I have been a photographer now for 18 months, I specialize in photographs for musicians. I myself am a musician of 15 years – my passion for music equals my passion for photography.
Having that connection has allowed me to photograph many of my peers that I work with regularly and given me in roads to other opportunities that I am so grateful for. I do shoot many other things, I have worked for various restaurants, hotels and other small businesses, from a floral boutique to a pilates studio.
Chase Jarvis and Zack Arias have been great influences for me – their web presence made photography so accessible to me and many others, I like the fact that these seasoned professionals are willing to share, willing to give away the trade secrets that make great photos. Chase’s commercial work and dramatic imagery makes me want to push myself harder, wanting to replicate these great pieces. Zack’s work on One Light has immensely helped me to use strobes in more creative ways than I could have ever imagined.
I like bold colors, striking black and whites, interesting perspectives but I like to try and show something that’s a little bit different, or something that is a little bit quirky. My current project involved placing a saxophonist in a suit while wearing goggles in a wading pool – The hilarity of the juxtaposition possesses such great humor, I love it! It has opened my eyes to more interesting shoots that I have planned down the pipeline, I’m pretty excited about what the next 6 months may hold for me – man I wish I had my own studio!!
I’m always open to people’s thoughts and opinions, I’m a far far way away from becoming the photographer I want to be, but I believe it is through education and experience that not only me but all of us can get to where we want in our lives.
I do want to dabble a bit more in editorial photography, I would never claim to be a serious photojournalist, but I like telling stories through my images. Having said that I love architectural photography, landscapes, anything that’s impressive! I don’t know, I just feel like that I want to photograph everything, I just can’t get enough of it!!
I’m going to be travelling Europe next year for the first time and hopefully over to the US later on, as much as I love Sydney I am dying to get out and see/shoot more of the world, find more great influences and develop my photography further.
Ultimately what I love about photography is that it is an extension of what I see, showing people the crazy things that go on in my mind and being able to put that down for everyone to see. Bringing my imagination to reality.
If there’s any advice I can offer to other young photographers is this – Be honest to yourself and what you want out of your passion, and you will produce the images you have always wanted. In the meantime educate yourself, let your passion grow out of control and love the process. Good luck!
Links:
Website: www.markmatthews.com.au
Blog: www.markmimage.blogspot.com
facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Mark-Matthews/104005656333488
twitter: @markmimage
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