UnScene Artists
Matthew Berry
Runner Up - Decorazon Gallery 2009
Artist Bio
Hello, my name is Matthew Berry, and I am a California native, born and raised in the East Bay Area. I began photographing at the age of fifteen after suffering a baseball injury that forced me to watch from the dugout. This experience led me to major in photojournalism as an undergraduate student; however, I eventually switched to a fine arts program, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Studio Art/Photography. After graduating I began assisting for a local editorial and advertising photographer, and tried to learn as much as I could about lighting and business, but I soon realized that I needed a more intense education in order to master all aspects of photography. Since completing my MFA I feel very confident in my skills and know that I will achieve the respect and success that I desire in my field.
Artists Statement: For my MFA thesis project I proposed to shoot a non-linear photographic essay, inspired by the Seven Deadly Sins, but shot as a question of how the idea of sin is perceived in contemporary society. Each image is a stand alone from its own shoot, but relates to the rest of the series in the fact that they are all derived from the question of what is sin. None of the images are titled in a way that will obviously point out which sin and/or sins are being illustrated. I chose, rather, to simply set the stage for the viewer by identifying the underlying question of sin (the title being SIN?, I believe, provides a starting point for the viewer’s imagination), and allowing them to follow their own path of analysis. The mood and success of each image was determined by the quality of light, dealing with soft and hard light, the use of shadow areas and the directionality of the light. Styling, casting and location also played a pivotal role in emphasizing my point, allowing for the attention to detail necessary to tell each story.
