Horizons Fall Photography Speaker
Matt Payne
Matt is a mountaineer and fine art nature and landscape photographer based in Durango, Colorado. A fifth-generation Colorado native, Matt has a deep passion for the state and its rugged beauty. Specializing in capturing hard-to-reach locations, including Colorado’s highest peaks, he achieved a lifelong goal in 2018 by climbing the state's 100 highest mountains.
A deeply curious individual with a strong connection to the natural world, Matt has a keen interest in science and natural history. The goal of his fine art prints is to showcase Earth's natural beauty, revealing intricate details and highlighting the magnificence and fragility of nature. Matt is passionate about the craft of landscape photography, he also produces a weekly podcast, F-Stop Collaborate and Listen, dedicated to landscape and nature photography.
Session Information
The San Juan Mountains - How a Lifelong Connection Shaped my Photography
What happens when you fall so deeply in love with a place that you have no choice but to move there, live it, breathe it, and let it shape your work? In this presentation, I’ll explore the journey of making the San Juan Mountains not just my home, but my artistic muse. I’ll discuss how a profound connection to a landscape transforms the way we see, feel, and create—leading to more authentic, personal, and deeply meaningful photography. Through stories, images, and reflections, I’ll share what it means to not just capture a place, but to truly belong to it