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My name is Helder Matias, I’m a 29-year-old artist from Toronto, Canada. I came across your article & am very excited to submit my work to you as I am a big fan of the blog!
I am a first-generation Canadian as both of my parents moved here from Portugal when they were young. I would say I am very fortunate to have the opportunity to pursue my passion for photography due to their hard work. I first picked up a digital camera as a hobbyist about 10 years ago & since then I have started my own business & currently work at a film studio developing film. As a photographer, I seek to work with people on bringing an idea to life, also just capturing moments of my life to show my perspective. I essentially like to use my photos as an expression of myself & how I feel. Over the years I have collected quite a few cameras (it’s a bit of a problem lol) but the main cameras I use these days are my: Leica m4-2, Hasselblad 503cx, Yashica T4 & my Fujifilm XT2. My lenses range from macro to very fast 50mm & tight frame 120mm. I try not to limit myself with one lens. With film I’ve experimented on far too many to list, it really depends on what I plan on photographing. When doing portrait work I love the trusty Portra line, when shooting city/ street photography I like to use the Cinestill stock & with landscape I really like Kodak Ektar. Recently I came across old expired disposable cameras from the ’90s & I removed the film from them & use it on my cameras with very cool results!
Photography for me is an escape. When exploring with a camera it really slows me down & helps me appreciate my surroundings more. I focus on details that I would not have noticed otherwise which is such a gift considering all the beauty around us. When working with people, photography helps me connect with them. I love peeling back the layers as we get to know each other throughout the process which then helps me photograph them in their preferred way & bring their vision to life.
Although there are many photographers who I’ve studied & learned from such as Ansel Adams, Vivian Maier & current photographers like Theo Skudra & Gunner Stahl. I would say my biggest inspiration is music. Listening to my favorite artists’ words & sounds I then create images based off of my interpretation.
I’ve been shooting for about 10 years now, 4 of them professionally. I would say I’ve gotten more confident in my style & product that when I do photoshoots I do not hold back & limit myself creatively which leads to some great results. (sometimes not so great haha)
My identity is that I focus very much on connecting with my subject, I want them to feel completely comfortable & confident that our vision will come to life.
These days I’ve been shooting mostly film & developing it myself. I also have a small darkroom set up at home where I print my work which has led to a much fuller understanding of the medium. I choose film because of the unpredictability of the outcome and also the fact that there are limited shots which leads me to focus much more & make each shot count.
Natural light all the way! I love how the time of day affects the temperature and harshness of the light. Artificial lights will do at night lol.
Photography is important to me because it serves as a creative outlet, which especially these days is so important. Also, I love capturing people & places that one day may not be around so that future generations can appreciate as I have with photos from before my time.
I would say I’m more of a documenter, creating is definitely a big part of what i do however life offers so many moments worthy of a photograph that photography has helped me slow down & capture these moments the way they are. As crazy as it may sound I find people are more receptive to film cameras & display a more authentic version of themselves for the image. So I using vintage cameras has been a part of my workflow. It’s a great conversation starter too!
When creating an image whether on the field or in my mind as part of my prep, I focus primarily on what the main objective is. Having the full picture & knowing how to get the results really helps with my workflow & confidence. That then leads to a smoother experience for everyone. I try to get everything done right in camera & focus less on what I can do in post. This I find leads to superior pictures because I’m focussing on every detail before I snap as opposed to snapping & fixing errors in photo editing software afterward.
With film, I find the processing step has sooo much creative opportunity that is often not explored. I like to experiment with exposing the film ever so slightly to light, sometimes i will leave the film in the developer longer than intended. Which can lead to some crazy colors affecting the tones & contrast of the photos. It’s very much trial & error but has led to some of my favorite photos.
As an artist, I go by sunflower prince. Everything I do is inspired by what my mom taught me while she was alive. She always believed in me & encouraged me to pursue my dreams. That love & support is what drives me to this day to continue to work & create as it’s the most fulfilling feeling working with other talented people & creating artwork that inspires others. As I’ve been inspired.
I wouldn’t say I have a specific genre as it’s evolved over the years & I’m sure will continue to do so. I search for purpose in my work, wherever that takes me I promise to give it my best.
My motivation comes from my eagerness to continue to express myself & grow as a person. Whether it be working with new people or going to a new location.
I think I offer a genuine yet welcoming approach to my art. I love helping others & knowing that I’ve inspired someone. I work with some very talented people & know that I have much more to offer. With a bigger platform I know I can continue to positively add to the community & hopefully inspire more people to follow their dreams.
All images and words by Helder Matias. Used with permission. Check out his website and Instagram.
Want to submit to our features on photographers who use little to no photoshop? Here’s the details on how to submit.
