Photography by Matthew James

Hjem
Danmark
Copenhagen
Photography by Matthew James

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

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

10/09/2025

One Hour, One King, Millions of Impressions 👑📸

“Congrats! Our first post has had over 1.3 million views already.”

That’s what Signe from told me just three days after we dropped the first teaser for Royal Run 2026.

Over the next week, five more images were released—His Majesty King Frederik of Denmark standing proudly with giant maps of the host municipalities. With every post, the views, likes, and comments kept climbing.

This shoot had been months in the making. The byskilte (city signposts) had worked brilliantly two years in a row, but this time we wanted something fresh, bold, and colourful. A new idea. A risk.

Of course, there were a few head-scratching moments (umbrellas can be lifesavers 🌂). But teamwork, quick problem-solving, and a watchful eye on the clock got us through. Efficiency was key—we only had one hour.

The result? Thousands of likes and comments. Features in local, regional, and national press. Even the Royal Family shared the photos. And next year, more than 100,000 people are expected to take part in Royal Run.

Massive congrats to and Ringkøbing-Skjern Kommune for being part of something this big. 🙌

01/09/2025

Full Disclosure No.1: DHL Stafetten København is a tough gig for EVERYONE behind the scenes. Long days and late nights; time spent away from families; a rinse-and-repeat experience; and a post-event desire to never smell another barbecue grill ever again.

Full Disclosure No. 2: The atmosphere is incredibly energising, the teamwork is inspiring, and seeing 160,000 people running, laughing, and connecting in Fælledparken reminds us why we do it. Every shift, every photo, and every late-night edit becomes part of something much bigger than ourselves.

That feeling really hit home when I noticed a giant banner marking the event’s 45-year history. Alongside a portrait of founder Niels Jørgen Holdt were many of my own images, documenting the journey of Denmark’s—and one of the world’s—largest relay races. To see my work become part of the event’s story was both humbling and a reminder of why I keep coming back.

When Friday evening finally arrived, I felt inspired to head out to the different tents to photograph the atmosphere after the sun had gone down. And I wasn’t disappointed.

At one point, as I watched a group dancing to some pretty hard house, my eyes drifted towards another tent on the opposite side, where a small team were eating wood-fired pizzas and drinking a bottle of wine. “There’s no way this would fly back in England,” I thought. “People would be brawling by the end of the night.”

As my post-summer resolution to “Fall in love with Copenhagen again” continues, I took a moment to remind myself that we live in such a happy, progressive city, where events like this only add to the community.

So a huge thanks to everyone who smiled for the camera, and a special shout-out to those who made the event a reality (Sparta Atletik & Løb).

26/08/2025

Day One of DHL Stafetten 2025 in Fælledparken, Copenhagen 🌞🏃‍♂️✨

What a start to the week! The sun was shining, the atmosphere was buzzing, and thousands of runners came together for the world’s biggest running event. Monday set the tone perfectly, and while I’m not there for Day Two tonight, I’m already looking forward to the rest of the week—especially Friday, when those of us behind the scenes get to celebrate and party like it’s 2003 🎉🍻

Here’s a look back at some highlights from the opening evening.

18/08/2025

A new, favourite portrait location... but where is it?

When a client tells me it's time for a brand new portrait, I instantly go into location-scout mode.

Naturally I have some go-to spots in Copenhagen, but having some fresh ideas keeps me on my toes. It stops the results from feeling predictable... for both me and the client.

This spot instantly caught my eye. Great light, urban-looking background, and interesting shapes and patterns that give the final image some character.

"I didn't even know this place was here," remarked an excited Michael Watney as I led him up the stairs and guided him on where to stand.

My original plan was to take a few shots here before moving on to some other tried-and-tested backgrounds nearby, but Michael was instantly happy with the results, and so we decided we had what we came for :-)

I’ll definitely be using it again… but first, can you guess where it is?

16/06/2025

40,000 RUNNERS. TWO COUNTRIES. ONE BRIDGE

It was hot. It was windy. And it was unforgettable.

There’s something surreal about standing in the middle of a structure that normally belongs to cars, trains and freight — surrounded instead by thousands of runners, each with their own story, pace, and purpose. Some were chasing personal bests. Others just wanted to say they’d done it. And many were simply soaking in the rare chance to cross this iconic stretch on foot.

