Photographer and writer Michael Katakis has been writing about and photographing a wide range of cultures and geographic locations for the past twenty five years.  He has traveled throughout the People's Republic of China, West Africa, the United States, Korea, the Philippines, Taiwan, Italy, Mexico, Greece, Turkey, England, France, Spain, and Cuba.  His photographs of China were part of the inaugural exhibition, Generations, of the International Gallery, Smithsonian Institution in 1987.  He has lectured at the University of California at Santa Barbara, Swarthmore College, Montana State University, and the University of Southern California, where he was awarded a Certificate of Excellence in Teaching.
   In 2008 the British Library requested and then acquired Michael’s photographic and written work for the library’s American Collection. The British Library is now the repository for all of Katakis’ work. Also in 2008 Foolscap Press published a limited edition of Despatches which is a selection of writings and photographs from many years of travel. Many institutions such as the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and Stanford University have collected Despatches for their special collections.
   Michael’s first book, The Vietnam Veterans Memorial, published in 1988 (Crown, New York), is a two year study, in interviews and photographs, of the legacy of the war and the emotional impact the memorial has had on its visitors.  In 1993 he edited the book Sacred Trusts: Essays on Stewardship and Responsibility (Mercury House, San Francisco). Sacred Trusts was nominated for the Carl Sandburg Award. In 1998 Excavating Voices:  Listening to Photographs of Native Americans, was published by the  University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology.
   In 1988 Michael was the photographer on an anthropological research project, led by Dr. Kris Hardin of the University of Pennsylvania, to the Kono area of Sierra Leone, West Africa.  His photographs from this project appear in The Aesthetics of Action, published by Smithsonian Press.
   In 1989 his work was included in 75 Years of Leica Photography (1990 Leica, Wetzlar, West Germany).  His work appeared with photographs by Sebastiao Salgado, Henri Cartier-Bresson, W. Eugene Smith, Robert Doisneau and Andre Kertesz, among others.
   In 1991, Michael's work was chosen as the cover of Thoughts On Human Dignity and Freedom, Amnesty International 1991 Calendar and for the collaborative book with foreword by Arthur Miller, (Universe Books, 1991).  In 1991 the National Portrait Gallery (Washington, D.C.), acquired his portrait 'Maya Lin' for their study collection. The Wright Museum of Art, Beloit College and the National Army Museum in London have also collected his work.
   In 1999 Katakis was elected Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society in London, England.
   The exhibition, A TIME AND PLACE BEFORE WAR: IMAGES AND REFLECTIONS FROM A WEST AFRICAN TOWN opened at the Royal Geographical Society in London in May, 2001.  The photographs were taken in Sierra Leone just prior to the beginning of the civil war in that West African country.
   In 2001 the Monterey Museum of Art acquired the print ‘Egg Sellers’ for the museum’s permanent collection.
   In 2002 The Center for Photographic Art chose Michael’s work for their fine art print series.
   In 2003 Katakis’ portrait of 'Maya Lin' was included in the traveling exhibiton Women of Our Time (organized by the National Portrait Gallery, Washington D.C.). His work has also been published in the book that accompanies the exhibition. Also in 2003, his work was included in the Center for Photographic Art 2003 Center Awards exhibition.
   The Center for Photographic Art in Carmel, California exhibited A TIME AND PLACE BEFORE WAR in 2004.