Matt Roth » What’s New With Me?

I’m on The Image Deconstructed this week!

Matt Roth — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 18:07:15 +0000

In case y’all haven’t heard of The Image Deconstructed blog, it’s an amazing resource! It deals with photographers’ mental processes & as a whole, gives insite into how photographers think — and sometimes feel — when they’re making pictures. It’s the brain child of Ross Taylor, who — and it should go without saying — is Rossome!

Here’s my specific entry, but I truly and whole heartedly recommend seeing some of the other photographers’ work being deconstructed. (each word is a link to a different post, by the way. Isn’t that super clever!?)

1/11 NYC Biz Trip, Part 3

Matt Roth — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 19:43:33 +0000

There are all sorts of stories — most funny, some embarrassing — from my trip to NYC in January.

And I had every intention of writing them here! (well, maybe not the Bolt Bus bathroom story. that’s an “in person” story.)

…but the task became a bit too daunting. And the longer I waited to post them, the bigger the deal the post became.

Sometimes I just need to cut my losses. So, here are the photo. No rambling stories.

Just quick comments.

I know some of you will appreciate my restraint.

So click below the jump to see the rest.

biggest dumbest nose bleed ever. at like 1am

…for no reason.

…well, okay, I picked my nose. But really, who doesn’t?

don’t judge me.

Ha! “III”

no no no. no symbolism here. (well, I guess you’re free to make your own if you like).

You know the whole “you break it, you buy it” slogan. …yeah.

this is where I broke it. Tiny tiny place.

Making this picture made me miss my train. The door literally closed inches from of my nose.

With TWENTY MINUTES between trains (middle of the day, too) I made this photo. what else was I to do? no cell phone reception.

For the 1st half of our trip, there was no internet or power on the Bolt Bus, either. So I toned my photos from the trip. (and finally posted them two months later!)

1/11 NYC Biz Trip, Pt. 2: The Luceo Kids.

Matt Roth — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 18:01:57 +0000

Like I said in the first NYC Biz Trip post, I used the Luceo Altered States gallery opening at 25CPW as a reason to come up and see editors, and vice versa.

But as it turned out, I really needed was to hang out with photo friends, like Kendrick Brinson, seen above. — and maybe make some new ones.

As some of you know, I recently made the transition from staff photographer to independent photographer.

Learning about business and marketing just isn’t enough. This profession is a lifestyle. and I wanted to know how the “nonstaffed” live.

y’know… what kind of world am I entering?

Now, this goal wasn’t something I was cognizant of when I made the trip. I was more excited that I actually had the time and money to do it.

Luceo’s Matt Slaby carries Luceo’s Matt Eich.

I get a little giddy when I get to hang out with other photographers.

No. not in a weird, needy way.

I understand photographers and they typically understand me. (unless I’m telling a story and I’ve forgotten all the nouns! that happens way too much.)

Professional photography is a lifestyle. And from what I can tell, there’s a different bend living as a staffer than in this new world I’ve become a part of.

For one, getting work means selling your skills AND selling your self.

…How’s that for motivation to not be an asshole?

That’s one of the many things I gleaned from the Photoshelter sponsored panel on “The Future of Photojournalism” which kicked off the Luceo show. Click here for the video.

David Walter Banks, right, moderated the panel.

Here’s the current reality: Work is scarce. – well, I should say well paying and/or meaningful assignment work is scarce. So editors tend to give work to people they like and the photographers who are doing cool non-assignment work which they know needs funding. The most immediate example I can think of is Matt Eich’s current long term project on Baptist Town.

So, what does that mean?

If you’re a photographer, follow your interests, your heart, your gut, your whims. Shoot what you want. Make the work you need to be seen. Don’t just be a photo grunt.

Don’t get me wrong, It’s good to be reliable for your clients,

…but isn’t it better to also be inspirational to them?

And, of course, being a pleasant person to deal with doesn’t hurt, either.

I can tell you first hand, being nice is a two-way-street.

During the Luceo show, thanks to Ilene Belovin, from AARP Bulletin — one of my beloved clients who, until my NYC trip, I’ve also only gotten to know from phone calls & the interenets — Kendrick and David from Luceo, I was introduced to…

Deb Dragon (seen holding either David Holloway‘s or Ben Lowy‘s baby. UPDATE: I’m told it’s Oliver Holloway.) and her co-worker Sacha with Rolling Stone.

How cool is that?

Even cooler is that I was able to set up a meeting with them that Friday! — which really worked out because my original Friday appointment fell through. (which reminds me… I need to e-mail him).