As a photographer, moments like this are gold: determination, exhaustion, joy, struggle, celebration — all playing out against the backdrop of one of northern Europe’s most spectacular pieces of infrastructure.

Huge respect to hosts , organisers and , the hundreds of patient volunteers, and of course the participants for making it happen. And to the wind: thanks for the drama. You did your part (I lost my hat).

15/06/2025

Broløbet 2025 - a 1/2 Marathon between Denmark and Sweden, across the Øresund Bridge

40,000 runners took part, and I probably walked 10k myself just going to and fro on the bridge.

Here’s a small selection of my favourite shots from the day - more to follow in 24 hours, so follow me to make sure you don’t miss ‘em.

Well done to everyone who took part, and special thanks to and for making it happen.

10/06/2025

The final 90 minutes of my Royal Run evening went from calm and serene, to manic and fast-thinking.

HRH King Frederik's arrival to Nyhavn via boat was a well-kept secret, and I enjoyed a good half hour of people watching as I waited in a pre-arranged location by the water's edge. In particular, I was keeping an eye on a large cloud that was blocking the sun, but two minutes prior to his arrival, the sun came out and shone in exactly the right spot.

As soon as I had the shot, I raced back to my office to collect my drone and then onwards to Frederiksberg Allé. Normally I give myself a set timeframe for scanning the thousands of people running towards me. If I haven't spotted any of the Royals in that window of time, I call it a day and shift my focus to getting the shot I'm sent there for.

And wouldn't you know it – as I'm hanging there, with all the correct camera settings locked in for that one shot, I spot a couple of police officers on their bikes in the crowd... followed by two more. It can only mean one thing, and suddenly I'm frantically scanning the crowd all over again.

Naturally this story wouldn't be so fun to tell if I'd screwed it up, but obviously I didn't.

10 points to those of you who can spot the two Royals in the image.

09/06/2025

Royal Run 2025… the story so far.

This year’s event is well underway, but the show’s not over yet.

Here’s a selection of my favourites from Copenhagen’s One Mile and 5k races.

07/06/2025

Rubjerg Knude Fyr - basically translates as Rubjerg Lighthouse - has been on my list of Danish must-sees since I moved to Denmark.

Built in the 1890s, it was literally raised onto a pair of tracks just a few years ago and moved 30 metres from the eroding coastline.

One of the best ways to see the lighthouse perched among the dramatic sand dunes is against a clear blue sky. So I was pretty lucky that day.

Have you ever been? Where should I visit next that often gets overlooked?

25/05/2025

Nørrebro, Copenhagen. Double Exposure.

22/05/2025

It’s not every day you get to be in the room while global climate policy is being shaped.

But that’s exactly where I found myself during a recent assignment for the Washington-based NDC Partnership.

Their international members gathered for a high-level summit at the , where national commitments to reducing carbon emissions were discussed face-to-face.

Before the main event, delegates explored three powerful symbols of the city’s climate ambition:

⚡️ Middelgrunden wind farm out in the Øresund
♻️ The pristine canals that run through Copenhagen’s heart
🔥 And ARC – Amager Ressourcecenter – the iconic waste-to-energy plant that’s changing how we think about urban sustainability.

I was there to document the visit as the group explored the ARC facilities, took in the views from the top of , and got a closer look at Copenhagen’s history and architecture from the deck of a @ boat.

The weather was completely on our side, and when the sun is shining, Copenhagen feels like an ideal place to live.

But behind the postcard views, the urgency of climate change is real, and it’s conversations like these that give me hope. I feel incredibly lucky to be invited into spaces where those conversations are happening — and to do what I love while witnessing ideas that could shape the future.

16/05/2025

Not everything we build gets applause.

This photo is from the early days of my Danish journey — a sand sculptor putting the final touches on a towering castle. What you don’t see is the hours of work beneath the surface, the base that holds it all up before the public ever arrives.

Last week I was hit with some feedback that stung, and to be honest, didn't feel fair. I’ve been carrying it around, wondering if I should say something or just stay quiet like we’re often taught to.

But here’s the thing: not everything about being a creative is polished and perfect. Sometimes we get knocked. Sometimes we doubt ourselves. And sometimes we need to remind ourselves that the foundation is strong — even when someone takes a swipe at the top.

If you’re a fellow creative who’s had a rough week, this one’s for you. Keep building. You’re not alone.

Stay strong, and have a great weekend, amigos.

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