This is the place where you get the lowdown on the business: perhaps read of the eminence of the photographer, the previous career in the trade, then the long list of respected clients across a broad range of markets and likely a string of awards. Well, if you're expecting that here, read no further! Matt Woods Photography is a new venture and a change of direction...
Before embarking upon Matt Woods Photography, I was enjoying a voluntary period of house-husbandry and family life; having what I saw as a deserved rest from the rat-race and enjoying the things that we all work for. It was whilst wandering the fells with my camera in hand and in a contemplative mood that I conceived the notion of making an income out of my photography. Whilst prudence might suggest that such a venture be started in parallel with some other employment, I knew that as soon as I returned to a regular job in industry that time constraints would preclude any likelihood of much more than "dabbling" in photography. Furthermore, experience told me that I would find it difficult to step away from secure employment and a regular income. So with time and enthusiasm on my side, I began researching what would be involved in my new venture.
With a business plan of sorts, an early target was to set up a website at which I could point prospective customers. Perhaps that is why you are reading this now? The images on this site are (at the time of writing) predominantly Lake District landscapes. Given that there are an abundance of photographs and photographers of the Lakes, I felt that it was important to provide ready access to sufficient of my own images to permit interested parties differentiate any personal style that I might have from that of others. My personal preference is towards attempting to catch the atmosphere of the summits, as opposed to producing the classic, "chocolate box" shots across the valleys and lakes. That is not to say that I am averse to shooting the Langdales across Blea Tarn or Wastwater and Buttermere and bumping up the saturation and contrast until the cows come home, if that's what's required!
And that pretty much brings the story to the present day: the business is operational and ready for orders! Currently, I am following up potential outlets that I have identified to capitalise upon my landscapes predilection, whilst also actively pursuing a number of new local projects that I hope may open the door to photographic work in other areas. With a long history of working in engineering, I am particularly keen to get more involved in industrial photography. As an aside and in the background, I am tinkering at maintaining this website to ensure that its image content doesn't become too static, whilst at the same time investigating using a content management system.
Finally, and at the risk of losing an audience, just a little about my past and credentials - that "long history of working in engineering"... I was brought up largely in Cumbria and following graduating in mechanical engineering, my first real job was as a design engineer at the shipyard in Barrow in the early 80's . I subsequently moved to Yorkshire, returning to academia (Leeds University) to work as research engineer in computer aided design and latterly in vehicle dynamics. During this period of employment, I took the opportunity to obtain a further degree in vehicle dynamics. After the realisation that all the good jobs in the automotive industry were in the midlands or the south east, I took up a position that permitted me remain in Yorkshire, as a computer aided engineering consultant. However, a post that initially involved only short absenses from home, grew over an 8 year period to culminate in a full-time requirement to work in Plymouth that lasted nearly 2 years. When this particular contract came to an end, I took the decision to take some time out to catch up with lost family life - and so here we are now.
Matt Woods, February 2008
