Waiting for the best light!
Photographed on a Canon 5D MKII with 50mm 1.8 lens at f/2. Printed on Hahnemuhle Photorag.
Today we talk to Matt Davis about his motivation behind photography:
“I came into photography later in life, buying my first camera at the age of 25 and my first SLR when I was 27. I just seemed to “get” photography from day one and many people suggested it was something I could be good at. I eventually ditched my job in banking to pursue photography professionally and four years on I’ve established a strong reputation as a commercial photographer. For me photography is about bringing things to life and I get a real buzz from transforming an idea into a tangible image. I love the anxiety and excitement surrounding a complicated brief and I live for the feeling at the end of a truly satisfying shoot.
“Personal projects are the heart and soul of my work and I’m constantly on the lookout for new ideas to photograph. A fortnight trip to Cuba was my last big personal project and at the moment I’m working with teenagers on some quirky portraits. My next project is a little more secret and involves a series of images inside military bases.
The image above was shot in Havana “on a recent trip to shoot personal work. Before I departed for Cuba I decided to shoot into the sun with plenty of flare. As soon as I found this street I knew it would work and spent two hours waiting patiently for the best light.
Canon 5D MKII with 24-105L at f/4. Printed on Fuji Crystal Archive Matt
“Another shot from my trip to Cuba. Unlike my previous travel photography, I abandoned reportage portraiture for posed images which made a real connection with the viewer. I don’t speak Spanish and used simple body language and a few smiles to persuade people to have their picture taken. I was photographing a war veteran when his wife started to take an interest. After a brief conversation of gestures she emerged with a portrait of herself and smiled for the camera. I deliberately stopped speaking and became very serious hoping she’d follow suit, which she did perfectly.
Canon 450D with a kit lens at f/11. Printed on Fuji Crystal Archive Matt.
“I nearly always have a camera at hand. I didn’t on this occasion on the way back from a day’s skiing in Aviemore in Scotland. Fortunately one of my friends lent me his camera to capture some of the best light I’ve ever seen. I also risked falling through the ice at the same time!
Nikon D200 with Tokina 12-24 at f/11. Printed on Hahnemuhle Photorag and Fuji Crystal Archive glossy
“One of my most popular images, this was photographed in Yorkshire on a bitterly cold winter’s morning. I later learned the frost was called “rime” and it created a wonderful infrared effect which I boosted with plenty of contrast and saturation. I’ve photographed the same scene since and never come close to the type of light and mood.
If you want to see more of Matt’s photography then visit his web page.
(3 votes, average: 4.33 out of 5)
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The photo of Aviemore is amazing, just like the site itself. I went skiing in Aviemore last month and I remained breathless when I saw the beautiful landscapes.