We recently connected with Matthew Salas and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Matthew, thanks for joining us today. Are you happy as a creative professional? Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to work for someone else?

I feel like I get the best of both worlds, I am able to be an artist/creative as well as have a regular 9-5 job that still involves photography. My art is literally the outcome of my creativity in the sense that I use my camera to create an image. In my mind as I work I am creating and composing the image prior to clicking the shutter. As someone who does a lot of street photography frame work becomes very important, you can see many things panning out before they happen or at least hope they pan out the way you plan. Street photography can be a hit or miss and when things don’t work out you move on, its very fast paced and exciting.

When I am not doing street photography I am working in the Auction industry photographing an array of antique pieces that range from paintings to Turkish carpets. Like any regular type job it can become repetitive but on days off a good walk through Downtown reignites the creative spark. Overall, the creative aspect of photography is what makes me the happiest, yes, the final outcome afterward is rewarding but the journey getting there is very satisfying.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Matthew and I’m primarily a street photographer and portrait photographer, often times combining the two. Originally I grew in a small beach town in Port Hueneme which is in Ventura County but have been living in Los Angeles for about 15 years now. Living here really helped hone my craft and establish what I wanted to achieve as a Photographer.
My original inspiration into the art was heavily influenced by my father who in his younger years was a Photographer himself. He shared many photos from his days in high school with me and seeing his documentation of that time and era made me want to do the same. Majority of my work is a reflection of what I see in my travels, whether its in Downtown Los Angeles or oversea ventures. Its spontaneous and generous in the sense that nothing is coordinated in any way. That being said I don’t shy away from more formal photography, taking on clientele for weddings, birthdays or even a portrait session is never out of the question. Everything is a learning experience and I’m all for it.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding part of what I do is the process of getting that final product. The final image after the editing is done and knowing the story behind it. Spending a good amount of my time on the streets searching for those very spontaneous moments makes it all worth it. It’s tiring, sometimes risky, but when asked about the photograph by viewers I can tell you everything that happened that day leading up to that image. So overall the story behind it is what really feels rewarding in the end.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

I wouldn’t necessarily say there are books that helped me with management or entrepreneurial thinking, through my work experiences is what helps me manage myself. I learn by doing and from the many years I’ve been freelancing I grew as a person from mistakes along the way.

All things considered there are two books that inspire my craft and have some influence on my photography. The first is Ara Güler’s Istanbul, it is a collection of photographs representing 40 years of his work. He was a photojournalist that worked for various newspapers in Istanbul and shot primarily black and white photography. His images are impactful and truthful representation of what the city was like in his days. It’s something I strive to do myself, even inspiring me to take yearly trips to Türkiye and photograph the street life.

The second book is Winogrand Color, a collection of street photographs taken by Garry Winogrand, who shot mostly in black and white, but had also produced an array of color photographs. He was also a photojournalist who captured incredible moments of life in the post war of the 60’s.
It’s photographers like Güler and Winogrand that truly inspire me and the work I produce, Capturing life’s moments and having stories alongside them are really gratifying.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://instagram.com/matthewsphotog