Art & Life with Matthew Specht

Today we’d like to introduce you to Matthew Specht.

Matthew, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
Way back in the days when you had your Kodak instant camera, film, and flashbulbs, that is when I remember taking photos for the first time. The funny thing is, I didn’t care about photography at all then. I didn’t really start caring about “photography” until I bought my first point-and-shoot digital camera in 2001. That is when I would actively seek out things to photograph. I would take trips to the zoo and snapshots of the animals, lily pads, reptiles, pretty much anything I thought would be interesting. I kept wanting to try different things, shoot abstract objects, compose my shots, and try and be more creative.

For several years I would continue carrying around my point-and-shoot camera and just snap pics here and there. Eventually I started to see an improvement in my photos. I would show my friends and family, and they would usually have positive feedback for me (not always which was helpful in the long run). I kept moving forward with my photography and wanted to learn more about the details of actually being a photographer.

It wasn’t until 2011 that things started developing quickly. My wife and I found out we were about to be parents, and that is when I made the decision to invest into something more capable. I bought my first DSLR – a Nikon D3100, and things just went out of control from there. I was hooked, I would push myself to learn everything about my camera, things I didn’t really focus on before like f-stop, shutter speeds, external flashes, etc. etc. It didn’t take long before I was being paid to photograph other people.

Fast-forward to today, and I still push myself to be a better photographer. I’ve been blessed to have had my photography printed, recognized, and featured in galleries across the world; however, I still just take time to go out with my friends and enjoy the day or evening searching for interesting things to shoot. Even if end up with nothing good at the end of the day, it is the time spent with my friends and family that drives me, and you never know, sometimes I get a good photo or two out of it.

Can you give our readers some background on your art?
I am a freelance photographer who enjoys photographing everything from people and landscapes to architecture and abstract. I find inspiration in all sorts of ways; it is everywhere you go, it can be the way the sun rises or sets, the good weather and the bad. You can find inspiration even in the most unlikely of places if you are open to it.

When people view my work, the best compliment I could ask for is that my photography is able to invoke an emotion to those who view it. Peter Adams once said, “Great photography is about depth of feeling, not depth of field.”, and it would be great if my photography can bring feeling to others.

Artists rarely, if ever pursue art for the money. Nonetheless, we all have bills and responsibilities, and many aspiring artists are discouraged from pursuing art due to financial reasons. Any advice or thoughts you’d like to share with prospective artists?
Many artists/photographers think they cannot become the best they can be due to financial constraints. Money does help purchase supplies and new equipment; however, that shouldn’t deny or limit anyone who has a passion for their craft. The first photo I had showcased in a gallery was with an old point and shoot camera, if I thought my work was only as good as my equipment, I wouldn’t have gotten anywhere.

There will be a time when things get better financially, but a lot of my work grew of our necessity, and it made me a more creative photographer in the long run.

What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
I try and keep my social media sites updated with new photos, so the best places to see my work are on Instagram (Instagram.com/spechtdesigns), Facebook (fb.com/spechtdesigns), and a photo competition site I am active on called Gurushots (http://gurushots.com/matt.specht). If I have my work being displayed in a gallery or exhibit, I post those details to my Facebook page. I love talking to people about my work, so I would love for anyone to strike up a conversation with me and let me share my stories with them.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.spechtdesigns.com
• Phone: (832) 736-3203
• Email: matt@spechtdesigns.com
• Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/spechtdesigns
• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/spechtdesigns
• Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/spechtdesigns

Image Credit:
Specht Designs Photography

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