From photographing politicians and celebrities to the struggles and triumphs of ordinary folks, Mr. Ortiz handled each with compassion, colleagues say.

If you live or have lived in metroDetroit™ or follow the goings-on of southeast Michigan, you’ve surely seen some of Max Ortiz’s photographic work, from the purely didactic or ceremonial to seemingly “fly-on-the-wall”, images captured by Ortiz’s sharp eye that would have been missed in those blink-of-an-eye moments.

Ortiz showing flagrant disregard for company equipment

Max Ortiz hangs expensive Detroit News video camera inches from the ground while filming the Dream Cruise along Woodward Ave, Aug 17, 2006.
Photo: David Guralnick, Detroit News

Max Ortiz passed away at the all-too-young age of 58 on May 31, 2024 and the News [and we here at !detroit] pays tribute to staff photographer and more, a California native with transplanted roots long grown in Royal Oak, MI.

Alt links for your convenience via archive.is:

What We Want Now
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