The good news is: The meeting went well. I got the impression Deb and Sacha liked me and my work.

…but the experience was pretty sobering, too.

The truth is, there isn’t a lot of money out there for assignment work.

Not just with Roling Stone, but across the board. For starters, travel budgets have been slashed — which kinda works out for us non-NYCers. Work is doled out to people who live close to the assignment locations.

But slashed travel budgets are joined by all sorts other financial shortcomings. Lets just say wire images are used a lot!

Good or bad. it’s a reality.

So how do you get noticed? You do good work. You do good NON-ASSIGNMENT work.

That’s the main lesson I learned from this weekend — the power of personal projects. When you get to a certain level in photography — especially if you have a photojournalism background — you get to the point where your portfolio is solid — like Diamond sold. I’ve been a pro for 8 years. Anyone who’s been at it for this long should’ve made enough great frames to really showcase excellent ASSIGNMENT work.

Here’s the rub… Your competition also has excellent ASSIGNMENT work, too. But what they don’t have is your personality, your professionalism (be it good, bad, or somewhere in between) AND most importantly, your perspective!

Some people call it “vision,” “style,” …”thang.”

It’s the way we see and use a camera to interact with the world.

It’s the way we think about what we’re interested in, not just visually, but the subjects that captivate us and the people who not only impress us, but are important to us.

It’s the most authentic thing about us that will set us apart from our competition peers.

Here are some more photos from the Luceo opening.

Kevin German, the ladies’ man.

Andrew Bicknell

Tennis star, Daryl Peveto

Kindrick Brinson and Michael Rubenstein

David Banks Doing grunt work.

1/11 NYC Biz Trip pt. 1

Matt Roth — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 14:38:40 +0000

Instead of an after dinner mint, our amazing Red Lulu (heads up, their website has audio) waiter brought out a gigantic puff ball of cotton candy!!! …so we did what any civilized person would do — COTTON CANDY FACIAL HAIR!

Mike’s quite dapper, no? (MORE PHOTOS BELOW THE JUMP)

I went up to to New York City for a work trip in January. My friends at Luceo had a gallery opening at 25CPW so I used that as an excuse to see editors.

Jess’s college friends Michael, left, and Megan, right, let me stay at their house in Norwalk, CT. We had some super delicious Mexican food and I got to pet their super cute dog, Flynn.

Norwalk’s pretty far from Manhattan, and that train ride is pretty long — like an hour — but really easy. …well, except when you’re rushing to catch the 1:18am train, and getting in at 2:30-ish in the morning. Insult to injury when the cab fare (with tip) is more than the train fare. I guess those guys gotta make a living, too. But during the day, it gave me enough time to make a few tweaks to my portfolio.

…and people watch.

I finally put face to e-mail address with most of the the editors at The New York Times I’ve gotten to work with in the past.

…and they got to meet me, too.

My Best “Runts” of 2010 pt. 2

Matt Roth — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 16:32:46 +0000

The world is funny, isn’t it?

Or at lest that how it seems to me. …but then again, I’m the guy who laughs too much during movies.

This is the second installment of my Best Runts of 2010. The first is here.

Can I first start by saying I can’t stand lifestyle images. You know what I’m talking about — Beautiful people laughing for no reason. …maybe holding a glass of wine, or frolicking through a field of wheat. It’s cheap high-gloss stock. Sure, there’s a semblance of a story being told, but it’s trying too hard to be perfect and beautiful. …but it lacks substance. What ends up happening is none of that joy those beautiful people in the photo translates to the end user — the audience.

Me? I roll my eyes.

…well, I sometimes chuckle. but it’s usually because a miscreant blacked out one of the boring hot chick’s teeth. …you know the one. She’s about to eat some spaghetti.

Now that’s funny. …at least to me. Like I said in Runts part 1, I like to celebrate the imperfect in life.

And I’m starting to realize (and I’m kinda cringing while I write this) that Happy is Boring.

…at least in photography.

Sure, if some kid is opening a birthday present and he’s making the craziest face in the world — like OUT OF HIS MIND HAPPY — because he got the most bad-ass toy robot ever, then that’s good stuff. That’s an emotion we can enjoy through someone else’s experience. But laughing on the beach FOR NO REASON isn’t entertaining. Those are passive photo. It’s like the white bread of photography. no nutrition.

