In unprecedented times like these, we look to our community around us for inspiration. At Aspen Creek Photo, we value the talented photographers we work with and love to share your stories! Today we are featuring long time customer and Fine Art Photographer,
Matthew Aaron Aicher
, whose imagery explores the vast world of the emotional landscape. He illuminates through the medium of photography, using both traditional and non-traditional techniques, the interconnectedness that lies between humans and that of the rest of the natural world. Enjoy!
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1) Most Memorable Capture
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"Having had taken thousands of pictures throughout my lifetime, and with every image having a story, a personal reflection of ones' life. That being said, one image stands out above all as the one. It was an image that I created on a late summer morning in September of 2001. I was in the middle of a photography trip on the Door Peninsula of Northeastern Wisconsin. Unbeknownst to me what events were occurring in New York, Pennsylvania and Washington D.C. I was attempting to capture the vein structure of a Quaking Aspen leaf awash in the golden/orange hues of transition. Having a mainly overcast sky as my light source and needing a stronger source of light to backlight the subject. I went ahead and taped the edges
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of the leaf to the passengers' side window of my truck, composed the image as I had envisioned. Next, I took the only other light source then the sun that was available to me, that being a small Maglite flashlight. Positioned it on the backside of the glass so that it would directly lite through the leaf. Not realizing at the time that because I placed it directly against the window that it would leave a circle rim of light on the leaf. Realizing this quickly as I peered through the viewfinder. I had unknowingly created a peace symbol with the circle highlight and the leaf structure itself. About a week later, after returning home, getting the film processed and with all of the uncertainly we were all experiencing as a country. Remembering what I photographed the week before was not at the front of my mind. So when I edited my newest batch of slides and came upon this image, I immediately felt the weight of the moment. Both the immense sadness but more importantly the pure beauty. Realizing what two events occurred at the same time. To honor that moment in time and the many lives lost, I entitled this image '
Eleven
'."
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"I'm inspired by
the world around me
, Cliché as that sounds. For the sake of this interview, I have been exposed to visual storytellers since childhood. I grew up in a family where National Geographic magazine was a mainstay. So to list some of my early influences would have to include
James L. Stanfield
,
Steve McCurry
and
Frans Lanting
. Other photographers that have inspired me are
Ansel Adams
,
Art Wolfe
,
Sebastiao
Salgado
and
Craig Blacklock
, to name just a few. Outside of the photographic arts, some of the biggest influences on my artwork would have to come from musicians, writers and painters. A couple examples would be
Peter Gabriel
(Singer, Musician, Composer, Songwriter, Producer and Humanitarian Activist), and
Wolf Kahn
(Painter)."
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3) Favorite Camera & Lens
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"In the beginning it was the
Nikon F4
and since 2012 it's the
Nikon D800E
. As far as lens goes, my two favorites are the
Nikkor 300mm f2.8
and the
Nikkor 16-35mm F1.4.
"
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4) Incidental Perseverance
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"About six years ago, I was on the beginning leg of a two week photography trip. On my return to the trailhead where my truck was parked I somehow I left behind my tripod. Not realizing this until about three hours later while attempting to setup and photograph the sunset. Having a week and half left on this trip. I was challenged to find a solution. The only option that I had at the time was to go to the local Target and purchase the only tripod that they sold. Let me just say it was extremely limiting. A few days later I remembered that I knew of a fellow photographer friend of mine that lived within about an hour of where I was. I reached out and told him my dilemma. He informed that he had sold all of his equipment the year before, but he'd be happy to lend me the only piece of photo equipment that he had keep. Lucky for me it was his antique tripod. So happy I was. Without some features of a modern tripod, I learned to improvise. One of the things that keeps me inspired at times like these is in part due to the advice that was given to me by a former professor while in college. When I asked what would be a great lens to start with on a limited budget, their advice was to buy the best lens you can with money you have.
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Then, fully learn the limits of that particular lens. Waiting for the "Best" lens will cause you to miss out on some amazing image making opportunities. Having too many options is not always the answer. There have been more times in my career that have proved less is more. Advice I still use till today, twenty seven years later."
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5) Printing with Aspen Creek
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"I was having a discussion with a fellow fine art photographer about which printer vendors that we were both using. At this point I had been participating in many of the Great Lakes regional art festivals for well over 10 years. At the time of discussion I had been using a local printer that I had increasingly become unhappy with and was open to any recommendations. He strongly suggested I give Aspen Creek Photo a try. I did and have continued to use their services since."
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"I prefer the way the
Canvas Print
showcases my particular style of photographing."
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Special Thanks
To Matthew For Sharing His Story With Us!
Visit his website to see more of his work:
Find, follow and tag us in your own stories on
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We love a good print story! Whether it's your masterpiece wall display, or a memorable photographic print you can hold in your hands, we want to hear and see it! Post a picture on social media, be sure to tag us in the photo, and use hashtag
#printshowandtell. We'll enjoy sharing with our online community.
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