I've arrived in Asia. It's a time of shooting for non-profits and commercial clients. I will be building my street, documentary, and commerical portfolio while I'm running around here. Who knows where I'll end up, but that is part of the joy of travel. Keep on the lookout and enjoy the first few images from a fortuitous layover in Taipei.
Hermosa Nights
A long time ago, In August 2014, I was living in a garage in Hermosa Beach and shooting whatever content I could. On Labor Day weekend, I convinced a bouncer at a nightclub in Hermosa Beach that I was the club photographer of the night. It couldn't have been more of a lie, but I looked the part with the long hair and black V-neck. What ensued was 8 hours of documenting lights, music, drugs, and alcohol in roughly 4,000 square feet of space. I hardly participated in the revelry aside from a few drinks and some dancing because people in party mode are a sight to behold. They scream, sweat, drink, laugh, black out, and in general try to have sex with each other. It's ridiculous, and it perfectly encapsulates the South Bay lifestyle of Los Angeles, CA.
I hope you enjoy the chaos.
Friend, host, and director Matthew Graham speaks with a man at his camp beneath a hotel on the Las Vegas Strip
Out of Sight: A Documentary on Homelessness in Las Vegas
Friends,
Last year in April some very talented friends and I elected to get out and make something. Our careers were stagnant....we were all underpaid PAs in L.A., and we were hungry for creation and storytelling. That turned out to be a documentary on the homeless population that live within the rain tunnels of Las Vegas. It was our first time working together on a documentary, and first time making something that deep and heavy. Working up the courage to dive headlong into dark, unknown tunnels together is no easy task, and I fondly recall the adrenaline of every moment.
I am proud to say it is finished.
EDIT: I was unaware of the popularity of this short doc after all these years. I must admit looking back on our work the cinematography was surely lacking in it’s quality, but we were young and new to the industry. I am happy that people continue to have an interest in these people, and I encourage anyone with a gifting heart to donate to the local charities of Las Vegas. Cheers :)
Please watch at the link below, and enjoy. Much love,
-Matt
Source: https://vimeo.com/123990521
New Places... Fresh Thoughts
I've been in Mexico for 3 weeks. Every day has been filled with hard work, shooting, and editing, and that's not going to change for a long time. This is brand new adventure, and keeping it an adventure requires hard work 24/7. It requires a change, if you will... in lifestyle, career, and destinations. I couldn't be more thrilled.
Essentially, I threw out my old portfolio, trashed my first website, and bought a one way ticket. Everything is gone, and I'm starting from scratch. I like it.
Every day I get better and I learn something new, and each day is another chance to grow, create, and share. Not all images or moments will be perfect, but that is the way of artistry. You work. You analyze. You improve. You move on to the next one.
I hope you, the viewer, finds this work to your liking and the stories therein captivating, and maybe, just maybe, we can share a rope and taco somewhere down the line.
See you out there,
-Matthew