Matthew W. Childs: New England Freelance Photographer

Hey, what’s going on? Word on main street says you need photographs. Look no further. You found your connection and now all you gotta do is make a move. Let’s examine your options.

First things first, my name’s Matthew W. Childs. I’m a writer, amateur astronomer, and freelance photographer currently residing in New England. I’m not ashamed to say that I watch bad movies (the badder, the better), and I may dabble in a few games here and there. My favorite color is grey. And…that’s about it.

Here’s a little more about me. I’ve used cameras for more than a decade and during that epoch, I explored a variety of genres: astrophotography, wildlife, stillife, HDR, videography, stop motion, macro, miniatures, food, commercial-like shoots, and basic portraiture. These days, my versatile skill set allows me to adapt to a multitude of different roles. Since I’m not dedicated to a specific genre, I utilize my past experience to find similarities between different genres, and then leverage those similarities within a new context.

Let’s take a stroll down memory lane and examine a photograph from my portfolio. Sit back and relax as I explain my thought process and how I achieved these results.

You’re looking at something called “uranium glass”. I won’t go into the history or delve into the science behind uranium glass, feel free to do that if you got the time and inclination. All you gotta know is that uranium glass doesn’t just glow like that on its own after it has absorbed enough ambient light, like a fancy sticker you stuck on your binder in middle school. Uranium glass glows only when UV light interacts with the material inside the glass. Get the picture?

As you can imagine, photographing these obscure objects wasn’t a cake walk. My eyes hate me for taking on this project because I had to “power up” these delicate artifacts using two large black light panels. Not tubes. Panels. Black light panels are notorious for the amount of heat it generates, and my fingers can testify. There’s a reason why black light panels are typically used outside. Lesson learned.

Of course, black lights also have a nasty habit of causing strange purplish reflections. I had to discover the appropriate angles to place the panels in relation to the uranium glass–otherwise I’d mostly be photographing purple light. Not green light. Easier said than done, let’s just put it that way.

The photograph above this paragraph depicts what it looks like inside the candy dish. The spiky circle is essentially the bottom of the pyramid-shaped glass. The idea behind this shot was to reveal the geometrical texture of the glass. I used a 100mm macro lens and shot at f/32…using two black light panels. I’ll let you guess the length of the exposure. You gotta be a masochist in order to get a shot like that, but hey, that’s besides the point.

Besides all that, I’ve consulted with clients on the basics of photography, and also have been a guest speaker at a preschool, twice. I photographed memorable events, and helped artists create their self-published books. Back in the day, a few of my photographs were featured on Universetoday.com. I also embarked on a quite a few creative journeys and recorded the process on my blog. You remember blogs, right?

So, what’s your deal? Are you an undiscovered movie star lookin’ for a way to break into the industry?

Perhaps you need assistance photographing a haunted doll or strange object? Leave it up to me…being possessed never hurt anyone. Hopefully.

If you need a different role filled, send me the details and I’ll see what I can do.

It’s almost impossible for me to quote you an exact price without knowing the exact details of the project. I can also modify certain details that would impact the overall cost, again, depending on your specific goals and needs. If all else fails, just toss me five bucks. Deal?

Of course, that list is just a brief overview. Yes, I can photograph cookies. Not joking. I can photographs muffins and donuts, too. Read this guide if you’re hungry.

If I could be of service to you, don’t hesitate to contact me. Fill out the form or visit my contact page to learn more details.

You’re awesome! Thank you for visiting my post!