Matt Payne
@mattpaynephoto.bsky.social
Full-time Nature Photographer, Host of the F-Stop Collaborate and Listen Podcast, Muench Workshops Pro. https://www.mattpaynephotography.com/page/quick-links/
Old Man of Storr, a very familiar viewpoint.
I shot this as a long infrared exposure to slow the scene down and strip away the expected tones. The result felt less dramatic and more ancient, like the landscape wasn’t performing at all.
Same place, different way of seeing.
I shot this as a long infrared exposure to slow the scene down and strip away the expected tones. The result felt less dramatic and more ancient, like the landscape wasn’t performing at all.
Same place, different way of seeing.
January 5, 2026 at 5:01 PM
Old Man of Storr, a very familiar viewpoint.
I shot this as a long infrared exposure to slow the scene down and strip away the expected tones. The result felt less dramatic and more ancient, like the landscape wasn’t performing at all.
Same place, different way of seeing.
I shot this as a long infrared exposure to slow the scene down and strip away the expected tones. The result felt less dramatic and more ancient, like the landscape wasn’t performing at all.
Same place, different way of seeing.
Very famous viewpoint, very familiar composition.
I went with a long infrared exposure instead, about five minutes. The water smoothed out, the clouds blurred into structure, and the village stayed put.
Same place, different sense of time.
I went with a long infrared exposure instead, about five minutes. The water smoothed out, the clouds blurred into structure, and the village stayed put.
Same place, different sense of time.
January 4, 2026 at 9:20 PM
Very famous viewpoint, very familiar composition.
I went with a long infrared exposure instead, about five minutes. The water smoothed out, the clouds blurred into structure, and the village stayed put.
Same place, different sense of time.
I went with a long infrared exposure instead, about five minutes. The water smoothed out, the clouds blurred into structure, and the village stayed put.
Same place, different sense of time.
A glacier in the Chilean fjords, seen from above.
The blue ice shows years of flow and compression, while the dark bands are rock and sediment being carried downhill, actively reshaping the land.
Changing perspective doesn’t just change what you see, it changes how you understand it.
The blue ice shows years of flow and compression, while the dark bands are rock and sediment being carried downhill, actively reshaping the land.
Changing perspective doesn’t just change what you see, it changes how you understand it.
January 3, 2026 at 9:10 PM
A glacier in the Chilean fjords, seen from above.
The blue ice shows years of flow and compression, while the dark bands are rock and sediment being carried downhill, actively reshaping the land.
Changing perspective doesn’t just change what you see, it changes how you understand it.
The blue ice shows years of flow and compression, while the dark bands are rock and sediment being carried downhill, actively reshaping the land.
Changing perspective doesn’t just change what you see, it changes how you understand it.
Reposted by Matt Payne
I added another image to my New Year's Day Project this morning. These images show the sunrise over Lake Superior from 2018 to 2026. Grand Marais, Minnesota.
January 1, 2026 at 4:48 PM
I added another image to my New Year's Day Project this morning. These images show the sunrise over Lake Superior from 2018 to 2026. Grand Marais, Minnesota.
These leaning aspens stopped me mid-hike.
I wasn’t looking for a photo, I just noticed how none of them stood on their own. Every trunk leaned into another, crossing and depending in a way that felt quietly familiar.
That was enough to make me stop.
I wasn’t looking for a photo, I just noticed how none of them stood on their own. Every trunk leaned into another, crossing and depending in a way that felt quietly familiar.
That was enough to make me stop.
January 2, 2026 at 8:55 PM
These leaning aspens stopped me mid-hike.
I wasn’t looking for a photo, I just noticed how none of them stood on their own. Every trunk leaned into another, crossing and depending in a way that felt quietly familiar.
That was enough to make me stop.
I wasn’t looking for a photo, I just noticed how none of them stood on their own. Every trunk leaned into another, crossing and depending in a way that felt quietly familiar.
That was enough to make me stop.
