Project Description

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Amnplify Profile
“The Photographer Series”

Interview with
MATT YOUNG
from
Brisbane, Queensland

Interviewer – Dave Bruce

Photos – Matt Young

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Let’s start with a few discovery questions. Have you always wanted to be a photographer? When did you start taking photos?
No, I haven’t always wanted to be a Photographer. I’ve worked in Sports Medicine for nearly 30 years and in that time I’ve held some high profile positions, which saw me travelling around the world with teams and athletes. I picked up a camera to document my travels.

How would you describe your style? What makes it unique, and why do you think people resonate with your photos?
I don’t know if I really have a style? I guess that’s for others to judge. I suppose I always try to capture emotion in my Music Photography. Are my photo’s unique? Maybe? I’m not sure. As for my Photographs resonating with people, once again, I really don’t know if they do or not. I don’t really discuss it with anyone. I just try my best to shoot images that I’m happy with. That’s all I can do.

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What live music events, or artists, or photographers for that matter, originally drove you to feel the calling to buy a camera and join the fun?
I’ve always been a music guy. Ever since I was a kid. Music has always been a big part of my life. So I’ve really just paired two of my passions together – Music & Photography. As for people who’ve inspired me with Music Photography, I love the older shooters. Jim Marshall, Terry O’Neil, Henry Diltz & others from that era. The originals. More recently I suppose Ross Halfin.

Now a couple of questions on the present. How often do you shoot, which shows do you prefer – small, intimate shows or do the bells and whistles of the big shows get the juices flowing?
Well, I guess I shoot as much as I get approved to. That’s the issue, getting the access to shoot gigs. In a perfect world, I suppose I’d like to shoot 2 maybe 3 gigs a week if they were the right fit for me. As far as which size shows I prefer, I don’t really have a preference. They all have their good & bad. I suppose the club gigs are the best because of the intimacy.

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Please describe the creative process you employ (don’t give away too many secrets), and the photography challenges you overcame to get to here?
Creative process for me is 80% Adobe Lightroom & 20% Photoshop. No big secret there. I shoot RAW 100% of the time. Occasionally I’ll shoot RAW + JPEG in less than ideal lighting situations just to cover my ass if necessary. Photography challenges I’ve overcome I guess has just been learning the craft of Music Photography, it’s not easy to do, and like I said earlier, getting access to shoot gigs.

You are an Amnplify shooter. How did that come about and what have you found out about yourself while you have been here?
A while ago I was approached by a new publication to come onboard with them to shoot. I left other established publications I was shooting for to do it. The new publication promised a lot & delivered very little unfortunately. I was told that Amnplify were looking for shooters, so I got in contact & here I am. Being part of the Amnplify team has been great, it’s a well-run machine & David Bruce has his heart in the right place.

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In this world of equal opportunity, photography is an area where it seems female photographers equal if not outnumber many of the pits at events. Do you think the opportunities are the same for both sexes? What’s it like being a male in the pit?
I think the opportunities are the same. At least I’d like to think so. It doesn’t bother me if there’s more guys or more girls in the pit with me. I couldn’t care less. I’m equal opportunity minded. What I do care about is how those people behave in the pit. Etiquette & Respect for your fellow Photographers are a non-negotiable with me.

We live in a number dominated world. So many likes, albums going platinum, millions of streams. How do you deal with that from a motivation perspective? Do you need the artist or public acknowledgement, or have you developed a strong mental attitude with feedback?
Numbers from likes on Social Media don’t concern me. Sure, it’s nice if someone does hit the like button on one of your images, but I don’t need thousands of likes to feel self worth. I do feel encouraged when an artist shares one of my images on their Social Media platforms however. If an artist thinks enough of the image to represent them to their followers, then that to me is acknowledgement of my talent. I rarely receive feedback about my Photographs, which is fine, but I’ve had many artists over the years use my images, which is nice. If only we got paid for it though!

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What future goals do you have? What is still on the bucket list?
Future goals in Music Photography are just to continue to improve my craft. I’m nowhere near the finished product yet. Bucket List would be to shoot Metallica, Kiss, Iron Maiden. The big production shows.

Finally, a few questions for some quick answers –
FAVOURITE:
Album – Bloodclot – Up In Arms
Artist – OFF!
Movie – Pulp Fiction
Place to visit – L.A
Venue to shoot – Eaton’s Hill Hotel
Food – anything Japanese
Drink – XXXX Gold
Person in History – Joe Strummer
Tattoo – (If you don’t have one, what would you get?) – both my arms have Half Sleeve tattoos. Right arm done in traditional Japanese. Left arm done in Geometric Dot Work.

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Want to see more of MATT’s
Amnplify live photography?
Thousands of photos
are waiting for you
HERE

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Plus you can check out MATT’s
online presence HERE

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AMNPLIFY – DB