We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Matt Janson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Matt , so excited to talk about all sorts of important topics with you today. The first one we want to jump into is about being the only one in the room – for some that’s being the only person of color or the only non-native English speaker or the only non-MBA, etc Can you talk to us about how you have managed to be successful even when you were the only one in the room that looked like you?
I think I may answer this question in a slightly different way than intended. However, I think my answer is one of the more important considerations for any artist.
Throughout my life, I’ve been told that I see the world in a different way than most people. Less tactful people have called me, “weird.” I haven’t always appreciated the associated monikers, but I have learned to embrace the sentiment.
As a younger artist, I thought the best way to make money was to create things that would sell. I would alter my vision to create things that, I believed, would cater to the masses. I learned very quickly that I was selling out only to not sell. Not selling work you’re not proud of is a horrible feeling.
I’ve learned to be most effective by staying true to myself and true to my vision of the world. Staying true to myself creates a certain continuity to my work, creating loyal fans and clients. Most importantly, I’m excited by the work I create. I’m excited to chat with people who show an interest in my process. I’m excited when someone takes a piece home.
Sometimes I feel like I’m the “only person in the room” with my art, but I know my unique pieces will eventually find people who are just as excited by the end result as I am.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I think this is a great space to share my biography and artist statement:
Matt Janson is a Colorado-born photographer whose journey began with an education in New York City. Starting as a sound mixer for film and television, Matt quickly rose to prominence, contributing to two Emmy-winning projects and earning a personal Emmy nomination for his work in the industry.
In 2012, Matt returned to his roots in Colorado, where he transitioned to a career in photography. His work, though primarily commercial, has garnered international recognition and publication. Matt’s artistic projects have also attracted significant attention, showcasing his creative versatility and keen eye for detail. This includes being a featured artist internationally in magazines within France, China, and Spain as well as publications across the United States.
Matt’s photography is celebrated for its unique perspective, blending technical skill with artistic expression. His portfolio demonstrates a range of styles, from commercial shoots to more personal artistic endeavors, illustrating his ability to capture both the raw and refined aspects of his subjects.
Today, Matt continues to push the boundaries of photography, drawing inspiration from the natural beauty of Colorado while maintaining a global perspective. His work is frequently published and admired, cementing his reputation as a talented and innovative photographer.
**Artist Statement**
For over two decades, I navigated the world of commercial and corporate photography, honing my craft and learning to tell stories through a lens in a way that resonated with clients and audiences alike. While that chapter of my career has shaped my technical skills and understanding of visual storytelling, I have reached a point where I am eager to break away from the constraints of commercial demands. Today, my focus has shifted to fine art photography, where I find the freedom to explore, experiment, and express my vision without boundaries.
My work is now deeply intertwined with the rugged beauty and quiet splendor of western Colorado, a place I’m fortunate to call home. The vast landscapes, the ever-changing light, and the raw textures of this region inspire me daily. Each photograph is an attempt to distill the essence of this place—to capture not just what it looks like, but what it feels like to stand amidst its grandeur. My aim is to create images that evoke a sense of wonder, introspection, and connection, encouraging viewers to see the natural world in a new light.
Fine art photography, to me, is an exploration of both the external world and the internal landscape of human emotion. I believe that a photograph should be more than just a representation of reality; it should be a bridge between the seen and the unseen, the known and the unknown. In this journey, I strive to create images that are as much about the viewer’s experience and interpretation as they are about my own perspective. I want each piece to speak to the audience on a personal level, inviting them to pause, reflect, and perhaps see a piece of themselves within the image.
In my process, I seek simplicity and authenticity. I am drawn to natural light, organic textures, and the interplay of shadows and highlights. I often find myself venturing off the beaten path, driven by a desire to capture moments that feel untouched and pure. There is something profoundly moving about the quiet moments—an early morning fog rolling over a valley, the last rays of sunlight kissing the peaks of distant mountains, or the intricate patterns etched by time into ancient rock formations. These are the moments that speak to me, and these are the moments I wish to share.
