Matthew Csizmadia is a Hamilton native who takes wonderful photographs of the area around him. He calls himself a seasonal photographer, and captures a mood that makes the viewer feel the place weather and time of day.
He has never shown his work in an exhibition and only offers the work online in a square format. The photos are like a New Jersey travelogue, mostly devoid of people, which is not always easy to achieve here in the Garden State.
How and when did you get started with photography as an art form?
My passion for capturing photographs of nature developed slowly and organically over time. I took a black and white photography course as an elective back when I was in college, although I wouldn’t necessarily say that it was responsible for any kind of all-awakening moment. It did, however, instill in me a very deep-seated appreciation for the art that it is.
While on a hike, a visit to the city, a trip to the shore, I’d bring along the camera. As time went on, though, I found myself not only regularly bringing it along, but I even began orchestrating outings to different places for the sole purpose of exploring and capturing the best images of that destination that I possibly could.
Who are some of your influences?
The process of creating art is a personal one, and creative potential is realized when conducted with reckless abandon. Comparing work to the work of others, or allowing outside influence to interrupt intrinsic flow of ideas is something that I make a concerted effort to not fall victim to. I do have a muse, and that would be Mother Nature herself. Whether it be the first day of spring, or the doldrums of midwinter, her beauty never ceases to leave me in awe and she can always be counted upon to shine in spectacular fashion for the camera.
All of the images on your website are square. Is this how you wish the image to be, or a convention to make offering work online easier?
This feature of my work developed very early on in my art journey. I remember there being a particular shot that I took where I thought, “This would look incredible if resized to a 1:1 aspect ratio and framed with white wood.” It was then where I made shooting in 3:2 and then resizing to 1:1 my signature touch.
What fight/struggle do you have regarding your art?
Hands down, the endless number of hours spent building (and now maintaining) my website (matthewcsizmadiaphotography.com), editing photos, advertising/marketing/sharing my work on various social media platforms, etc. Being a very active, always-on-the-move kind of guy, it is completely against my nature to spend absurd amounts of time sitting in front of a computer screen. However, I have come to terms with the fact that it is a necessary part of the process and that there are no shortcuts to success.
You call your work “seasonal.” What is your meaning of the word?
I refer to my work as “framed, seasonal photography” because that is what I strive to create. My goal is to capture that quintessential seasonal shot. That photograph that positively encapsulates everything one associates with that time of the year.
For example, one of my autumn themed pieces is titled, “Haunted Hayride,” and it depicts the old Windsor Farm barn (that has, sadly, since been razed) at dusk with two, bright orange jack-o-lanterns painted on the side of it and a dark, menacing looking cornfield in the foreground. I made it a point to go out there at that exact time of the evening and to take the shot from that precise angle because that is when and where I felt the essence of October was momentarily available for capture.
What are you working on now?
I have been taking a number of small day trips to some of the beautiful towns along the New Jersey shore. At times, you actually feel like you have the whole town to yourself. As a result of these trips, I now have a great deal of new, coastal/beach/summer-themed photos to go through, so I am currently editing them and doing all that I need to do in order to get them just right.
You emphasize sustainability with the framed pieces. Is this easy to accomplish?
I have the utmost respect for wildlife. Making absolutely certain that I was in no way, shape, or form negatively impacting animals, or their habitats, while in the process of conducting my business, was priority number one. Which is why my wood frames are constructed of repurposed pieces of natural wood and my metal frames are manufactured of recycled aluminum. Even the photo paper used for my prints is sourced from a paper mill that is certified with all its operations in accordance with Forest Stewardship Council. There is no cutting of corners when operating with nature’s best interest in mind. Either do it right, or not at all.
Nature and wildlife preservation have special importance to you. Where did this focus originate in your work and outlook?
For as long as I can remember, I have had a love for animals and it is a love that I feel has only grown stronger in recent years. The innocent creatures of the land, air, and sea are no less deserving of a long, happy, and healthy life than us humans, which is why I am taking the initiative via my art to help them and the places they call “home” in any and every way that I can.
I am in the process of partnering with a wildlife protection organization, where a percentage of proceeds from every purchase through my site will go to helping animals in need and protecting their habitat.
"Strolling Into Autumn" photograph by Matthew Csizmadia.,
