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Matthew Lang Photography 360-332-1888 |
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About Me |
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It's rather unusual for me to volunteer to be photographed. It is even more unusual for me to photograph myself! For over 30 years, it has been either my hobby or profession to photograph that which is around me. Being the subject of the camera`s gazing eye was always something I tried to avoid, usually succesfully. But, while walking the streets of Japan, something rather unusual happened. For some strange reason, I became drawn to the little round traffic safety mirrors which, for lack of a better word, litter the landscape of Japan.(continued below) |
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In a country of approximately 125 million people, it would not surprise me, for even a half second, if I was to discover that there are 10 times that many mirrors. There are small ones and big ones, new and old, shiny and rusty, and without except, they are everywhere. When I started taking photos of these ubiquitous round mirrors, it wasnt long before I was in many of the photographs, and, for a change, I wasn`t bothered by being there. Someitmes I would try to find a location in the mirror and hide, making if difficult to see where I was. At other times I would stand openly in plain view, making myself visible as a (hopefully) meaningful component of the photograph. My objection to being front and center was taking a back seat for a change. Now that I am back in the Pacific Northwest, I shall again be turning my camera back in the direction it is most comfortable, which is of course, at others and at you. I enjoy this role. It provides me with a great deal of satisfaction when done right, which is measured by the individuals own reaction to the photographs I have taken of them. If you are looking to have photographs taken, please let me know. I am available to shoot in studio or on location. The kinds of photography I do are outdoor (so called "environmental portraiture"), commercial and editorial work, child candid portraits, family and group portraits, "animals and owners" portraits. I can also be hired as an additional photographer at a wedding. I do not do standard wedding photography as the main or principle photographer. That type of photography is highly specialized, and is not something I do. I prefer to do what I am good at. I make an excellent add-on photographer, covering your event as if I was doing it for a magazine. This provides you a truly different look from standard wedding photographs. I believe one of my strengths as a photographer is the ability to watch a situation as it happens in front of me, and not only identify interesting images as they happen (all photographers should be able to do this), but also to predict when and where something will happen. In this way, I may position myself ahead of time to best photograph the moment. Whether the event is controlled by someone or is free-flowing, I observe the interactions of people and surrounding, and try to capture images which reflect the mood of the event. Happiness and sadiness, casual intimacy, formal attention, all flowing and changing with the moment, but important to record and remember. |