About Matthew Dixon Photography

Introduction

I'll be honest I became a full time photographer purely by accident. In my former life I was a Graphic Designer for 20 years working on a multitude of accounts ranging from enthusiastic new start up companies to blue chip accounts.

In 2004 I bought myself a Nikon D70 DSLR and upload my efforts to Flickr, in 2005 my work was being sold commercially through online image libraries and my first camera retired after taking over 50,000 images. In 2006 I gave up my Graphic Design position and decided to go it alone (I was now on my third Nikon). Photography is now a full time obsession.

Vision

For me its all about the light and the simplicity of the image. Finding the right balance of light and composition has become something of an obsession for me, the same scene can look bland or emotionally engaging depending on how these two elements combine. The magic moment when everything comes together is what drives me on a quest to capture it. It will get me up before the dawn chorus, lets me survive on just a few hours sleep a day and generally will not let me rest.

Equipment

Several Nikon bodies ranging from a D70 upwards, many prime and fast zoom lenses, only the sharpest make it into the camera bag. Currently using a full frame Canon 5D mark II with a pro range of glass. Fully equipped photo studio with multiple flash units for product photography and commissioned work which you won't see here, email me if you are interested in bespoke work.

Digital Junky

I use Digital SLR's exclusively. Finding the sweet spot of any scene can take several hours and on many occasions several visits. Add to this rapidly changing weather and light conditions and you have an extremely narrow window to capture the magical moment. With digital I can fire off as many test shots as I see fit, review in camera and react quickly when the right moment finally arrives. Digital RAW files give me complete control in post production, with a virtually grainless image to play with it allows me a great deal of creative freedom to produce a sharp, crisp, colourful image that hopefully becomes a memorable one.

Influences

Fine artist and not photographers oddly enough. After graduating as a Graphic Artist I was invited onto a BA Fine Art course. Although never completing this additional qualification I got the art bug and it still amazes me how the works of artists such as Constable, Caravaggio and Miro continue to influence contemporary photography to this day.

Also my partner who as a single mother raised her disabled boy, travelled America, completed her fine art degree with flying colours and has since carved herself out a career as a food stylist and photographer. She continues to make me laugh and keeps me on planet earth (most of the time anyway).

C'est la vie

I could try to impress you with how I'm trying to reconnect us all back to our roots with nature by evoking an emotional response through my images, but the truth is I enjoy watching a sunrise and being outside.

Currently my addiction to photography is still ongoing, there are no plans to find a cure.

Enjoy...