Transitioning to fine art has been both a liberating and humbling experience. It is a return to the roots of why I fell in love with photography in the first place—the ability to create without compromise, to be guided solely by the passion of what moves me. It is about patience, persistence, and a willingness to wait for the right moment when everything aligns and the story reveals itself.
As I move forward in this new chapter, I hope to continue exploring the natural beauty of the American West and beyond, always searching for that elusive balance between chaos and calm, light and shadow, reality and imagination. My work is a tribute to the land, to the stories it holds, and to the timeless connection between nature and the human spirit.
Thank you for joining me on this journey. I invite you to experience my vision through my lens and see the world from a perspective that blends the familiar with the extraordinary.
My newest project has been getting a fair bit of attention. It was just featured in the March issue of PPA (Professional Photographers of America) magazine. It’s a stereoptic series showcasing the changing seasons in western CO. Here is the story of the series:
About 10 years ago, I started playing around with replicating the effect, but with the same size cards and the same antique viewer. I had great success achieving the effect, but didn’t have a viable way to display or monetize the effect for my business.
About 2 years ago, I decided I wanted to do a really classic series of photos with lots of negative space and a simple yet attention-grabbing subject. I ended up shooting plant life to show the change of seasons where I am in Western Colorado. I was really happy with the results, but then it hit me that I could produce these photos in stereo. I had never seen gallery sized prints of stereo photos before. I tested the concept and immediately fell in love with the results. So, I started the project over.
About 6 months into restarting the project, I upgraded my camera and lenses from a Canon 1dx to a Hasselblad x2d. The color and clarity of the x2d was so much more refined than my Canon and this stereo project needed to have the best possible outcome. With a little regret and a lot of excitement, I started over again. This time there were no more hiccups. I just wanted to remain as authentic to the project as possible. Each set of images is true to our plant-life.
With the summer image completed just a few weeks ago, they have all been printed and framed at an image size of 20×24″ and everyone who has seen them has been blown away by the effect. So many people have assumed this was done with brand new technology. It’s great to see their faces when I tell them this concept was actually developed in 1832. I’m proud to bring back this concept to a new generation and share some antiquated technology in an increasingly AI world.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
My desire to grow and learn and continually evolve has been a great asset to my career. I’m always wanting to improve and learn new techniques. I’ve seen many photographers who create something that goes viral so they keep creating the same thing over and over again. They burn fast and bright and seem to fizzle out pretty quickly. I think my adapting and evolution keeps my fans on their toes. They never quite know what they’ll see next.
Perspective is also a great superpower for any artist. You certainly don’t need to be an old person to have it. It’s important to approach any interaction with anyone of any age with an open mind. You can learn from the most unexpected encounters. I really enjoy mentoring and teaching young people. They tend to have really open minds and really blunt questions. When you do anything for an extended period of time, you can easily get stuck in a groove. There’s nothing wrong with that, but it’s easy to ignore the inspired creativity of other options. For example, this last summer, I was teaching photography at a summer camp to high school students. They were playing around with light setups and they came up with something I hadn’t considered in a long time, but absolutely loved. I immediately incorporated that setup into a professional portrait shoot for a musician and it was excellent.
Perseverance is incredibly important for any artist. I fully believe that it only takes one person to view your work for everything to change. Regardless of how good you are, you will have a thousand no’s before you get that life-changing yes. It’s difficult to let those rejections go. It becomes easy to question your motives, goals, and work. Stay true to your vision. Work hard to improve your art. Work hard to promote your art. You’re art will eventually find its audience.
Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?
Feeling frustrated and overwhelmed and burnt out are common feelings among most professions. I’ve had a tendency throughout my career to stay glued to a project until completion regardless of time and/or energy required. It’s taken me longer than I’d like to admit to realize that work ethic is neither healthy or productive. It’s important to take time for yourself to decompress and just be you. I think being alone is a key element to that restorative process. While there are probably people in your life who make you feel good and are supportive, being alone allows for a reset where you don’t have to worry about other people’s feelings or timelines. Think about what you can do for yourself that’s not work related and helps calm your mind. For me, I love going out for a wandering ride on my motorcycle or hitting one of the amazing local trails on my mountain bike.
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