e-mail michael.defilippo@slps.org

I’m a native of New Jersey. I’ve lived in St. Louis for 40 years.I am a semi-retired photojournalist and writer. I entered the ranks of substitute teaching during the 2018- 2019 academic year. I joined CVPA as an in-building substitute that Spring. I embrace the variety of situations presented by this position.My daily goal is to support the ongoing mission of CVPA’s administration and teachers. I view the challenges presented by this current pandemic as growth opportunities for both myself and the students I have the privilege of teaching.

          From 1983-1994 I was a writer and award-winning staff photographer for the Riverfront Times.  In 1995 I established a commercial photography studio on Washington Ave in downtown Saint Louis, servicing corporate, institutional and editorial clients. Last year I volunteered my time and talents to provide photographs of CVPA students during performances both in and out of school. I hope to continue in that role when we are reunited.

Some of my more prominent, long term client relationships and assignments include:

Saint Louis Post-Dispatch – “Get Out” section photographer, Metro section stringer, 1995-1998

The Electrical Distributor – “best practices” writer, photographer, 1997-202 

National Community Pharmacists Assoc. – photographer, writer 2002 - present

Slay for Mayor Committee – photographer, podcaster, 2005 – 2013

World Chess Hal of Fame, catalog and installation photographer – 2010-present

Masonry Institute of Saint Louis, Masonry - managing editor – 2014-201

Community Service

1981-1983 – Double Helix Corp - Volunteer, videographer, producer, photographer, radio theater writer/performer for the organization that currently operates as community radio station KDHX FM 88.1.

1999-2001 – St. Patrick’s Center – volunteer photographer for a capital campaign brochure that served as the centerpiece of a fundraising effort to build a new homeless shelter in downtown St. Louis. Won an Addy Award for black and white photography.

2013 – Magdalene St. Louis – mounted a thirty- year retrospective of personal photography that served as a fundraiser for an organization helping at risk women.

 Personal Work

In 2016 I began documenting the impact of the Interstate Highway System on the City of Saint Louis as a personal “60^th birthday challenge” to myself. The project portfolio received local and national press attention.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/photo-series-st-louisfreeways_n_57c09eb8e4b04193420f22fd

Since then I expanded the project to a national scope. The goal is to complete it by 2026 when both the Interstate and I turn 70. The working title is “I-70”. This year, during my 64^th year, I have focused on Interstate 64. Unfortunately the pandemic kept me from my self-assigned goal of driving the road end to end, documenting the impact on cities like Charleston, WVA, and Richmond, VA. Here is the work-in-progress project page containing 4 portfolios of photographs:

https://madeflip.myportfolio.com/work

 Education – Colgate University, BA – English Literature and History

michael.defilippo@slps.org