Author: mblum6180_l6d6qy

  • Billboard

    Billboard

    “Billboard” (2019) presents a gripping tale where desperation meets determination. Cinematographer Matthew Blum captures this narrative with a visual style that reflects the film’s high stakes and dark humor. The tagline sets the stage: “Times are tough, listener-ship is down and Casey needs to come up with a plan to save his radio station, WTYT 960, and fast!” In a bold move, Casey launches a billboard sitting contest, promising “$960,000 and a mobile home” to the last one standing. Through Blum’s lens, the precariousness of the contestants’ elevated plight and the radio station’s future come vividly to life.

  • Lehigh Valley with Love Podcast Episode 031: Photographer / Videographer Matthew Blum

    Lehigh Valley with Love Podcast Episode 031: Photographer / Videographer Matthew Blum

    Episode 031 of Lehigh Valley with Love Podcast features a fascinating guest, Matthew Blum, a skilled photographer and videographer. Blum steps into the spotlight to discuss his directorial work on the “Billboard Movie,” premiering November 1st in Allentown. Join hosts Tyler and George for a snapshot into the artistry behind the camera in this engaging episode.

  • Art in the Park | 2018

    Art in the Park | 2018

    In 2018, Art in the Park featured a special attraction as Matthew Blum, delivered a live ambrotype process demonstration. Amidst the event’s verdant backdrop, Blum masterfully crafted glass plate portraits, channeling the historic essence of this 19th-century art form. His demonstration offered visitors a fascinating window into the precision and artistry of wet plate photography, merging the past’s allure with the present’s appreciation for timeless craftsmanship.

  • Glass Portraits – Ambrotypes at Artsfest 2015

    Glass Portraits – Ambrotypes at Artsfest 2015

    In 2015, “Glass Portraits,” an ambrotype photography exhibition by Matthew Blum, offered a stirring collection of portraits that captured the very essence of each subject using the wet plate collodion process. Dating back to the 1850s, this time-honored technique produces images with a haunting depth and a timeless quality unmatched by digital photography. Every portrait was a one-of-a-kind piece, showcasing not just the subject’s likeness but also the distinctive quirks of the medium—its unpredictability and the fascinating ways it responds to light and chemicals.

    Presented in the Alternative Gallery at Artsfest 2015, “Glass Portraits” invited viewers to reflect on the permanence of glass, the fluidity of time, and the profound simplicity of the human face. It served as a powerful reminder of the enduring value of traditional photographic methods, which connect us to history in a tangible, visceral way. Through “Glass Portraits,” Blum not only preserved a nearly lost art form but also breathed new life into it, inspiring contemporary audiences to appreciate the beauty of this old-world craft.

  • Angels of Death

    Angels of Death

    “Angels of Death” is a captivating photo series that weaves the inevitability of life’s end with the vibrancy of its passing moments. The collection showcases a theatrical display of final moments, depicted not with somber tones but with a playful acknowledgment of the reaper’s subtle integration into life’s most mundane scenes.

    The lens captures the essence of these angels, adorned in life-affirming reds and deep blacks, with each image celebrating the bold embrace of the inevitable. From a mischievous smile in a timeless barbershop, a charming pose by a vintage car, to a morbidly amusing scenario in a cozy kitchen, the angels prompt viewers to find a spark of joy in the face of destiny.

    The “Angels of Death” series is an invitation to perceive the final act not as a mournful farewell but as a jubilant release, a celebration of life’s last grand performance. It’s an encouragement to toast to the finale, and enjoy the dance with the end in its most playful and whimsical iteration.

  • 365 Slices of Time

    365 Slices of Time

    Capturing life’s fleeting moments, the photo gallery “365 Slices of Time,” presented at Home and Planet in 2012, stands as an impressive testament to the beauty and diversity of daily existence. This creative endeavor by Matthew Blum—displayed through carefully curated photographs, one for each day of the year—is more than a visual diary; it’s a narrative in imagery that compels viewers to pause and reflect on the smaller, often overlooked instances that fabricate our lives.

    Each of the 365 photographs, displayed with wooden clothespins, offers a unique perspective, prompting viewers to reflect on life’s transient beauty. The exhibit’s intimate setup invites visitors to explore interconnected stories through images, enhanced by vintage projectors and cameras, which underscore the art of photography. Blum’s work, part of the ArtsQuest Annual InVision Festival of that year, encourages an appreciation for the extraordinary in the ordinary, urging us to capture life’s magic even years later.