Photos By Swetel

This a series of athletic portraits that I’ve been working.  I started it to make connection between my passion for photography and my obsession with running and fitness.  More of an explanation can be found below in my artist statement about the series.  For the full set go to mattswetel.com.

Let me know what you guys think!

p.s. - All the images are 24x36” with accompany side/below image strips either 4x24” or 4x36” on a separate sheet than the main photo.  This was just the best way to display them on the interwebs.

LIVE TO…

Athletic Portraits by Matt Swetel

LIVE TO… contains portraits of a group of people who all have the same

interest – namely, maintaining a healthy lifestyle that involves some sort of

fitness activity.

The photographs in the collection are both very public and very

private. They explore what drives a person to run, ride, lift, eat, stretch and

more, whether it be personal goals or personal tragedies. The things that

keep us going and the things that keep us up all night. Our outlets, our

motivations, our demons, or the desire of self-perpetuation. The

photographs are about real people; they are also about me.

Prompted by my own loss, I began this project to unite two of my passions, art

and running, both of which have helped me process through my own

grief. While both have served as outlets to me for working through personal

issues, I’ve never before used them to comment on one another – and the

experience has been enlightening.

Throughout the process I found it important to stay true to each

individual. I listened to their stories and I didn’t want to embellish what

they are about. The “statements” accompanying each person (be they

written or imaged) are not filtered, twisted, or enhanced for viewers’ pleasure

or comprehension. They are simply the subject’s raw answer to my question:

“Why do you work out?”

Photosn from A Land Down Under

Photos from A Land Down Under 

Wedding - Liz + Ben (Part 2)

Wedding - Liz + Ben

Wedding - Sarah + Meiring (Part 2)

Over the past two years I have had the opportunity to assist for my friend Todd Carlson at a few of his weddings.  This here is from Sarah and Meiring’s wedding.  It was my first time doing any kind of photography work at a wedding so I was a bit nervous.  Here is a collection of photos that I particularly ranging from girls and guys prep to the ceremony.   Enjoy…