About
Read MoreAn authentic moment in beautiful light can express the ineffable. A fraction of a second sets the stage to a story glimpsing into a world so foreign, yet so familiar, it joins us in a palpable way. Everyone can picture an iconic photograph in our minds—these are some of the moments that bind us as one. I live for these moments; where we see our similarities as humans laid bare in the paradoxical relation of fragility, resilience, courage, and vulnerability.
To listen is to love - too often we condemn what we don't understand. Meet people where they are, share in the quagmire that is life, be real, be you. There is always middle ground and it is each of our jobs to find it.
Over the past decade, the genres of my work have varied. I am humbled to be fortunate enough to work with philanthropic organizations that use images to make a positive difference in our world. These passions and care extend to our natural environment. Whether I am in a city or deep in the wild, when I look outside I see something worth protecting. My love for wild things and places was forged in the Sierra Nevada. As a child, I remember growing up & spending each summer in the woods with my family—it was the highlight of my year. Time has a manner of changing directions; but life, and art, is about choosing. I now return to these places alone and witness the ecosystems changing rapidly. Mine is but a meager example of a place that will never be the same—there are countless others. As humans, our inaction continues to do nigh irreversible damage to our environment. Are we relying on passivity to provide an escape so we don't feel responsible for the future of our world?
Questions like this push me into the unknown. There is naught but forward and I believe the inherent discomfort of the uncharted is where one grows most. I will never cease in the pursuit of what sets my soul on fire. My utmost hope is these images spark something in you; it is difficult to care if one does not feel.
Breathe deep, these are not times for the timid.
Inquiries and comments:
matthew@matthewgillooley.com
- Published: BBC, The Guardian, The Telegraph, Yahoo, Photo Technique, and The Phoblographer.
- Winner: 2012 Young Travel Photographer of the Year
- Nominee: 2014 Photography Masters Cup: "Children of the World"
- Finalist: 2016 Travel Photographer of the Year - Best single image in a portfolio: "Land, Sea, Sky".
- Nominee: 2016 International Color Awards - "Wildlife" & "Children of the World"