Matthew Nordman
Matthew Nordman is a self taught California-born photographer. Previously working as a mechanical engineer with a degree from LMU, he discovered his passion for photography while working at SpaceX. Currently he is focused on fine art and commercial work. You can find him exploring the streets of Los Angeles.
A Sit Down with Matthew Nordman
Matthew Nordman is a photographer from El Centro, California that possesses an uncanny ability to capture candid moments and intricate textures deep within urban environments. While mostly shooting around Los Angeles, Nordman makes it a point to bring his camera wherever he travels.
“We have our camera on us 100% of the time pretty much,” he said. “We really only don’t have our cameras on us when we go for a run.”
He and his wife and fellow photographer, Jenae Lien, compose a tight-knit team that inspire and guide one another. Together they push each other to be true to their nature and dedicated to perfecting their craft.
“We have a very deep connection, so we really feed off each other’s imagery”, Nordman said.
Street photography often focuses on people or their natural behavior in public; a covert look inside the candid essence of a human being. Similar to a social documentary, Nordman’s work transports viewers to the place in the photo, offering untouched perspectives on the people within.
“Anywhere we go we do street photography,” Nordman said. “It doesn’t matter where you are at in the world, the most satisfying art is when you capture something that can be relative through a picture tied to a human emotion.”
Nordman’s precise framing and timing guide the viewer’s focus, initiating a sense of exploration in each photo he snaps. His instinctive art direction leads to timeless moments, and his viewership is appreciative of his style, whether he shoots for a personal project or commercial business.
Another unique aspect of Matthew work is his use of Leica cameras. The couple chuckled as they recalled the story of Matthew finding out Jenae had a Leica M6 camera tucked away in her closet for years, and their journey with the German company took off.
“I had known about Leica through my engineering career,” Matthew said. “I used to work at SpaceX, and there we had lasers made by Leica; lasers used to manufacture rocket parts for various precise degrees of location. For me it was like seeing a unicorn that I’d probably never see. Once Jenae showed me her film camera and I was actually able to start shooting with it, I made it my mission to collect more of these cameras.”
Matthew and Jenae have since developed a bond with the Leica community, frequenting their store in Los Angeles and trying out various models of their cameras.
“We try to reach out to them and be as active in their community as possible. We’ve been really luck to establish a relationship with them,” Matthew said. “They follow us, and they’ve featured me multiple times on both of their accounts; Germany and USA.”
When shooting, Matthew fluctuates between black and white and color. Colors can give context to a specific setting; a cool palette can be used to portray a cold winter, a warm palette for summer, or dense greens for spring. Color can help portray a mood more efficiently, but black and white images appear timeless, allowing the viewer to focus more on the moment.
“I’m leaning toward black and white at this moment in time, but I’m really fond of color,” Matthew said. “Not many people are going to ask for black and white if you’re doing commercial work or anything for brands, but for street photography, specifically black and white is so good and timeless. Almost all street photography in the beginning was shot in black and white, and those are some of the best images.”
Matthew’s portfolio is profound and ever-expanding as he and his wife journey together with their cameras in hand. Their genuine approach to photography and their excitement about life is apparent in their photos and their love for the art. In a crowded industry, photographers like Matthew give viewers a refreshing take on the world by capturing beautiful, subtle moments in time.
If Matthew Nordman could photography anyone now or go back in time to shoot any era or person, who would it be?
“If I could photograph one living person right now it would have to be someone high in the political world. It would be awesome to photograph Trump. When I think about that I think of the Time magazine issue with him on the cover; so powerful. It doesn’t necessarily have to be Trump, but something of that status.
If I were to go back in time to an era it would be when street photography was getting really good in New York in the 50’s and 60’s. That was when much of the black and white street photography in New York was at its prime. Just to be in a city like that where everyone is out in the streets is just pure gold. In terms of photographing someone that is dead, I’d choose Tupac.”
You can find his incredible street photography on Instagram @n.rdy or on his personal website here.
Matthew Nordman is a photographer from El Centro, California that possesses an uncanny ability to capture candid moments and intricate textures deep within urban environments. While mostly shooting around Los Angeles, Nordman makes it a point to bring his camera wherever he travels.
“We have our camera on us 100% of the time pretty much,” he said. “We really only don’t have our cameras on us when we go for a run.”
He and his wife and fellow photographer, Jenae Lien, compose a tight-knit team that inspire and guide one another. Together they push each other to be true to their nature and dedicated to perfecting their craft.
“We have a very deep connection, so we really feed off each other’s imagery”, Nordman said.
Street photography often focuses on people or their natural behavior in public; a covert look inside the candid essence of a human being. Similar to a social documentary, Nordman’s work transports viewers to the place in the photo, offering untouched perspectives on the people within.
“Anywhere we go we do street photography,” Nordman said. “It doesn’t matter where you are at in the world, the most satisfying art is when you capture something that can be relative through a picture tied to a human emotion.”
Nordman’s precise framing and timing guide the viewer’s focus, initiating a sense of exploration in each photo he snaps. His instinctive art direction leads to timeless moments, and his viewership is appreciative of his style, whether he shoots for a personal project or commercial business.
Another unique aspect of Matthew work is his use of Leica cameras. The couple chuckled as they recalled the story of Matthew finding out Jenae had a Leica M6 camera tucked away in her closet for years, and their journey with the German company took off.
“I had known about Leica through my engineering career,” Matthew said. “I used to work at SpaceX, and there we had lasers made by Leica; lasers used to manufacture rocket parts for various precise degrees of location. For me it was like seeing a unicorn that I’d probably never see. Once Jenae showed me her film camera and I was actually able to start shooting with it, I made it my mission to collect more of these cameras.”
Matthew and Jenae have since developed a bond with the Leica community, frequenting their store in Los Angeles and trying out various models of their cameras.
“We try to reach out to them and be as active in their community as possible. We’ve been really luck to establish a relationship with them,” Matthew said. “They follow us, and they’ve featured me multiple times on both of their accounts; Germany and USA.”
When shooting, Matthew fluctuates between black and white and color. Colors can give context to a specific setting; a cool palette can be used to portray a cold winter, a warm palette for summer, or dense greens for spring. Color can help portray a mood more efficiently, but black and white images appear timeless, allowing the viewer to focus more on the moment.
“I’m leaning toward black and white at this moment in time, but I’m really fond of color,” Matthew said. “Not many people are going to ask for black and white if you’re doing commercial work or anything for brands, but for street photography, specifically black and white is so good and timeless. Almost all street photography in the beginning was shot in black and white, and those are some of the best images.”
Matthew’s portfolio is profound and ever-expanding as he and his wife journey together with their cameras in hand. Their genuine approach to photography and their excitement about life is apparent in their photos and their love for the art. In a crowded industry, photographers like Matthew give viewers a refreshing take on the world by capturing beautiful, subtle moments in time.
If Matthew Nordman could photography anyone now or go back in time to shoot any era or person, who would it be?
“If I could photograph one living person right now it would have to be someone high in the political world. It would be awesome to photograph Trump. When I think about that I think of the Time magazine issue with him on the cover; so powerful. It doesn’t necessarily have to be Trump, but something of that status.
If I were to go back in time to an era it would be when street photography was getting really good in New York in the 50’s and 60’s. That was when much of the black and white street photography in New York was at its prime. Just to be in a city like that where everyone is out in the streets is just pure gold. In terms of photographing someone that is dead, I’d choose Tupac.”
You can find his incredible street photography on Instagram @n.rdy or on his personal website here.