Meet the artist: Mathieu Decodts
Mathieu Decodts
The talents of Mathieu Decodts are never-ending. He is not just an amazing photographer and photography tutor but also a stylist, a makeup artist and has a background in pencil, paint, and clay. As a full-time artist, professional photographer, and photography teacher, Mathieu brings a unique perspective to the medium. He views photography as an art form and uses it as another medium to express his creativity. He applies artistic concepts such as visual weight, composition, colour theory, patterns, and geometry to his fine art and portrait work, making his photography stand out from the rest.
What attracted you to photography in the first place?
I am not really a photographer. I am an artist who happens to use a camera, and there is a big difference. Let me explain. As a small child, I was very passionate about drawing, sculpting, and painting. However, I really hated everything I produced because no matter how hard I tried, I could not capture the details of the things I saw with my eyes in any way with pencils or paints. Everything I made or did was never good enough because everything I did looked flawed and terrible to me, because my ability to see things was much better than my ability to recreate or capture them. One of my art teachers got me into photography. Why stress about photo-realism when you can just take a photo? So, I started using a camera as another tool and never looked back!
How did you become a professional photographer?
I worked as a statistician in the civil service for many years, essentially a data scientist with a Bachelor of Science in economics, statistics and accounts. While I was working in my day job, I was also doing photography as a side hustle in my evenings and weekends. When a voluntary redundancy scheme came up, I jumped at the opportunity to pursue art as my full-time career. The rest, as they say, is history. I've been a full-time artist for nearly ten years, but I've secretly been doing art and making money from it for closer to 20 years. And it's been a passion of mine my entire life, for over 40 years.
What’s your favourite subject to photograph? What inspires you most?
I have two main subjects that I love to photograph, which may have something to do with my being ambidextrous and having an equal aptitude for both math and art. My favourite subject to photograph is people. I enjoy making people look better than they ever could have imagined by capturing the real them in the best possible light. The second subject that I love to photograph is inspired by my math side. I am captivated by strong geometric shapes and compositions, and I am always on the lookout for patterns and shapes in the world around me. I love creating pleasing compositions and then turning them into fine art photography. Both of these subjects inspire me equally, but it can be odd to see my work as I have two distinct styles, which is unusual for most artists. I can't choose just one of them, I need both to be happy with my work.
What is the most crucial skill for taking good photos?
All the creative tools I use to create art share one key skill: the ability to see. As a professional artist and photographer, I believe that the most essential skill for taking good photographs is composition. Composition is the art of arranging the elements in a photograph, such as the subject, background, and lighting, to create a visually pleasing and impactful image. A good composition can draw the viewer's eye to the main subject, convey a mood or emotion, and tell a story. How do you know what “good composition” is though? For that, you need to develop your eye, which is my number one best skill! “Developing your eye” is a term used in photography and art to refer to the ability to see and compose an image in a visually pleasing and impactful way. It's the ability to notice the details, the light and the elements that make a good photograph. It's about learning to see things in a new way and to be able to notice the elements that make an image interesting and compelling. Think of developing your eye as a journey of discovery, as you learn to see the world in a new way and to create images that are beautiful, interesting and meaningful. It's not just about taking good photographs, it's also about understanding the world around you and how to capture it in the best way possible.
What is your approach to teaching photography?
My classes are specifically designed to help people kick-start their journey in developing their eye. I firmly believe that no one can truly teach someone else anything, the only thing a teacher like me can do is guide you on your own journey. That's why the classes I teach are very hands-on and focus on fun and interactive exercises to help you make your own artistic discoveries. My teaching style is all about practical exercises and self-discovery. I've been teaching photography for about 8 years now, and I haven't yet failed to get a single student out of auto mode, so it seems to be working well so far.
You can see Mathieu’s work on his socials: Instagram and Facebook. If you are interested in commissioning work to Mathieu, you can get in touch through his LinkedIn and his website.
If you’d like to learn more about photography from Mathieu, check out his course on Kool Stories, and of course, keep your eyes out for his next course at the Duncairn!
