "Entertainment Tonight".
- Michael was the US government's official photojournalist (Navy) at the opening of the South Pole Station in 1975.
- James Earl Jones said that Michael captured him in a way that no one had in more than 15 years.
- Famed Columnist Liz Smith dubbed Michael's photograph of Spielberg, Springsteen, Elton and Hanks at a table with 3 Oscars as the defining image of this Hollywood generation. People Magazine loved the photo so much that they enlarged it and had it on the wall at their office for several years.
- Jack Larson (Jimmy Olsen in original Superman TV show) said that a photo Michael took was best of his career.
- Michael had the first color photographs on the front page of Daily Variety (of the Oscars).
- At Clark Air Base in the Philippines, Michael was the only photojournalist to be next to the aircraft which brought the former POWs out of Hanoi in 1973.
- Won 1st place in Features in 1972 Military Photos of the Year.
- Michael had more freelance photos in Newsweek Magazine than any other photographer in one year.
- Michael was the on-air photo expert on the Travel Channel.
- Michael was the youngest designated photojournalist in the US Navy during the Vietnam War era.
- At a check ceremony for the Motion Picture Home, Robert Wagner was so impressed with Michael's photography and style that he asked him to direct a "Hart to Hart.". Unfortunately Michael was focused on his photography that he turned the offer down. A decade later, Michael did direct an award winning feature film.
- Michael first suggested and then helped develop the first polypropylene photo archive sheets for 20th Century Plastics.
- Michael was highly considered to be White House photographer for President Clinton and only lost that opportunity when his mentor took the job himself. During his presidency, he frequently told Michael that he enjoys the photographs that he took at the various events.
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