Matt Bower

PHOTO . October 10th, 2013

Interview of Matt Bower, photographer from Atlanta.

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Who are you Matt and where are you right now ?

I love traveling, art, history, and music. Unfortunately, I’m currently sitting at work because film gets expensive.

What do you look for as you travel across the USA?

Vernacular architecture, main streets, railroads, old cars. It’s always a surprise as you never know what you’re going to come across.

What equipment are you using?

I use an Olympus XA 2. It’s an old film camera from the early 80’s which can be found on eBay for approximately $50.

How did you get into photography ?

I became interested in photography first as a means to document the vanishing landscapes across the rural southern United States. From there, photography gradually became a tool for me to document my personal experiences.

Can you tell us more about your trip in Tanzania ?

The trip to Tanzania consisted of a six day climb of Mount Kilimanjaro and a safari afterwards. The trip was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Throughout the climb, the landscapes and weather on the mountain are constantly changing. During the final summit, we hiked through the night to reach the peak just as the sun was rising over Africa.

You seem to have a particular fascination with isolated or abandoned places?

One of the recurring themes in my photographs is the passage of time. I find beauty in these scenes of isolation, where these objects or places, whatever they may be, seem stuck in time. This passage of time reinforces the fleeting nature of the human experience and motivates me to live life to the fullest.

Tell us about the background to this night [see the photo below]

This photograph was taken on the first night of camping while climbing Kilimanjaro. We were lucky to have a full moon illuminating the peak thousands of feet above us. There was a slight chill in the air and up to that point the climb had been easy. It was a night to feast and relax, knowing that the next five days would be some of the most challenging yet rewarding days of our lives.