As we close out 2025, I'll leave you all with a few images I captured while I was in Scotland leading workshops for Muench Workshops. It has been a pleasure traveling the world and capturing these ephemeral moments. Nature is so inspiring. Until next year! Signing off, Matt
January 1, 2026 at 1:00 AM
As we close out 2025, I'll leave you all with a few images I captured while I was in Scotland leading workshops for Muench Workshops. It has been a pleasure traveling the world and capturing these ephemeral moments. Nature is so inspiring. Until next year! Signing off, Matt
From the bow of a sailboat in southern Chile, I felt the biting cold and heard ice cracking in the fjord. The chaotic, fractured glacier, so close yet indifferent, stuck with me more than the obvious moments. It felt alive, pressed against an unexpected forest. One of my fave 15 photos of the year.
December 30, 2025 at 2:36 AM
From the bow of a sailboat in southern Chile, I felt the biting cold and heard ice cracking in the fjord. The chaotic, fractured glacier, so close yet indifferent, stuck with me more than the obvious moments. It felt alive, pressed against an unexpected forest. One of my fave 15 photos of the year.
Here's another set of images I captured this fall here in Colorado - my favorite season and place to make images - hands down!
December 16, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Here's another set of images I captured this fall here in Colorado - my favorite season and place to make images - hands down!
Heading back here this week. <3 Desert time is always a good time!
December 1, 2025 at 11:48 PM
Heading back here this week. <3 Desert time is always a good time!
Good morning from Colorado! =)
November 18, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Good morning from Colorado! =)
One of my favorite finds from 2024 - recent snow transformed this desert landscape - when the snow melted, it made the soil wet, completely bringing out all the awesome textures.
November 15, 2025 at 4:44 PM
One of my favorite finds from 2024 - recent snow transformed this desert landscape - when the snow melted, it made the soil wet, completely bringing out all the awesome textures.
Aspen Leaf on bog oil, which is created by iron-oxidizing bacteria in swampy water with organic materials. One of my favorite finds from this year's fall color adventure.
November 14, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Aspen Leaf on bog oil, which is created by iron-oxidizing bacteria in swampy water with organic materials. One of my favorite finds from this year's fall color adventure.
Awesome aspen trees from near my home in Colorado last month.
November 11, 2025 at 3:00 AM
Awesome aspen trees from near my home in Colorado last month.
Just wrapped up an 11-day workshop here in Scotland, photographing some awesome foliage, woodland, and castles. Here's a small collection of images I managed to edit from my 14-day adventure photographing fall color in Colorado a couple of weeks ago.
October 27, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Just wrapped up an 11-day workshop here in Scotland, photographing some awesome foliage, woodland, and castles. Here's a small collection of images I managed to edit from my 14-day adventure photographing fall color in Colorado a couple of weeks ago.
Reposted by Matt Payne
I’m back after a summer holiday and in this episode of Biblioscapes in Discussion, I am joined by Matt Payne (@mattpaynephoto.bsky.social) to talk about his work and his book The Colorado Way.
biblioscapes.com/in-discussio...
#biblioscapesindiscussion
biblioscapes.com/in-discussio...
#biblioscapesindiscussion
September 19, 2025 at 7:07 PM
I’m back after a summer holiday and in this episode of Biblioscapes in Discussion, I am joined by Matt Payne (@mattpaynephoto.bsky.social) to talk about his work and his book The Colorado Way.
biblioscapes.com/in-discussio...
#biblioscapesindiscussion
biblioscapes.com/in-discussio...
#biblioscapesindiscussion
Reposted by Matt Payne
My friend @mattpaynephoto.bsky.social has put several years of work into writing a book on his experience hiking the 500-mile Colorado Trail and climbing the highest 100 peaks in the Colorado Rockies.
Check out his Kickstarter project: www.kickstarter.com/projects/mat...
Check out his Kickstarter project: www.kickstarter.com/projects/mat...
September 5, 2025 at 4:14 PM
My friend @mattpaynephoto.bsky.social has put several years of work into writing a book on his experience hiking the 500-mile Colorado Trail and climbing the highest 100 peaks in the Colorado Rockies.
Check out his Kickstarter project: www.kickstarter.com/projects/mat...
Check out his Kickstarter project: www.kickstarter.com/projects/mat...
