by Yvette Depaepe
Published the 18th of March 2024

Eric Mattheyses has been fascinated by photography for many years. The countless number of possibilities created by the new digital era even have increased his enthusiasm. His main focus goes to architecture photography but he also excels in several other categories. Let's wander through his body of work and learn more about the artist behind his images.

'Hatch'

Dear Eric, first I would like to thank you so much for taking the time to answer this questionnaire! To begin, please introduce yourself shortly and tell us more about you, your hobbies or other projects you are involved in!

I am Eric Mattheyses. Retired geography teacher at a secondary school in Antwerp. In my spare time, in addition of being an amateur photographer, I was a passionate tennis player. Travelling was also a must, but I preferred to spend the holidays with my family on the Belgian coast. Now I'm visiting the North Sea region several times a year.

When and how did you start your photographic journey?

It's been a long time. When we went on our honeymoon, we thought there absolutely had to freeze  some memories. So off to the photo shop to purchase a camera. As a complete novice in the photographic field, I also bought a manual to learn some facts about photography: “Elsevier's photo book for everyone” by Gert Lindner. This book taught me the first photographic techniques and has served as a guideline in my photographic development for a long time.

A second big step in my photographic discovery was meeting a colleague of my wife. He was already an avid darkroom worker and when I went to join him in his darkroom for the first time, photography became something magical to me.

For many of us photography is either a hobby or a way of life. How would you define your relationship with photography?

Yet my photography ran at a leisurely pace during those years. A child, family, sports and other working conditions took up a lot of my free time. I continued taking photos and by registered in a local photo club (of which I have been chairman for years now). I never lost my passion for photography and it became a divine hobby for me.

What would be the most important experience so far that has influenced your steps in photography?

Little by little, the digital era appeared. As I came in contact with digital techniques earlier in my daily work, my interest was aroused. First by having a CD-ROM made with your own images and then by scanning the slides yourself. Ultimately, a printer was essential here and this way my photography had a second start. A start that would have more speed and content than in the early years. Photo editing programs such as PS were also made an important contribution to this.

You have your own style but your work is very diversified.  I mainly see architecture photography but also several completely different categories. Can you explain why this is?

The technical aspect was increasingly displaced by the content of the photo. I started thinking less about shutter speeds and apertures and more about what am I going to photograph and how do I create a beautiful presentation. Then I also discovered the “triptych” to shape my ideas. Unfortunately, these are less represented at 1x.

'White Tent'

I have few works focussing on people. I am more introvert and that is reflected in my photography towards other people; I have little desire to intrude into their world. This is how I came to photographic themes such as architecture and sometimes landscape. This does not mean that other photographic subjects are not discussed.

What is more important to you, the mood,/story behind your images or the technical perfection?

For me, all aspects in a photo are important. An image must have a certain technical value, it can/must tell something, but giving the image its own individuality is my greatest pursuit at the moment. Going beyond pure registration…

Describe your overall photographic vision.

Digital image editing gives me, as a photographer, a range of options to create my own images from my recordings. The photographer becomes like the painter or sculptor. He can form his own interpretation of reality. This idea is currently my biggest motivation for photography. I choose my subject, but at the same time I link my idea to the post-processing of it.

Can you please tell us something more about your workflow from the idea to the final product?

I prefer to have a photo on paper as a final product that can be exhibited somewhere. It is perhaps a shame that many beautiful images do not evolve further than their digital file.

Where do you look to find inspiration and what inspires you the most?

I find the most inspiration in modern architecture; Through various channels such as the internet, literature, fellow photographers (many on photo sites such as 1x) and also through coincidental discoveries on a trip or trip, I discover interesting subjects that I want to put in front of my own  lens.

Many are of the opinion that the gear is not very important when the passion for photography is strong. However, can you please share with us what gear you use (camera, lenses, lighting, tripod, etc.)?

I belong to the large group of photographers who believe that, as long as you have access to what you need photographically, equipment does not play such a major role. The photographer creates the image and not the device. Currently I use a 10 year old Canon 6D , a Canon lens L 24-105 (f4), Canon telephoto lens 70-300 and later supplemented with a Canon lens L 16-35. For easy portability, I also have a Canon M100 and of course I can't forget my cell phone, my Pixel 6 has already produced many beautiful images.

What would be your favourite photo? Please tell us the story behind it.

I don't like to talk about my favourite photo. All my images have their meaning and take me back in the past to its recording and editing…
If I were to highlight one, it would be “Harbour”.

'Harbour'

This image is one of my first “total” photo edits and for me it forms an alienating image of a place so familiar to me, the port of Blankenberge (Belgium).

Who are your favourite photographers or mentors whose works have influenced you and your photography?

My work is not influenced by one or a few photographers, but by the large number of photos I have seen over the years. In addition to exhibitions, photo sites such as 1x have brought the world of photography to everyone who is interested. In this way, interest and inspiration grows.

Now, since we have almost reached the end of this interview, I would kindly ask you to share with us your plans or photographic projects you would like to be involved in.

I hope to continue practising my photography for as long as possible. Large projects are no longer in the queue.

Is there anything else you wish to add  and what do you think about 1X as a home base for your work?

What has been disturbing me over the last year is the AI. Where will this take us? The machine creates the image, the text, the music… As photographers, are we going to resist this digital violence as much as possible or should we embrace it, as we did years ago with digital photography? A question that concerns us all but certainly myself and to which I have not yet found an answer.

'Windows 10'

'Agora 01'

'Vroenhoven Bridge'

'Colorful Facade'

'Labyrint'

'Cube Houses Star'

'Reitdiephaven'

'Reina Sofia 01'

'Tate 01'

'Steps and Lines'

'Reina Sofia 03'

'Yellow and Blue'

'Tower II'

'Almere WTC Martinez 1'

'Scottish Rainbow'

'I don't care'