Photography by Matthew James

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Photography by Matthew James

Sports, Corporate and Editorial photography from award-winning photojournalist Matthew James
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Sports, Corporate and Editorial photography from award-winning photojournalist Matthew James

Visit https://www.photographybymatthewjames.com for more info

* NCTJ Photographer of the Year 2011
* Midlands Sports Photographer of the Year 2011 - Finalist

27/11/2024

What role do you think literature and storytelling play in breaking down stereotypes about mental health?

Tucked away in a quaint 'kolonihave' (allotment) on the outskirts of Copenhagen, I had the pleasure of photographing author for The Telegraph. Her novel 'What Kingdom' explores life inside psychiatric institutions, but not in the way you might expect.

Fine challenges the usual narratives around mental health, rejecting the “stereotypical tropes or metaphors” often found in literature. Instead, she seeks to “shake up this language,” making it more nuanced and reflective of the broader societal context. She believes we need to shift the focus away from individuals’ struggles and towards how society can adapt to better accommodate people who don’t fit the mold of a “fully functional citizen.”

Her work is a bold call to reimagine mental health care—not as a process of locking people away, but as a collaborative effort to expand our collective emotional understanding. As Fine puts it, “Could we not imagine treatments… involving the outside world gearing itself towards a wider and more comprehensive emotional spectrum?” It’s a question that lingers, one with no easy answers but enormous significance.

20/09/2024

For the second year in a row, Idrætsforbund (DIF) have hired me to photograph His Royal Highness King Frederik of Denmark alongside the city signs that reveal next year's locations.

So much planning went into this assignment, as we were tasked with finding suitable backgrounds that wouldn't look the same as last year's images. Despite being in pretty much the exact same spot!

Typically, despite weeks of perfect weather, the photoshoot had to be postponed at the last minute on our first attempt. But this bad luck gave us the opportunity to fine-tune the entire operation down to the wire.

The rains returned for attempt no.2, but time was against us and the green light was given.

Not surprisingly, we ripped through each photo, each position. And as the signposts were packed into a waiting vehicle and driven elsewhere for the final photo, we made use of the time by filming a short promo video (which is yet to be revealed).

The final image, taken in the gardens of Fredensborg Castle, is my favourite. When I first pitched the idea, we weren't entirely sure we would be allowed to have the building in the background. So a huge thanks goes out to everyone who made this a reality.

Of course, none of this would have happened without the tireless effort of both Suzanne Meyer and Signe Sjølund Torp. Credit where credit's due, as we say in English :-)

To find out more about next year's event, visit https://www.royalrun.dk/

And congratulations to all the host cities:

Viborg Kommune
Horsens Kommune - en del af flokken
Ribe i Esbjerg Kommune
Korsør i Slagelse Kommune
Københavns Kommune / Frederiksberg Kommune

19/09/2024

In all the post-race excitement of the CPH Half Marathon, I forgot to mention a very special event that took place the day before: The Garden Run in Tivoli Gardens.

On a bright September morning, 480 participants ran laps to support the SMIL Foundation. For every lap completed by each runner, Sparta Atletik & Løb donated DKK 10, ultimately raising DKK 35,000 to benefit children with chronic illnesses.

It's not every day one gets the chance to photograph inside Tivoli, so I felt grateful for the opportunity, especially as it was for such a wonderful cause.

A big thanks to Tivoli, the SMILfonden, and everyone involved for making it a special event! And how about those autumnal colours!

15/09/2024

A selection of my faves from Copenhagen Half Marathon today (Sunday 15th September)

30/08/2024

Sticking with the Løb theme, today is the last day of the largest running event in their annual calendar: DHL Stafetten.

For those unfamiliar with the event, over five days, Danish businesses descend on Fælledparken in Copenhagen for a 5 x 5km Relay Race. They compete against other companies (and each other), but the prime focus is to have a great time. Each company pays for their own tent, which is stocked with beer, soft drinks, snacks, and in most cases, a sizzling barbecue.

Each year I try my best to find different angles and motifs, and the highlight so far has been the view from the cherry-picker / lift. Viewing the vastness of the event from 10 metres above the ground adds a whole new dynamic to the imagery (although I admit to being a bit nervous when we couldn't get back down!)

Tonight I'm looking forward to some late-night action (not in that sense), where candles are lit and the mood takes a more relaxed vibe.

If you're taking part be sure to invite me in to your tent for a cheeky beer and some 'hygge' ;-)

28/08/2024

Since 2014, I've had the privilege of working closely with Sparta Løb, a vibrant and growing community that has become a cornerstone of Copenhagen's sporting landscape.

Over the years, I've witnessed the club's remarkable journey as it continues to grow from strength to strength, and I'm proud to say that my own journey as a freelance photographer has been deeply intertwined with theirs.

