Mike found the Rocky Mountain west in his early 20’s after growing up an Army brat on the East coast and in Europe. In his quest for putting down roots,  starting in Colorado, he picked up a film camera in 1996 to document his adventures in the mountains.

Now, almost 20 years later he finds himself in Montana shooting photography full-time. Relatively new to Bozeman, after a few years in Philipsburg and Whitefish, his favorite subjects are the wide-open vistas and sweeping landscapes of Southwest Montana, and the Aurora Borealis.



He also specializes in shooting hi-end Real Estate and video.

Mike says,  “There is nothing quite like being in the moment, seeing an event in nature that will never happen in exactly the same way again. The goal of my photography is to show the simple beauty in these events, such as the rise of a trout, the first storms of winter, or the peaceful solitude in the stillness of a forest.
I strive to capture the essence of these fleeting moments in vivid color and detail, but also enjoy the textures of light, shadow, symmetry and balance, in the simplicity of black and white.

I can only hope the magnificence that surrounds us here in the mountains of the Western US shows through in my photography, and that the enjoyment of viewing it surpasses the enjoyment I’ve had creating it.”    

Find Mike's work online at www.MikeChilcoat.com  as well as on Faceboook.