I think that photography for me, and I hope that it is for so many people out there, is really like a personal journey more than trying to prove oneself.
Tim Mattimore
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Tim Mattimore’s journey from the bustling world of advertising to the serene landscapes of nature photography makes for a truly fascinating conversation. Nestled in the heart of the Superior National Forest, Tim has embraced the beauty of the natural world, capturing incredible images on land or in the sky.
Tim’s passion for photography was sparked during a life-changing trip to Iceland in 2018, where he and his wife discovered the profound impact of actually connecting with nature. With a background in advertising and graphic design, his transition into photography allowed him to blend his natural creative talents with a newfound love for the outdoors. In my opinion, his work is characterized by a deep appreciation for landscapes, often enhanced by his innovative use of drone technology to explore perspectives unseen by the naked eye.
In this episode, Tim and I talk about:
- His transformative journey from a high-pressure advertising career to finding personal fulfillment in photography.
- The unique challenges and rewards of capturing nature’s beauty, including his innovative use of drones to gain fresh perspectives.
- His ongoing quest to evolve creatively, incorporating more conceptual and human elements into his work.
Tim’s story is a testament to the power of following one’s passion and the positive effect it can have on personal well-being and even artistic expression. Tim and I quickly became friends during this episode and he is really a photographer to keep your eye on.
Enjoy the episode 🙂
Q: What inspired you to become a creator, considering your background in advertising, photography, and illustration?
Tim Mattimore: I went to college in New York City and I studied advertising design and graphic design and I had always been interested in the arts. even just as a kid, like I kind of knew from my early teens that I wanted to get into the advertising industry. And I followed that path pretty steadfastly and went to school for it and then jumped right into the industry and began working in New York in the advertising industry. I’ve worked in Chicago, Detroit, Minneapolis. So I’ve been around that type of creativity for some time. But I always had an interest in illustration and graphic design and other things like that.
Q: How do you handle creative blocks, and where do you find inspiration for new ideas?
Tim Mattimore: I get blocked all the time… sometimes I just walk away and I won’t shoot. I think that most of the block that I get is because I’m thinking too hard about what others are doing and thinking too hard about knocking it out of the park. I have had days that have been the most enjoyable days of my life or my photography career. These are days when I do bring the camera, but I just go out for a walk in the woods and I have no motive other than just experiencing nature and just watching things and breathing in the air.
Q: What was it like transitioning from a high-pressure advertising career to focusing on photography full-time?
Tim Mattimore: I was leading the creative department of an advertising agency up until December of last year… I left that agency for a couple of reasons and one of them was because I had such a passion for photography. It was just something that I realized, that my heart is in making stuff and so I have been taking the last 10 months or so off and just cruising around, shooting photos, and kind of like resetting a little bit and getting back to a level.