My relationship with Sparta began when they first hired me to photograph their sporting events, portraits, and cityscapes for their promotional materials. At the time, I was a budding freelance photographer, eager to capture the spirit of Copenhagen through my lens and make a name for myself. Little did I know that this initial collaboration would evolve into a long-standing partnership that would not only help me hone my craft but also allow me to contribute to the club's visual identity.

This summer, I was honored to be asked to take Sparta's official corporate portraits for their brand new website. This project was particularly special to me, as it marked another milestone in our shared journey. The images, now online and ready to be seen, reflect not only the professionalism and pride of the club but also the trust they've placed in me to represent their brand visually.

I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunities they've given me and for being such an integral part of my professional development. Their belief in my work has allowed me to grow as a photographer, and in turn, I've been able to contribute to their continued success by providing them with images that capture the essence of their ever-growing team.

You can see the 20+ images I shot for them (plus a few I didn't) here:
https://sparta.dk/ansatte-i-sparta/

18/08/2024

Front Cover photography for Grazia Magazine, featuring Irina Torres.

This is the first time I've been commissioned to shoot a front cover for a fashion magazine, and I was aware of my own limitations. Looking at past editions of Grazia helped me figure out where my personal style would fit in, and Irina and I talked a lot about colours and balance.

Copenhagen has an abundance of available backdrops that look great in portraits, but I wanted to keep this one simple. A hint of urbanism surrounded by green sums up the equilibrium that the city offers. From my perspective, at least.

The weather wasn't on our side, but the deadline was fast approaching and time was running out. After weeks of hunting for the best location to fit Irina's busy schedule, we were forced to go ahead during sporadic rain showers.

Fortunately I came prepared with umbrellas and an assistant, and Irina rocked up with dazzling style and professionalism.

Can anyone in my Danish network correctly guess where we took this photo?

09/08/2024

Being on the other side of the camera doesn't come naturally to me, which is why I full empathise with many of my portrait clients.

Before heading off for a long, well-deserved summer vacation, I was invited to the apartment of Collinge for a photoshoot. Mike, a talented graphic designer and photographer, needed subjects for a personal project with a twist: the images were shot on a roll of film!

It's been 20 years since I last used a regular SLR camera, and Mike reminded me that there's still a lot of joy to be had with them. In particular, the lost art of waiting for the film to be developed and the excitement that comes with it. Not to mention the satisfyingly heavy 'clunk' sound with each shutter release. Ahh...

The entire experience rekindled my appreciation for the timeless beauty and patience film photography requires. It was a wonderful reminder of why we love what we do as photographers – capturing moments that tell a story, whether digitally or on film.

24/06/2024

wins the much-coveted "Photo Location of the Month" award. Five Stars!

Palm trees, temples, mosaics, statues, and intricate wood carvings await you inside one of Copenhagen's finest art museums.

And from a photography perspective, I can't think of a better place to hold an event. Not only was the light perfect, but the rich greens and reds really add a dynamic that simply doesn't exist in most corporate event spaces. My photography portfolio is about to get an upgrade :-)

Congratulations to and LEF marketing & events for selecting such an awe-inspiring venue for

12/06/2024

During last month's Global Fashion Summit in Copenhagen, I had the pleasure of capturing the launch event for TrusTrace's third industry playbook, “Unlocking DPP: The Why, What and How of Digital Product Passports”.

This was my third assignment for , who have returned to Copenhagen three years in a row, and who always choose great restaurants, where sustainability is key!

The event this year was hosted at the stunning Michelin-starred , where I was lucky enough to have a taster of their delicious meals, which also look great on camera :-)

A big thank you to Melanie Hughes, Katie Karayiannis, Anja Sadock and the team at for their wonderful organisational skills and support, and for hiring me once again. Looking forward to next year!

21/05/2024

Royal Run just keeps on smashing its own PB!

With more than 95,000 people taking part across all of Denmark on Monday, the sheer number of people gathered in the streets needed to be seen to be believed.

Luckily I have a few tricks up my sleeve to help capture large crowds like this 😉

Huge thanks to all the organisers and supporters, including , , , , , , , , and of course

18/05/2024

There’s a great gym in Copenhagen called where I’ve been training continuously for about 4 years now. The community there is without a doubt one of the friendliest I’ve ever been a part of, where people stop to say hello or offer a complimentary fist-bump (post-Covid).

I don’t go there to promote myself as a photographer, so I’m grateful to have photographed not one, but two fellow Vesterbronx members recently.

spotted me during the and correctly called out my name to get my attention (oddly, most people call me James).
Meanwhile, has been making waves as she launches her own brand, including a partnership with

And for the record, Celine smashed my own marathon PB, and Irina can squat way more than my spindly little chicken legs can manage. I think I’ll just stick to taking very adequate sports photos!