I launched my book on Kickstarter today! Thanks in advance for your support of this project. Let me know if you have questions!
September 5, 2025 at 1:36 PM
I launched my book on Kickstarter today! Thanks in advance for your support of this project. Let me know if you have questions!
Reposted by Matt Payne
Watch @mattpaynephoto.bsky.social in the video edition of Landscape Photography World Podcast now on YouTube!
youtu.be/WTV1SYHiwl0?...
youtu.be/WTV1SYHiwl0?...
Matt Payne on Climbing Mountains and Creating Meaning Through Photography and Conversation
YouTube video by Grant Swinbourne Photography
youtu.be
September 3, 2025 at 3:04 AM
Watch @mattpaynephoto.bsky.social in the video edition of Landscape Photography World Podcast now on YouTube!
youtu.be/WTV1SYHiwl0?...
youtu.be/WTV1SYHiwl0?...
Reposted by Matt Payne
Coming up next on Landscape Photography World Podcast, @mattpaynephoto.bsky.social talks about his new book!
Listen next Wednesday where you get your podcasts or on grantswinbournephotography.com/lpw-podcast & youtube.com/@grantswinbournephotography
youtu.be/NWvj1GvdSlg?...
Listen next Wednesday where you get your podcasts or on grantswinbournephotography.com/lpw-podcast & youtube.com/@grantswinbournephotography
youtu.be/NWvj1GvdSlg?...
Episode 214 - Trailer
YouTube video by Grant Swinbourne Photography
youtu.be
August 27, 2025 at 8:09 PM
Coming up next on Landscape Photography World Podcast, @mattpaynephoto.bsky.social talks about his new book!
Listen next Wednesday where you get your podcasts or on grantswinbournephotography.com/lpw-podcast & youtube.com/@grantswinbournephotography
youtu.be/NWvj1GvdSlg?...
Listen next Wednesday where you get your podcasts or on grantswinbournephotography.com/lpw-podcast & youtube.com/@grantswinbournephotography
youtu.be/NWvj1GvdSlg?...
One of my favorite things to do in nature photography is to force the viewer to ask, "what the hell is that?!" Finding these things in nature is so much fun. Anyone else?
August 19, 2025 at 9:05 PM
One of my favorite things to do in nature photography is to force the viewer to ask, "what the hell is that?!" Finding these things in nature is so much fun. Anyone else?
Today I released my podcast episode with @klausaxelsenphoto.bsky.social, who launched the pre-orders for his book today! I'm honored to have written the foreword for the book. I think you'll really love learning about his journey!
www.mattpaynephotography.com/gallery/find...
www.mattpaynephotography.com/gallery/find...
August 18, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Today I released my podcast episode with @klausaxelsenphoto.bsky.social, who launched the pre-orders for his book today! I'm honored to have written the foreword for the book. I think you'll really love learning about his journey!
www.mattpaynephotography.com/gallery/find...
www.mattpaynephotography.com/gallery/find...
This was a memorable storm to witness. Back in 2022, I got a bad case of COVID in mid-August and over labor day, after I had healed up, I decided to test my lungs and climbed a low 13er near Telluride, Colorado. This was one of my many rewards, watching this storm dump rain below me.
August 17, 2025 at 11:36 PM
This was a memorable storm to witness. Back in 2022, I got a bad case of COVID in mid-August and over labor day, after I had healed up, I decided to test my lungs and climbed a low 13er near Telluride, Colorado. This was one of my many rewards, watching this storm dump rain below me.
Balanced rock, fleeting light, golden aspens below. This Colorado scene is featured in my upcoming book The Colorado Way, blending 140+ of my photos with essays on mountains, trails, and life lessons. My Kickstarter campaign opens Sept. 5 for backers — I’d love your support in bringing it to life!
August 17, 2025 at 1:15 AM
Balanced rock, fleeting light, golden aspens below. This Colorado scene is featured in my upcoming book The Colorado Way, blending 140+ of my photos with essays on mountains, trails, and life lessons. My Kickstarter campaign opens Sept. 5 for backers — I’d love your support in bringing it to life!