Travel Photographer Interviews – Mathieu Young

Photo By:Mathieu Young

LA BASED PHOTOGRAPER MATHIEU YOUNG was born in Northern California and educated at UCLA. After graduating in 2003 he spent four years working as a photo assistant to top commercial photographers (Von Unwerth, Testino, Mert & Marcus, Streiber) before setting out on his own.

His recent clients include Turner Broadcasting, Dreamworks Animation, Ubisoft, FOX, The CW, The WB and Paramount Pictures. When he’s not obsessing over photography, film, politics, and journalism, he likes riding dirtbikes, traveling to places that everyone tells him not to go, sleeping outside, urban farming and powertools…you can check out his website at Mathieu Young.

What – or who – got your initial interest going in terms of photography?

I got my first camera late, I was 19 and inherited an old Pentax k1000 from my grandfather. I was studying at UCLA, wanting to be a film director. After graduation I began to shoot portraits and assist commercial photographers in order to support myself. It beat the job I had, working the late shift at a restaurant.

Photo By:Mathieu Young

Your bio says you spent four years working as an assistant in commercial studios. Can you elaborate as to what kind of work you were doing?

I got a job painting the floors and checking in equipment at a photo studio in Los Angeles. I worked hard and met a lot of people, and managed to transition quickly to photo assisting full time. It was an incredible learning experience getting to work with a wide range of incredible photographers, mostly on advertising and fashion shoots. I made sure to ask a lot of questions and to take notes.

At the same time I would create reportage projects for myself. For instance, I traveled to East Africa and spent time living on LA’s ‘Skid Row’. These projects helped me find my voice even while I was working for other photographers.

How would you describe the work you do now…obviously there’s a strong reportage / photojournalistic element, but are you still involved in the commercial world also?

I am really interested in the intersection of reportage and commercial work. These days my main income comes from shooting stills on sets of movies, TV shows and commercials, and I have begun to shoot some advertising as well. At the same time, I still create reportage projects for myself, and try to add commercial elements into these journalism projects. Because I am really fascinated by both photojournalism and commercial photography, I am hoping to find a path that will allow me to combine them as opposed to switching back and forth between the two.

Which other photographers – old or contemporary – inspire you most?

Philip Lorca diCorcia is one of my all time favorites, and Sam Jones is someone whose path and work I admire greatly. Whenever I am lacking for insiration I find myself going back to the Getty Reportage and VII websites. John Moore and James Natchway are hugely inspiring, for their courage, intelligence and compassion.

Looking at your site you seem to have a lot of interest in social concerns…especially the dispossessed or economically downtrodden etc.

I believe in the power of visual arts to not only entertain and inform, but also influence. I am very interested in projects that encourage social progress and foster understanding.

When you are approaching subjects to shoot, how do you set about it? Do you chat and explain what you’re doing? Or shoot first, ask questions later?

I always try to get permission for a portrait before I take it. A lot of people say no. Sometimes they change their mind. Sometimes they don’t. I try to avoid my photography having a predatory element, I prefer my photographs to be more of an agreement between the subject, the viewer, and myself. That said, there are times when that is not possible, or when I deliberately have a perspective that doesn’t include the complicity from the subject. In those situations you just need to shoot first and answer questions later.

I have only regretted the photographs that I missed.

Photo By:Mathieu Young

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Community Connection

Check out some of Mathieu’s recent photoessay of Mexico’s “happy” coast.

Please read our other recent interviews with Travel Photographers.