Michael Lawton

Michael Lawton (1943-2021) was a photographer best known for his 360-degree panoramas, a genre which he helped to popularize (having designed and built cameras capable of taking such shots). His works took in subjects spanning the globe, from cities to archaeological sites and natural wonders. He worked for ten years as a photographer for National Geographic, during which time he focused on photographs of outer space. Later in his career, his work took on a stronger emphasis on environmental themes. A 1989 ‘L.A. Times’ article profiling him described Lawton as the ‘wide-angle wizard’ and the ‘prince of the panoramas.’