To be clear, there’s a difference between BEING happy and trying to make a picture of happy. People smiling for no reason is void of content, void of purpose, and void of personality. It’s the quirks and our imperfections we, as individuals, are loved for. And so, I look for those when I’m out making pictures. Ultimately, I want the audience to relate to the subjects and stories in my images. …and rather than show them pictures of people laughing, I’d rather them enjoy a chuckle or two. Enjoy!

My mom got married to a wonderful man, Rick, this summer. They have so much in common, such as not liking bubbly. You gotta give em’ props for trying, right? So, lets raise a glass and wish them well! She finally found a good fit for her.

“Who Is That On Your ID?” …oh, & I quit my job, too.

Matt Roth — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 22:05:17 +0000

“That doesn’t look like you!” and “Who is that on your ID?” I get that a lot when people see the picture on my laniard. This image was made back in 2004 by fellow intern Deana Mitchell. I was having a hard time looking “normal” that day, so I decided to look “smarmy,” instead. Since then, I’ve gained a few pounds, had lasik surgery, and, I wish I could say my hair’s gotten better, but it hasn’t. …well, it’s had its moments. — and by the way, that is NOT a goatee. That’s a chin shadow. But it does make me look extra chotchy, no?

Sadly(-ish), Wednesday, December 15, 2010, was the last day I’d wear my weirdo laniard, — well, legitimately, anyway. I quit my staff job! I’m now a freelancer. …although, I kinda take issue with the word “freelancer.” I prefer the term “independent photographer.” I’ll discuss that in a later post, I’m sure.

Lets all be honest here — It’s not a very good “Press Badge,” is it? There’s been a few times in my six year career when this ID has raised a few eyebrows and in rare instances, denied me access.

Lets break down its faults. For one, it doesn’t actually say “Press.” hrmmm… But, for some reason, It’s kinda perfect for someone working in the business end of the newspaper. You know, the people who don’t really leave the building, work with subjects, or do any kind of reporting. The coin counters. The people pushers. Those most concerned with page clicks. …isn’t that telling? And I know you might find this hard to believe, but “Patuxent Publishing Company” doesn’t exactly sound like a newspaper organization, either.

THEM: “So, who are you with? The Sun?”

ME: hehehe. No, I’m with the red headed stepchild of the Sun, The Patuxent Publishing Company.

THEM: Gazunetite!

ME: No. I didn’t sneeze. that’s the name of the accredited news organization I work for. …what? …you haven’t heard of us?” — and then I have to rattle off all the 20 different newspapers, magazines, and PHONE BOOKS we publish. Yes. We publish phone books. (Argh! I keep doing that! They publish phone books).

Lastly, I also don’t like it when people call me “Matthew.” That name is reserved for my tax forms, social security card, and my Dad. Not strangers. It’s common courtesy people. When you meet someone, figure out how they like to be addressed. They’ll tell you right off the bat.

But I don’t hate my ID. It’s served me well. Admittedly, I look ridiculous. – that’s kinda by design. And that’s why I’ve kept it so long. How many people have laniard stories? I have a bunch — Sure, they’re all very similar, (read the first sentences) but those interactions serve an important purpose: as an ice breaker! It can help tell the subject who I am. On first glance, I’m some beardy dude walking into your house/place of business or up to you on the street — with cameras, no less! And for better or worse, my job is to put you in the public eye.

Its only natural that my subjects try to get to know me a little bit. Lets face it, they’re as curious about us as we are (supposed to be) about them. In this business, access is won with give and take, right? The same way I’ve learned to not turn down a glass of water or a cup of coffee, I’ve learned to indulge my subjects’ questions. The bottom line is, I do my job better when the subjects are comfortable with me. So, if they ask me questions, or comment on my ridiculous laniard picture, its an opportunity for a conversation. Even without the laniard, I’ll still be able to muster up conversations with subjects. That’s the kinda guy I am. As my mom says,”I’ve never met a stranger.”

And as outdated and weirdly unflattering as that picture is of me, its a pretty accurate portrait of my personality. Not that I’m a smarmy person, but that I’m easy going, and able to laugh at myself. And I think that has a relaxing effect for subjects — at least in some situations.

But beyond the picture, my ID gave me legitimate status as a member of the press. It’s amazing how fast people will wave you in to something when you hold up a laniard and say, “I’m with the press.” Well, the cameras probably helped too. I’ll be honest, losing that instantaneous legitimacy is a big worry of mine for the future. I’m still a journalist, but now I’m not tied to an organization. My association changes day to day. When I’m not shooting for a client, I worry people won’t take me as seriously without my laniard.

THEM: “So… where’s this going again?”

