Photo Profile : Patrick Matte

I became interested in photography in 2003. Having created Web sites for years, I was convinced that a design with a beautiful picture spoke louder than words.

I learnt the technical aspects of photography at the New York Institute of Photography in 2006. After that, I continued my education through different means: photo clubs, books, magazines and Web sites like this one. I also exchanged a lot with other photographers, from beginners to experts.

I admire a number of photographers: Matt Stuart for his extraordinary street photography and his use of different levels of information; Jaime Ibarra for his shattered visual style that creates new standards; Zack Arias for his way of explaining complex themes and making them accessible. He was the first person who made me understand the Inverse Square Law. Finally, Maurice Pitre, a photographer I met when starting out, for his Zen way in approaching photography.

Photography gives me a way of expressing ideas I would have difficulty putting into words. Although portraits have always inspired me, I consider myself a generalist. My style is defined more by moods, careful lighting and emotions- sometimes imprecise but always present. Totally imagined subjects and larger than life environments inspire me a lot.

 

In creating a photograph I go through many steps. Although chronological, my method is consciously disorganized. I feel more creative this way. I’ve adopted a more precise method for corporate projects, but this works less for me when working on something more artistic.

The first step is planning. It’s at this stage that I decide upon an orientation, a visual style and mostly on an emotion I wish to convey. My photographs are never totally completed in my mind at this stage. I give myself a fair amount of latitude, hoping that a random event may intervene at the right moment to bring its lot of surprises.

When taking a picture, I try by all means to create a scene that transcends the daily routine. I like playing with contrasts. As background, I often use a place that, by its textures and complexity, will contrast or support the subject’s emotions. I prefer that my subjects have a dreamlike look, as dreams give the onlooker many ways to interpret what he is seeing.

Finally there is the selection and improvement stage. I borrow photographic styles from different periods, by using layers of textures, color variations and lighting adjustments. I like pushing the envelope on digital retouching, but by always keeping in mind that it’s a photograph I’m working on.

Links:

Website : http://www.patmatte.com
Flickr : http://www.flickr.com/photos/patrickmatte
Facebook : http://www.facebook.com/patrickmattephotographe