Interview to Matthew Albanese

When did you first know that you wanted to be a photographer? I remember when I was in high school someone brought home an old manual canon 35mm camera that was damaged. I remember how complicated it seemed and for whatever reason I became obsessed with understanding it. I had it repaired and I never put a camera down since. I was hooked.

Who were the first artists that inspired you? Going as far back as I can remember, I loved a lot of Andreas Gurskys enormously printed vast and sweeping landscapes that really defined a sense of scale. I also looked to Greg Crewdsons constructed realities and miniature work i was always attracted to the cinematic approach.

In your bio, you mention that solitary play was a role in inspiring your photography today – can you elaborate on that? I think that speaks more to they way I played. I would get lost imagining entire worlds for my action figures and created sets to display them.

If you could go back ten years, what advice would you give yourself? I would tell myself of a need to be patient and take a more methodical approach to building my career. I knew it would be a challenging path but I had no idea just how challenging.

Any words of wisdom for the up and comers? Be patient. Do it because you love it. Walk through every door that opens.

Some of Matthew Albanese Photos

: “Train Wreck” – Matthew Albanese

: “Dead Little Things” – Matthew Albanese

: “Aurora Borealis” – Matthew Albanese

: “Sugarland” Made out of 20 pounds of sugar, jello and corn syrup. The crystals were grown in my studio over the course of two months. – Matthew Albanese