His thoughts on the big picture, such as the universe, or the smaller details of everyday life, made a lasting impression on us. It was a pleasure to get to know him and we won't forget the conversation any time soon. But read for yourself!
Hello Matias! First of all, thank you for taking the time for the interview and for letting us find out more about you. To start with, it would be great if you could introduce yourself briefly.
Hi guys! Thank you for the invitation! I'll start with the basics: My name is Matias, I'm 42 years old, single and have no children. I was born in Vina del Mar, Chile and lived in Santiago for many years before moving to Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Otherwise, I like to travel, cycle, listen to music, go to live concerts, read, watch films and series. Freedom is the most important thing in my life.
So far, so good! Can you explain how your passion for photography came about and what role it played in your career choice?
With pleasure. At the moment I work as a publicist and as Chief Creative Officer for 4AM Saatchi & Saatchi Honduras. After studying advertising and art at the School of Fine Arts in Chile, publishing seemed like the right path. But I realized that I couldn't fully develop my artistic side that way. Then through Instagram I found the opportunity to develop and express myself artistically. I quickly realized that there are two types of Instagram users: those who use it like Facebook, sharing selfies, food photos and other intimate things. But the users who inspired me use Instagram to publish their creative and conceptual works. And so I started expressing my idea and vision of the world through this wonderful app.
Sounds like it was exactly the right decision to join Instagram. From what I can see there, you are a multi-talented creative. What do you like to create most?
When I was studying at the School of Fine Arts, I was interested in drawing and painting, among other things. But since I started working as a journalist, I haven't had the chance to do that anymore. I actually like the whole range of fine arts. I'm drawn to photography because it has a very balancing effect on me and allows me to express myself freely.
And what do you do to get inspiration?
The two main sources of my inspiration are, firstly, travelling. I allow the individual aesthetics of the different places to have an effect on me, analyse them and reflect on them. Secondly, I draw my inspiration from the works of other photographers that I admire and often discover on Instagram.
Can you tell us one of your favorite accounts?
Of the many accounts that I really like, the following three stand out: @nikolator , @marcuscederberg and @huxsterized .
And now to your style: What influenced your minimalist style with a penchant for architecture and pastel colors and why are you so attracted to it?
I particularly like working with everyday objects, such as facades or automobiles. What I find particularly exciting is the subtle differences between countries that make the subjects so unique. The first thing I do when I travel is to explore the city and take notes. Later, I walk around and just intuitively take photos of what I like. Later, I return to the locations during the magical hours of sunrise or sunset for the perfect image quality.
Since I've been living in Honduras, I've been taking more and more beach photos. The beaches of Honduras, with their turquoise water and snow-white sand, are simply more stunning than any I've ever seen before. I just have to share this with my followers!
I have always liked the concept of minimalism; it gives my life a certain sense of harmony and serenity. I am fascinated by the idea of being able to simplify a complex world like ours through images.
I believe we are just a blink of an eye in the history of the universe, insignificant from the moment we are born. It is up to each individual to give meaning and purpose to their lives.
At first I was looking for more color and balance in my compositions. However, when I came to Honduras I started to rethink this concept. I realized that I wanted to take my photos to another level, a level that showed not only reality as it is, but also how I see it with my real eye and also my inner eye. I started to reflect what was happening in my inner world. The pastel colors are some of my favorites because they have a relaxing effect on me. But I also use solid colors when I want to express energy.
It's a very mindful process of creation. I like your way of thinking! Do you print out your photos and use them to decorate your house, for example? That way, their calming effect could also affect other people.
To be honest, I haven't thought about hanging the pictures in my home yet, although I'm often asked to do so. If someone asks for a photo of me, I'm happy to give the picture away. In the future, I've already thought about turning my photos into paintings, as they can have even more meaning for people. But that's just an idea so far.
Since the demand for my photographs is increasing and I am often asked if and where they can be purchased, it certainly makes sense to offer them on a portal in the future.
Absolutely! The pictures are worth selling all over the world. Your Instagram followers are an important pillar of your success and would definitely be strong customers if sales started. What do you think about the community you have built around you? Are there any common ground - for example, do you often work with other Instagrammers?
Yes, you are absolutely right. It makes me happy to see how big my community has already become. Especially considering that I follow very few people myself! I hope my number of followers will continue to grow.
I watch the comments carefully and am very grateful to my followers. Like probably every other photographer, it just feels good for me when a photo is particularly popular. At the same time, I am a little disappointed when a photo is less popular. That's just the way it is in the society we live in. When the reaction gets me down, however, I remind myself that it is in my own hands to do even better the next time I publish something. Because in the end, my audience and the general public are a kind of yardstick for what I like and what I don't like.
We've come to our last question. Is there another story or anything else you'd like to say?
All I can say is that I enjoy what I do more every day. I never want to stop innovating and improving. Time really is the best teacher.
That seems like the perfect closing quote. Thank you for your time !
