“Occasionally while exploring the endless grid of Instagram, one comes across something that catches your eye. It’s usually something that, once examined more closely, is something you’ve seen before. Not that that is bad, mind you - I mean, no crime, no foul - but it’s really something when you discover a true gem of a photograph. That’s what happened to me one day when I came across the work of Matthew McCully. His abstract photographic art is created with the Chemigram process but is something that stands out from the crowd. These were not your usual spilled accident looking photographs with no direction or substance behind the image. They were different, unique as could be, and were taking the abstract and manipulating it into more familiar forms - some rigid, some organic. I continued to watch Matthew’s technique expand and become controlled in its execution, and I reached out to learn more about him and his intention behind the images I had grown so fond of. True to form for this new column, Matthew hails from the U.K., in the city of Frimley, just outside of London - however, it is his artistic sensibilities that extend far beyond these borders.”

- Michael Kirchoff

https://onetwelvepublishing.com/blog/traverse-matthew-mccully

Working with alternative photographic processes and getting to the root of what photography is has driven me since I first began practicing the art form in the late 90's.  Having spent a long time as a retoucher and teaching digital photography, I have found getting back to the physical and sometimes messy processes has been a valuable and ultimately life improving outlet.

My work life is split into three, teaching photography, looking after the pastoral care and well-being of 200 students and fitting in creating my own imagery. Working with teenagers I have seen depression, anxiety and a wide range of other mental health issues become more prevalent each year.  Initial the production of Chemigrams was as an escape from the stresses of work life, however increasingly I became influenced and inspired by the interactions I have had with students, gaining a better idea of the difficulties they go through.  

If you want to learn more about alternative process and chemigrams please take a look at the fantastic website http://www.alternativephotography.com/ 

All photographs by Matthew McCully