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Matthew Chung
@chunger_shoots
Photographer based in Canada
When I started university, thoughts of picking up a camera never even crossed my mind. That was not too long ago. Now, I can’t imagine living a life without one. To say that photography has changed my life would be an understatement. It has given me purpose. It has shown me that creativity knows no bounds. It has even pushed me to experience things I never thought I’d experience otherwise. Photography has brought me across the world. It has made me truly appreciate the little things in life. It has connected me with some of the most incredible people, creating relationships that will last a lifetime. The list can go on and on.
"If there’s one thing I know for certain though, it’s that photography has brought me happiness. And that, in my eyes, is the ultimate key to life."
To fully appreciate today’s milestones, I like to look back at where I began. I think it’s important to take some time to not only appreciate how far I’ve come, but to also acknowledge that life is a journey. When I think back on moments in my life that changed me, there are almost too many to count. However, I’m always immediately drawn to some of my first experiences while travelling. I believe that the reason travelling is so impactful is because it has the power to change you beyond your own expectations. When you embark on a foreign journey, outside of your comfort zone, change is almost inevitable. It has the ability to alter entire egos, shift perspectives and establish one’s purpose. I can say this with absolute certainty because these are all ways that travelling has impacted me.
"The first time I travelled alone, without my family, was back in 2016. This was also the first time I had ever flown overseas."
After completing my third year of university, I decided to embark on a last minute, three week adventure to Europe with some friends. While we were there, we visited parts of Italy and the Netherlands. Those three weeks is all it took for me to finally understand what it meant to be culture shocked. Everything from the architecture, to the food, to the way people lived, was so drastically different than what I was used to. It opened my eyes to the beautiful nuances of world travel, inevitably leaving me wanting more. Not only did it fuel my wanderlust, but it also introduced me to photography, which is now my pride and joy. I often say that my passion for photography was born in Europe that year, although at the time I had no idea where it would take me. I have since become obsessed not only with travelling, but with capturing the special moments along the way.
"With the click of a button I’m able to stop time, tell stories and create memories for life. To me, that is what photography is all about."
My trip to Europe may have opened my eyes to foreign culture but some of my most profound discoveries have come from travelling within my home country of Canada and across the United States. The first time I really got to explore Canada outside of my hometown of Toronto, was in 2017, one year after my Euro trip. In the same year, I also embarked on a 14 day road trip from Ontario, Canada all the way to Arizona, and back. During these adventures I experienced backcountry camping for the first time and fell in love with hiking in the great outdoors. I witnessed everything from expansive flatlands, awe-inspiring canyons and mountains that would take your breath away.
Taking photos of landscapes is where I truly feel most alive. To me, there is nothing better than being completely immersed in nature and just letting the mind flow freely. In today’s world it’s so easy to get overstimulated by the likes of social media and the daily news. However, when I’m out shooting landscapes, time just seems to slow down. Being out in nature is where I always feel most inspired. Where creativity is constantly at an all time high. It’s a place where I’m able to just be me and not worry about the trials and tribulations of everyday life. It’s without a doubt that my love of photography and the great outdoors go hand in hand. I truly don’t know if my appreciation for one would be as deep-rooted without the other. Photography helps me connect and experience nature on a whole other level. It helps me to focus on the little details and pushes me to see things from perspectives I would not have searched for otherwise.
"On the contrary, Mother Nature is also what inspires me to pick up a camera and explore in the first place. With that being said, I think there are a few key things that make up a good landscape photo."
Number one is lighting. Yes, this is true for all types of photography, but what separates landscape work from any other is that the light source is ever-changing and in most cases, out of our control. When it comes to shooting landscapes, good lighting often means being in the right place at the right time. There’s a reason photographers like myself will sacrifice sleep in order to capture that morning glow, or risk hiking down from mountain tops at night just to be able to capture a good sunset. However, just because the sun has gone down, doesn’t mean we have to put our cameras away. Shortly after golden hour is blue hour, a brief moment where the world is painted in beautiful tones of light blue and teal. This is one of the most magical times to shoot and quite frankly one of the most peaceful times throughout the day. From there, the sky slowly transitions from light blue to nearly black, until eventually we are left in complete darkness.
"This is one of my favourite times for photography. In the right conditions, I’ve been able to capture some of my most memorable images to date."
