RayMatthews.com
Title
Ray Matthews, photographer
Description
I'm a native of eastern North Carolina. I was born and raised near Elizabeth City and moved to the Outer Banks in 1972 after finishing school at UNC-chapel Hill. I'd been spending summers in Nags Head during my college years and it was there that I became interested in photography. Then, as now, it was the landscape and the ocean that were my favorite subjects. I've always been drawn to the dramatic weather and subtle beauty of the barrier islands. Skies here change constantly, the ocean is endlessly compelling, and the landscape, shaped by the waters on either side, reflects the changin light of the seasons and the moods of the sea. Getting on film what comes to the eye is the challenge that has kept me shooting over the years.
I learned photography largely by trial and error and by reading about the technical things I needed to know. I shoot 35mm slides primarily and develop, print, mat and frame everything myself. I enjoy the sense of craftsmanship that I get from having my hands on the entire process from beginning to end.
As for awards and recognition, I've had my share, but that is not what interests me or keeps me shooting. I just have a desire to make tangible images from the endless, fleeting possibilities, and to share those small revelations with anyone who cares to look.
