“The Creek Near My Home—One of my more recent photos, aiming to place the Sun at the end of the water (Matthew Cha).”
Eighth grade marks the transitional period before high school, offering moments of reflection and growth. For this amateur photographer, one of his takeaways from this ephemeral year was the Homecoming Dance. He recalls having the time of his life with his friends on that night; however, his biggest regret was not recording all the memories of the dance. This kindled something within him, more so a foreshadowing of his photographic journey. Not only did he want to snap photos of his friends, he also wanted to utilize this newfound hobby to serve as his creative outlet—to do more beyond using a phone’s camera app.
Quote: “That’s just the barebones of it: to be able to look back on all my memories and all the things I’ve seen.” — Matthew Cha
It was just this summer of 2024 when Matthew Cha ‘26 took upon photography “more seriously.” Previously, photography was a casual interest for him. What prompted this change was his enrollment in one of Mitty’s visual arts courses: Visual Art 2/Digital Photography. After taking this course, he believes that he has significantly improved and honed his photographic abilities concerning the visual and technical characteristics of composition, exposure, and artistic technique. As I was browsing through his visual art gallery, which can be found in the Mitty student portal, I came across Matthew’s photograph of a metal chain captured from a unique perspective. His photograph intrigued me which led to me reaching out to him and inviting him to have a chat about his camerawork and relationship with photography.
How would you describe your photography style?
I’m still in the process of finding it, but right now my style is more of a rustic, black-and-white style. I like to focus on the fine details, textures, and patterns that are around the world. That’s for when I take upon photography more professionally. But in a less professional light, I want to take photos of everything as keepsakes to look back on.
Why did you choose photography as an elective, rather than drawing or painting?
I chose photography as my first choice for an elective, and I preferred photography for two reasons: My first reason was that the class seemed accessible and it gave me a chance to make more memories—and to keep those memories in my back pocket and to not forget them. Photos are like a time capsule. My second reason was to try new things, like photography in this case, that I haven’t had an opportunity to explore. My main desire is to take pictures of different places around the world. It doesn’t have to be extravagant—frankly, anything outside of San Jose is enough. Ultimately, I want to explore and capture the surroundings of a new environment.
Who inspires you?
There aren’t any particular professional photographers out there that inspire me, but Mr. Ryan Olein pushes me to do my best. Although, there was this one lady who was my family’s tour guide in Arizona for one of the small canyons that said something ethereal and spiritual as my inspiration.
Quote: “If I don’t take a picture right then and there, I’ll regret it for the rest of my life.” — The Cha family’s tour guide.
How does Mr. Olein push you to do your best?
Because of this class, Mr. Olein has pushed me out of my shell and taught me what a photo should look like. He has a keen eye; he finds the faults, as well as the natural beauty of each photo. For the photos I took that I initially thought were amazing, he found that it needed more improvement and his constructive criticism really helped me. Now, I’ve become more aware of the nuances when taking photos. My photos are more thought out, like every time I take a photo, I’m always thinking about, “What if this [object] needs to be more included?” I’d say Mr. Olein’s “eye” for photographic art has rubbed off on me, and I’m channeling him every time I snap a photo.
What is your favorite photograph that you’ve captured?
During a family hike, Matthew captured a striking image of a condor in flight—its wings fully extended. Though imperfect in resolution quality, the photograph marked a pivotal moment in his creative journey, deepening his passion for photography.
Now that you’re finally a photographer, what would you say to your past self?
Use the rule of thirds! That’s more of a realistic advice. But on a more serious note, it’s to take chances to go out more and to take photos of things that you see everyday because you never know when they’ll disappear.
What do you see yourself doing with photography in the future?
I see myself using photography as a side gig, or maybe my main job if I continue to grow and become increasingly better at it. I would be content enough with having photography be a hobby with no money involved. Ultimately, I chose to do photography to make unforgettable memories.
What is your advice to other photographers?
Same thing as what the tour guide had told me. It’s better to take photos than not. If you want to take a shot, take it right then and there—don’t wait for second chances. Because of what the guide said, I took a photo inspired by her.