Me: Uh… mattrothphoto.com/blog …that’s my blog.

Them: “uh huh. No. I’m not gonna give you my name. In fact I’m gonna call the cops.”

Yikes! Does that make me a blogger?

I guess I could make my own “Press ID.” That feels kinda cheesy, though. I’ll probably pony up a few bucks and become credentialed by the Baltimore City Police Department as a member of the Press. But that doesn’t change the fact that I’m no longer tied to an accredited news organization. And while being independent is exciting, it’s also a little scary.

Like badges are to cops, Press credentials are part of a journalist’s identity. They have this amazing ability to summarize our purpose for being wherever we are, while presenting us in polemic ways. They can “get us in” just as easily as they can “keep us out.” In our subjects’ eyes, credentials make us trustworthy just as easily as they make us suspect. And depending on which organization we work for, we get treated differently.

THEM: “Now, which newspaper are you with?”

ME: “The North County News.”

THEM: “Oh good! I love that paper. hahahaha! I’d turn you around if you said you were with the Sun.”

Belonging to a news organization has its perks. But it’s also filled with heartbreak.

So… I’m ready to take the laniard off.

Fifteen Minutes. …Do I hear 30?

Matt Roth — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 21:44:28 +0000

Holy Smokes. You guys see that gigantic visitor’s spike in my google analytics dashboard? That was on the day David Hobby, aka The Strobist, pimped me out on twitter. …his handle is @strobist for those reading this post who didn’t find me through him.

1,835! that’s how many people checked out my blog July 15th, 2010. For the most part they went to two pages: This one. and This one.

Thanks to all you folks who subscribed to my twitter feed. …I think it tripled! And I appreciate everyone who subscribed to my blog on their rss feed. I’ll try to do you guys right by keeping this blog filled with interesting images and I’ll give y’all a good explanation when I can remember my set up. hahahaha.

And of course, thanks to David Hobby! No wonder Time Magazine named The Strobist as one of the top 25 blogs of 2010. I wouldn’t have seen that incredible spike without him. I think my regular page views are up, too.

Holy Smokes! I’m in 2nd place.

Matt Roth — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 17:00:49 +0000

I know this sounds like I’m bragging — and well, I guess I am a little, but not in a cocky way. It’s more like a “super excited” kind of bragging.

I did really well in the recently judged September clip contest. The monthly clip contest doesn’t really go in order. December’s already been judged, for example, and we’re still waiting on results from November, August, and May.

So, In addition to winning 1st and 2nd in Feature/Multiple, I also placed first in Sports, and third in Feature/Single.

It was a good month for some of my friends, too. Fellow PPC co-worker Sarah Nix-Pastranna won 2nd in Feature/Single. Patrick Smith landed second in Sports, and Drew Anthony Smith grabbed 2nd and 3rd in Illustration. I’m 100 points — or two first place wins — away from tying with Kyle Green, the regional clip Juggernaught from The Roanoke Times. Fingers crossed!

HAT TRICK! NPPA: Monthly News Clip Contest

Matt Roth — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 19:30:59 +0000

WooHoo!!! I cleaned up in the Illustration category for December’s NPPA: Monthly News Clip Contest.

Shoot the Emotion!

Matt Roth — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 19:30:46 +0000

If I was to give myself some professional New Years resolutions, this is one of them.

“Shooting the emotion” weighs heavier to viewers than cool, graphic images. Using rad light and a bad-ass compositions, don’t cut to the core. They’re just eye candy.

Don’t get me wrong, I LOOOOOVE eye candy. When I look over my work, I’m kinda predisposed to it. It’s easier for me to make.

My friend Monica Lopossay — three-time Pulitzer Prize nominee (and she’s only 33!) is waaaay more in tune to people’s emotions. Her photos make viewers feel something. Her most important work makes you “want to slit your wrists,” …her words.

Emotions are relatable. They transcend cultural norms.

They’re also iconic.

Sure, this photo is really just Jess upset that I’m busy taking her picture instead of unlocking the back gate. She’s cold and wants to get in the car. The truth in this photos is that the cold is making her more upset than I am.

But I’ve seen this face before. I’ve upset her. I’m sure anyone who’s been in a relationship has hurt their loved one before.

I don’t have the courage, or maybe I’m smart enough not, to pick up the camera during those moments.

But that’s kinda the point I’m making. I think it’s safe to assume everyone on this planet has been on the opposite end of this kind of stare.

It’s relatable. …and therefore, it’s powerful.

So, 2010! the year to shoot the emotion!

Who’s with me?