Story Behind Max Milligan and his astounding photographs

In March 2021 a new volcano erupted in Iceland where none had appeared for 800 years. Max Milligan managed to escape the UK lockdown and spend 3 months capturing images from intimate close ups to panoramics on foot, by plane and helicopter.

He was the only one of over 200 photographers to capture the aurora borealis directly over the lava spewing crater. His lecture includes stunning pictures, extraordinary adventures, hilarious moments and some nudity.

Max Milligan is an author, raconteur and fine art photographer renowned for his painterly eye and the fact that he uses no filters, flash and only minimal digital correction in his work.

With eight books published and two in production, his titles have appeared in The Times Top Ten Travel Books of the Year and Condé Nast Traveller Book of the Month.

Max began his career working as a wildlife cameraman for the BBC and National Geographic Video in the Amazon jungle before becoming a documentary editor at the BBC and Channel 4 in London.

His artworks hang in private and corporate collections worldwide including the prestigious Deutsche Bank collection in London. Previous exhibitions include Kensington Palace, City Hall London and The European Parliament.

Max’s words and pictures have appeared in newspapers such as The Times, Daily Telegraph, FT, Guardian, Independent and magazines including Harper’s Bazaar, Condé Nast Traveller, FT How to spend it, New Scientist, Saturday Telegraph Magazine and Porter.

Milligan has also taken stills on the sets of movies such as James Bond, Harry Potter and Bridget Jones and numerous others on behalf of the Corporation of London.

He has lectured to MENSA at Cambridge University and often gives illustrated talks at The Royal Geographical Society as well as giving photography seminars, workshops and courses in institutions all the way from Peru to the University of Brighton.

In Sept 2022 Max is leading a photography workshop at Alladale Wilderness Reserve for Leica UK.

Join Max for his upcoming talk with curator Sandra Higgins on Wednesday 23rd March at The Drawing Rooms in Bath, book here.