This photo here is one that I am especially proud about. This was taken amongst a cluster of giant rocks on a beach in Tofino, British Columbia. My friend and I had just spent the entire day commuting from Vancouver to the Pacific Rim, arriving just in time for sunset. I often say that the pacific coast of Vancouver Island feels very much like how I’d envision heaven to be. It’s simply breathtaking.
FAVORITE
PHOTOGRAPH
We spent a few hours on the beach throwing a frisbee, listening to waves crashing and just admiring the beautiful sunset. As you can tell though, this photo was taken long after the sun had gone down. I waited until we were in pure darkness and then I set up my tripod and started shooting. I captured every angle of the night sky until I found the Milky Way. To my surprise, it was situated perfectly above this rock formation, creating a composition that almost looked like the peak of a mountain. I took some initial shots of the landscape alone, but knew something was missing. That’s when I told my friend to climb up onto the rocks, shine his headlamp to the ground and stand still. The end result turned out to be one of my favourite shots I’ve ever taken. The light from the headlamp added a layer of depth that was lacking from the original. It also brightened up the photo significantly and gave it much more visual appeal. After popping the blues of the sky and accentuating the Milky Way in post production, I was left with a photo that I was even blown away by. It’s proof that hard work and perseverance pays off. So, if you were to ask me what my favourite photo is right now, I would have to say this one.
"The next biggest component to any good landscape photo, in my opinion, is composition."
Again, this is true for any photo. However, landscape photography is unique and fun because it’s all about using what’s already in the environment to help frame your shot. When I capture any photo, I make sure first and foremost that the subject is easily identifiable. My hope is that when anyone views my work, they are able to distinguish all its key elements without confusion. Nothing is more distracting than a subject that is unclear, or worse, multiple subjects that are competing for your eyes’ attention. After I have established a point of focus in my photo, I like to navigate my surroundings and look for additional elements that can be used to enhance that subject. Some of the best ways I like to do that is by using foreground or background elements as leading lines or as elements that create depth. Many times I like to shoot through things, such as tall grass, or trees in the foreground, to help bring greater focus to the subject beyond.
"I find it’s these little things that can make all the difference when it comes to composing a shot."
While some creators are very minimal with their edits, others have styles that are very elaborated. It is at this stage where your true photographic style is revealed. When it comes to my own work, I have various colour tones that I like to use in order to maintain a style that feels true to me. Typically, when I edit my photos I try to emphasize the blue, green and orange hues of the image, often desaturating them to make them less vibrant and more moody. I also like to ensure that each photo has one primary tone that is consistent throughout, and no more than two or three others that compliment it. To me, a photo that has too many colours can look visually cluttered. I have always been a firm believer that less is more, so this is a theory I try to incorporate into my edits.
"Sometimes when I edit a photo, I like to add elements to enhance the mood or remove elements that are distracting."
At the end of the day, I always want my viewers to feel something when they look at my work.The editing process is where I’m really able to establish that feeling or tell a story. Above all, I believe that the editing process is ultimately what transforms a normal photo into a work of art. Art that you are proud to showcase to the world or even hang on your wall. That, as a matter of fact, is how I began turning photography from a hobby to a business. By opening my very own print shop.
If there’s one thing that the pandemic has taught me, it’s that life is too short to sit back and not do what you love. Being in isolation for so long really made me realize that time is precious and limited. That’s why I decided to start taking steps towards turning my passion of photography into a business. I started off small, by building an online presence where I could showcase my art and sell it. After hours of research and design, Matt Chung Studios was born, an online print shop that is inspired by nature, for nature. With every print that is sold in my shop, two trees are planted. I see this as a small way of giving back to the beautiful world that has inspired my art for years.
"Since its launch early last year, we’ve helped plant over 100 trees back into the world, a milestone that is small but one that I am proud of nonetheless."
Now, I’m looking to expand my business even more by using my expertise in photography to help brands tell their stories to the world. This is an exciting new chapter for me and as always, I look forward to the challenges and success that follows. I look forward to watching my photography continue to grow and for my styles to constantly develop. I know that my photos ten years from now will look completely different, and that in itself excites me. If there’s anything I’ve learned through my journey, it’s that the learning doesn’t stop. Perhaps that’s what makes life, and photography, so fun.
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