matthew stegall on Fstoppers

mattstegallphoto.squarespace.com

My name is Matthew Stegall and I am a 23 year old photographer living in Austin TX. I am originally from Norfolk VA and have lived through out the US. Growing up in poverty i quickly fell in love with art because drawing allowed me to escape the world that I was born in to. It didn't matter that I lived in a neighborhood where drugs were being sold on the corner, because i had pencil and paper that i could create my own world on and get lost in. Photography did not become an interest of mine until I had got to High School in California. Living in California I quickly fell into skateboarding and it goes without saying, I dedicate my DIY mentality to skateboarding and growing up with nothing. At some point if you're a skateboarder in CA two things happen. One, someone wants to create a clothing company or some sort of business to promote who you are. I was that guys and being in love with the digital world and art that is where my graphic designing experience came from. Two, someone wants to record everything thats going through video. That however was not me because i could not afford it. Fast forward to 2014 from my graduating year of 2009 I was finally able to afford my first camera. From that day forward I have never looked back and now dedicate my life to teaching and creating worlds of imagination and beauty both dark and light