11/05/2024

It was a smorgasbord of musical talent on display at Moderna Museet Malmö on Wednesday evening, as the British Embassy () hosted a very special pre-Eurovision event.

As well as a live, stripped-down performance from the UK's , the crowd got to hear Swedish Eurovision stars (aka Lynda Woodruff), and talk about what the contest has meant to them.

Tonight I'll be tuning in to watch the final of the @ song contest, while simultaneously keeping an eye out for those hard-to-catch

08/05/2024

Participants at this year's run past the burnt-down ruins of . The 17th century structure was nearing the end of a renovation to celebrate its 400th anniversary when it unexpectedly caught fire on the morning of April 16th.

05/05/2024

Today was my 10th as a photographer, and it doesn’t get any easier.

With a sold out crowd, trying to get from A to B - with two cameras and a bike - felt impossible at times, but somehow I survived.

As always, there were plenty of surprises along the route, including the ruins of the burnt down Børsen building, and the moment the elite “caught up” with the other participants.

Shout out to everyone who crossed the start line today… I hope you had a wicked day in our wonderful city!

09/04/2024

A significant win for cultural heritage preservation, thanks to the joint efforts of Dr. Ittai Gradel, Denmark's Museum and The

As a history buff myself, it's a delight to see one of my portraits playing a part in such an intriguing saga.

For those not fully acquainted with the details, Dr. Gradel bravely blew the whistle on stolen artefacts from London's renowned museum.

Now, seven months down the line, .official reports that the Danish museum played a pivotal role in facilitating the recovery of a second, larger set of stolen pieces.

As my professional photography career enters its 16th year, stories like this remind me of why I ventured into this industry in the first place – a passion for stories, and the privilege of documenting history in all its facets.

03/04/2024

In a recent post, I delved into the transformative power of in photo editing. Reflecting on a recent challenge, I found myself grappling with grainy images due to heightened ISO settings in a dimly lit environment.

Learning from this experience, I meticulously selected my camera gear for my next assignment: capturing the ambiance of a cocktail event at a after-party.

This marked my second venture with , a New York-based client, and I was determined to showcase consistent quality beyond the initial success of last year. Departing from my usual lens choices, I opted for a dynamic duo: a 35mm and an 85mm, respectively.

Now, you might be thinking, "Switching lenses—what's the big deal?" But believe me, it made all the difference. Armed with these new tools, I approached the event with renewed creativity and style. Colours, shapes and objects took on a whole new perspective, and I felt a genuine spark of revitalised inspiration.

Additionally, given the familiar dim lighting, I aimed to minimise post-processing time spent on grain correction, prioritising capturing crisp, captivating shots in the moment.

And the ironic thing? I was planning on selling my 35mm, as I never use it! I think I might hang on to it a little longer now.

Shout out to Strøm Bar for their fine beverages and assistance, and a massive thanks and congratulations to , Sam Lazar Riviello and the rest of the team Simons Foundation. Looking forward to next year's event already :-)

27/03/2024

AI saves the day... again!

There's a new-ish feature in Adobe Lightroom that has come to the rescue on a number of occasions, but on Wednesday night it truly stepped up to the podium.

Tasked with photographing a private event at the Planetarium Copenhagen for International Powered Access Federation (IPAF), I was a little taken aback when I realised just how dark it was going to be in there. Makes sense – it's a planetarium!

In these situations, flash photograph is always an option, but it can also ruin the mood somewhat. All those stars, planets and colours get washed away with a sudden burst of bright light, and I wanted to avoid using it as much as possible.

The solution is to increase the camera's ISO settings, which essentially boosts the available ambient light – a bit like using a microphone when someone's speaking softly.

But with increased ISO comes increased grain, and the images start to appear fuzzy. This isn't usually an issue at ISO 5000 (my go-to amount), but inside the darkness of the Planetarium's interior, I needed at least 10,000. This puts significant strain on the camera sensor, as it heats up to lend a hand.

Back in the office I was faced with a conundrum: manually edit each image to remove the grain, or test Lightroom's "Denoise" feature across multiple images all at once. I felt it was definitely time to try out the latter, so I selected a batch of 150 images and waited for the technology to do its thing.

Thirty minutes and one cup of strong coffee later, the results were in. Naturally I was expecting the images to look great, but I was more impressed with the amount of time I saved. Instead of going through the photos one-by-one and fixing them, I'd gained an additional half-an-hour, which I used to get on with other tasks.

People often ask me whether I'm concerned about AI taking over my job. I'm not. But I am looking forward to seeing what other technical problems it can help me solve in the near future, so that I can continue to offer my clients a high level of professional service and high quality images.

Thanks to Steven Webb and the team at KHL Group for trusting me with this assignment, and congratulations to all the winners and nominees of the

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