Capturing Moments

The Mike behind the Lens

I am Michael Ciancia (but you can call me Mike).

My unique perspective is rooted in my Italian and South American heritage. I speak some Spanish, allowing me to connect deeply with people from diverse backgrounds.

It started when I took a photography class in college and fell in love with the art. Today, while I utilize state-of-the-art gear to achieve technical perfection, that initial spark of discovery remains the core of my craft.

Why MAL?

It was born out of frustration and happenstance. I was posting photos I genuinely loved on Instagram, only to be met with a dozen likes or less. The algorithm made me feel like my work was poor quality, so I decided to lean into that feeling. I needed a new name, something easy to shout to people while I was shooting on the street, and looked to traditional English pub names like The Dog and Duck or The Crown and Anchor for inspiration. I landed on Mike and Lens. It wasn’t until later that I realized the acronym, MAL, translates to "Bad" in Spanish. It was perfect. I decided to embrace the irony and the self-deprecating humour, stamping my "bad" photos with MAL as a badge of honour.

I am defined by a relentless attitude—I don't just take photos; I chase them. I am constantly pushing the limits of what can be captured, always hunting for a new angle or a fresh perspective. For me, the mission is simple but vital: to ensure the story gets told, no matter what it takes.

While I live in London, I am available to travel anywhere in the UK.