Wings of Angels: Michael Malak Biography
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Lionel is excited to team up with Michael Malak, an amazing photographer who specializes in 1940’s Hollywood glam and WWII Pinup photography, with a collection of Made in the USA boxcars called Wings of Angels. This collection is truly unique; and is the perfect way to pay tribute to WWII pinup and aviation on your layout. Continue reading to learn about Michael and how his love for WWII and the 1940's style came
BIOGRAPHY OF MICHAEL MALAK
I was born in Newport Beach California in the 60’s. My
artistic ability, I know, I received from my father. He always amazed me as a kid, being
able to draw and build models while I was growing up.
My love and appreciation for WWII aircraft came from him. He
used to build these balsa wood models. They were beautifully recreated
productions of the real thing. The two
that stand out most in my mind are a P-51D Mustang and a P-38 Lightning. Both
impressive down to the last detail.
My interest in photography didn’t come into my life until
high school. My fiance’ jokes with me today after finding an old high school report
card, “You got a D in photography?” What can I say, as a teenager you never truly
understand how important school is until you’re out in the real world. I took art for four years where I did
make high marks and I believe that is where you truly learn to frame a shot.
I must thank my old art teacher Mrs. Parkinson for pushing me
outside my comfort zone. Without her, I don’t think my photography would look
the same today.
My love for the 1940’s I feel didn’t come until late in my
life. As you grow up and see the world changing around you, seeing directions on aspirin
bottles, lawsuits for spilt coffee and plastic merchandise that was designed to
break so that in the next few months you’d have to spend the money to replace it, just
didn’t make sense. Seeing metal fans from the 1940’s some 70 years later still
working was where the american pride of built in the U.S.A came from.
As I got back into photography three years ago, a friend saw
me trying to find my place in this industry. He told me, what style of photography are you going for?
I asked,
what do you mean? He replied, I see some amazing style to your work but your all
over the place. The question that still resonates with me today that he
posed was, would you print and hang any of these photos that you
took on your own wall of these models? I told him, probably not, why? He told me,
“then your wasting your time”. The shots you take should mean something to you, it
should be a part of you, something that you’re passionate about and something that
you could see hanging on your own wall." At that point, it was a game changer for
me.
I turned my focus to the 1940’s Hollywood style photography.
It was something that was a part of me. The look of it was impressionable and
if done correctly people would look at the work for longer than just a quick
glance. There was so much appeal to shoot into the years of the 1940’s. “Built
in the U.S.A.” meant something, New York, Detroit & Hollywood, California
were the places to be back then. Everyone dressed up just to walk outside. Men
with top coats, gloves, fedora hats, ties and suits. Women were never seen outside
without stockings, gloves, hat and a beautiful dress.
For me the style of the 40’s and WWII has it all. That Vogue
look, the look that has a presence to it that is undeniable. The old movies running today on TCN, the story lines
are incredible! The lighting and wardrobe and that Hollywood look! I know this may
sound cliche’ but they just don’t make them like they used to!
The photographer’s work that inspires me the most from the
era would have to be Mr. George Hurrell. The photos that he created without showing
anything gratuitous was pure genius! The ambiance that was created with lighting could excite you, intrigue you and
entice you! Some of his photography gave way to WWII Nose art paintings that
adorned the side of B-17 bombers in the war.
My other inspiration for lighting and film work would have
to go to Mr. Alfred Hitchcock, the master of suspense and allure and his great
works of Film Noir/ Femme Fatale. Just by the lighting, you can tell what is about to happen his movies.
I’ve received lots of emails from people asking me how I
came up with the name “Wings of Angels” for this project… that’s an interesting
story. As I started this project to honor our veterans and fallen heroes, I didn’t
have a name, it was just a concept. It wasn’t until soon after my grandfather passed
away that I prayed about it, praying for the right name that would show respect
towards the veterans aircraft and to the models, and then I let it go. I had always loved
one of the last lines in the movie “Saving Private Ryan” spoken by Tom Hanks as the P-51
Mustangs blew up the German tanks on the bridge. “Angels on our shoulders”,
he said to Ryan. I felt I needed to incorporate “Angels” into the name of the project
somehow. The first part of the name was given to me one morning as I was getting
ready for a photo shoot. I was watching TCN movie channel and a commercial came on
for an old WWII film starring John Wayne called “Wings of Eagles”. With all that
being said, that’s how the name came to be.