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Every journey brings new stories to tell—and new challenges to face. After three decades on the road with a camera, I’ve learned what works, what fails, and what makes travel photography easier, lighter, and a whole lot more fun.
This free ebook is a field guide for photographers who live out of backpacks, chase light across time zones, and want to spend less time worrying about gear and more time making images that matter.
Inside, you’ll find:
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Smart packing ideas that save space and protect your gear
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Workflow tips for shooting, backing up, and editing on the move
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My go-to tools for keeping it simple without sacrificing quality
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Real-world lessons learned from years of airports, alleys, and assignment shoots
Whether you’re heading across the country or across the world, this guide will help you travel smarter and shoot better.
Sign up and download your free copy and get ready for the road.
Take pictures like these
Watching YouTube is a great way to start in photographic journey, but it’s limited. Visiting a website is a wonderful to supplement your knowledge as well. I hope you spend hours on my site soaking up the information on how to create amazing images. But, in the end the best way to learn anything is hands on. Join me on my next workshop and walk away with a portfolio of a lifetime.
The Blog
What does it look like to vote in Malaysia?
On Sunday Malaysians went to to the polls for this country's 13th general election. This election proved to the the closet in the country's history and the largest turn out. If you are a readers in...
Just because you can, should you? The ethics of images sales.
I've been ruminating over some ethical issues. Recently, I had a business ask to use several of my images, and they were willing to pay a decent amount of money. It's not like I'm rolling in the...
Has this country matured? Will Sunday’s election spawn violence?
I am not a political writer or analyst. Frankly, I know very little about the politics here in Malaysia. On casual observation Malaysia seems to be a country at peace. Yet, I think if you scratch...
2013: Garze Tibet Tour
I am excited to announce one more workshop for 2013. This is another one for the bucket list. I have been bugging Brian Hirschy to host another trip to Tibet almost as soon as the last one ended in...
Change happens. Get over it.
Lately I have been busy working on an idea. It goes back to an old post about teaching NGOs how to fish. But that is for another post in the future. The result of laboring over this idea has led me...
The Last Roll of Kodachrome
If you're a photographer and haven't heard about Steve McCurry shooting the last roll of Kodachrome then you've been living under a rock or working too hard and need to get out more. McCurry...
Posts you’ll find helpful
What camera should I use as a beginner?
Honestly, these days there are so many choices, which can make it confusing and overwhelming.
Kenya with the Fuji XF 16mm, f/1.4
I have been waiting for this lens since it showed up on the Fujifilm Lens Road Map. A 16mm f/ 1.4? That’s a lot of light!
Fujifilm Instax SP-1 Photo Printer
Opening so many doors with people to photograph this should be considered a must have for any photographer traveling.
The Human Form Divine
It’s a kind of law that may very well be unbreakable. It is what I call, “the law of the the human figure.”
Dear beginner, you make ripples!
Matt admonishes beginner photographers to slowdown and observe. Any beginners reading this, will find it helpful.
Composition: Prescriptive or Descriptive?
After importing the images into Lightroom, a lot of the other compositional elements come into play. It is now that the strong images rise to the surface.
Depth of Field Podcast
Depth of Field is a podcast hosted by me, Matt Brandon. In this podcast I interview working photographers from around the world and try to uncover what was it that help them get o where they are today. Listen as I converses with respected photographers from many different fields and uncovers what it took for them to be successful. Grab a cup of coffee, sit back, relax and listen to the photography leaders tell us secrets and stories of their journey.
Galleries
Check out a sampling of some of my favourite work.
Rickshaw Puller of Kolkata
The Valley of Kashmir
Sea Gypsies of Borneo
Puppet Masters of Penang
Ladakh, India
Varanasi, India
Testimonials
People are talking.
“I truly love Matt’s perspective on photo storytelling. I’ve been looking at other photographers that are very skilled, but seem to have a very different goal. That of taking a beautiful photo over telling the story of the moment. In my mind, you must have both good images that tell a story. That is what Matt is great at.”
“We are over the moon with the results of the (your) photography so considering the conditions your professionalism and talent shone through and delivered.
Again thank you so much for following through and completing the assignment for us.”
“Matt Brandon really knows his stuff, and has been in the photography game for several decades. He’s been traveling to India for many years now, where he leads photography workshops that look like amazing experiences. He’s strong in all aspects of travel photography but if I had to pick one area you could really learn from him it would be portraits, you can see a lot of feeling in his work here.”
“I’ve just returned from a tremendous week in West Sumatra, photographing Pacu Jawi and the Mentawai tribe on my second workshop with Matt. Thanks to Matt I’ve returned with great images and mastered off-camera light. He is a terrific teacher, knowledgeable, patient and generous with his time. He has an artists eye for composition and light and what makes a great picture. Matt consistently pointed out photo opportunities I would otherwise have missed. Matt’s attention to detail and the ability to put subjects from diverse backgrounds at ease shines through his pictures. He’s also the only person I know who can produce a perfect breakfast espresso in the depths of the jungle. What more can I say?”
Matt’s photos are
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