logo
Matthew Johnston

Matthew Johnston

My Journey to overcome

By using nature as a metaphor for disabilities and limitations I expierience. I am showing my path to recovery.

Awards

World Photo Annual

2023

Nominee

Fine Art

Non Professional

Nominee

Nature

Non Professional

My Journey to overcome

By using nature as a metaphor for disabilities and limitations I expierience. I am showing my path to recovery.

About Artist

Matthew Johnston

I am a retired combat medic with several combat deployments. I suffer from PTSD among other physical aliments that ended my military career. During treatment for my PTSD, it was suggested that I take up a hobby that did not require preplanning. I tried several forms of art, and nothing seemed to help. The last artform I tried was photography and started to feel whole again. Taking photos fulfilled my need to feel like I was on patrol in some foreign country. By that I mean to say I had to keep my head moving constantly looking in every direction for that next photo, just like finding bad guys. You as artists should not be surprised by how much you can miss always looking down. My camera became the tool to keep my head up, and body moving. Always looking for that next adventure, my little fix of adrenaline. After a while of just walking around taking random images, it was pointed out that I have talent for taking photos. That is when I committed to photography. Little did I know what that commitment really meant. I started taking my photography seriously and enrolled at the Evergreen State College for my Bachelor of Arts degree. It was an eye-opening experience to what I thought was a simple practice. I learned that there is a lot more to photography than running around clicking my shutter. I have been obsessed with finding what I have come to know as the decisive moment. I want to master the abilities to share my emotions and what I see while out exploring wild, dangerous, and emotional landscapes.

Matthew Johnston

Photographic Areas of Focus

Alternative Process, Fine Art, Landscapes, Nature

Location

United States of America

Explore Other Winners

View All
Nominee
Camille Seaman

Camille Seaman

Nature

Honorable Mention
Sushil Chauhan

Sushil Chauhan

Nature

Honorable Mention
Nominee
Jan-Tore Oevrevik

Jan-Tore Oevrevik

Landscapes

People's Vote Award
Nominee
May Caiwei Chen

May Caiwei Chen

Fine Art

logo

Contests

Info

FAQ & RulesTerms of UsePrivacy Policy

Links

Facebook

Instagram

Contact Us

© Creative Resource Collective, LLC 2024. All Rights Reserved.

reFocus Awards is managed by Creative Resource Collective, LLC.

Learn More

Creative Resource Collective, LLC.