http://colonybmx.com.au

EYEBALLS - Matthias Dandois 'HAROZONA'

"I instantly loved the fact that with 35mm, you need to think more about what you shoot"

7 Aug 2020

Harozona Matthias Gallery 14

Photography by Matthias Dandois | Interview and intro by Kevin Connors

I have always been curious and excited anytime I see a rider or friend shooting a film camera. For me it just shows how much they appreciate the trip and or that moment enough that despite knowing there is likely a photographer around, they still bring their camera and shoot what matters to them the most. I had seen Matthias posting some film picture here and there on Instagram, then suddenly he drops an amazing book 'Into The Unknown'. After a short four day trip with the Haro crew to Arizona and seeing him shoot his Lieca M4, I noticed he truly knows and understands that camera. I had to dig a little deeper...

https://shop.digbmx.com/collections/all-clothing
Harozona Matthias Gallery 10

What first started getting you into shooting photos?

Honestly its BMX that (seriously) got me into photography. I have been around incredible photographers such as Vincent Perraud, Manu Sanz, Hadrien Picard really early on and have been super interested by the process of getting a good shot. You know getting a good BMX photo is a collaboration between a rider and a photographer, so I kind of got interested organically.

How long have you been actively shooting now?

I have been shooting photos as long as I can remember, my parents would give me disposable cameras when I was at summer camps when I was like five or six years old. I was just shooting really random stuff, but I knew I always liked having a lil souvenir from those trips. I think it stuck around as I was growing up.

Harozona Matthias Gallery
Harozona Matthias Gallery 3

All self taught? Or have you just naturally picked it up and learned off of being around so many different photographers over the years?

Well a lil bit of both I guess. My photographer friends taught me the basic then you just have to kind of go your own way and start shooting what you like the way you like. I guess every photographer in the world are self taught. It’s all about trials and error, making mistakes and learn from them. Get creative, just like riding BMX.

Did you ever shoot digital? Or was it one of those, like many of us, you saw a style and feel that led you to film?

I had learnt on a digital Canon camera, but then iPhones kind of got better than DSLR and more convenient to shoot photos so I mostly used my phone. The thing with phones, is that you shoot everything all the time, I was kind of overwhelmed with it and I needed something more analog. I started to get into film photography after a trip in Japan four years ago. I got myself a used Nikon FE and started to fuck with it. I instantly loved the fact that with 35mm, you need to think more about what you shoot, you need to think about the angle, the composition, the light… Film is kinda expensive and are obviously harder to develop than just shooting digital, so you have to pay more attention, be more mindful. In 2020, being mindful of what you are doing is kind of a luxury, everything is happening so fast. For me, shooting film is my meditation, my moment of mindfulness. I also love to wait a month before I develop my films, you kind of forget what you shot and its a surprise when you develop your films. Its Christmas everyday. I love that shit.

Harozona Matthias Gallery 6
Harozona Matthias Gallery 15

Do you only shoot a specific type of film, as the color palette and feel seems to have a great consistency about them?

I used to shoot with a bunch of different films. Now I mostly use the Fujifilm Fujicolor 400. The color looks good to me, and Fujifilm is a rad company.

So what’s the story behind your Lieca? Was it a camera that found you or one that just was purely always calling your name?

So as I was getting more and more into shooting film, My Nikon FE became a bit outdated. My girlfriend got me a Leica M4 for my 30th birthday and it was the greatest gift I ever got. I use that shit everyday.

Favorite lens?

I just have a 50mm for my Leica. Its great. You gotta be creative with the 50mm.

Harozona Matthias Gallery 9

Where did the idea for your book come from? Was it a project you shot for specifically or something that just evolved into what it became?

The idea for the book started with Mike Dewitt. It's kind of pointless to shoot film to only put them on Instagram, so we had the idea of printing our favorite photos and made it into a book. Something sweet to look back on.

You ended up shooting the cover of Vogue, that is certainly something to be proud of. How did that end up coming about and happening?

Man its fucking crazy, its kind of every fashion photographer's dream to shoot the cover of Vogue haha. My girlfriend and I were confined during Covid19 in NYC and Vogue came up with an "at home" editorial. I shot her in our place in New York and ended up getting the cover. Definitely something I am very proud of!

Have you ever developed or toyed with the idea of developing your own work?

For now it is just a hobby, my meditation, I do it for myself, let’s see how this goes.

Any goals or plans for where you’d like to take your work in the future?

Honestly no. We have another book in the work with Mike - stoked on that. We will take it from there!

Harozona Matthias Gallery 17

Related Video

HaroZona

Dennis Enarson, Chad Kerley, Matthias Dandois and Alex Leibrock - More Info

Previous

Next

PRODUCT DROP: New Frames, Colorways, and Parts & More from KINK

Including Travis Hughes's first signature frame!

Related Content

I Love Ny Matthias
Play Button

Matthias Dandois - I LO{ckdown}VE NY

A DIY love letter

12 May 2020
Eyeballs - Dallas Dunn
Eyeballs - Dallas Dunn
Eyeballs - Dallas Dunn
Eyeballs - Dallas Dunn

Eyeballs - Dallas Dunn

Never too late to regain to your love for BMX

11 Jan 2018
Eyeballs - Fabien Lefevre
Eyeballs - Fabien Lefevre
Eyeballs - Fabien Lefevre
Eyeballs - Fabien Lefevre

Eyeballs - Fabien Lefevre

"A thug grandma took my strobes"

6 Jul 2016
Eyeballs - Aaron Zwaal
Eyeballs - Aaron Zwaal
Eyeballs - Aaron Zwaal
Eyeballs - Aaron Zwaal

Eyeballs - Aaron Zwaal

Fine work from the Netherlands

24 Apr 2015
Eyeballs - Sean O'Connell
Eyeballs - Sean O'Connell
Eyeballs - Sean O'Connell
Eyeballs - Sean O'Connell

Eyeballs - Sean O'Connell

UK Photography against the grain

3 Mar 2015
Eyeballs: Mikkel Mogensen
Eyeballs: Mikkel Mogensen
Eyeballs: Mikkel Mogensen
Eyeballs: Mikkel Mogensen

Eyeballs: Mikkel Mogensen

Making Memories With A Scandinavian Transplant

17 Jan 2019
Eyeballs - Johnny Kilmer
Eyeballs - Johnny Kilmer
Eyeballs - Johnny Kilmer
Eyeballs - Johnny Kilmer

Eyeballs - Johnny Kilmer

Empty pools to airplane hangars

4 Dec 2016
City Links Matthias
Play Button

Vans Presents: City Links - Matthias Dandois

Street meets Flat

30 Jul 2020
Eyeballs - Matty Lambert
Eyeballs - Matty Lambert
Eyeballs - Matty Lambert
Eyeballs - Matty Lambert

Eyeballs - Matty Lambert

Mono Outtakes In the UK's great North

9 Nov 2015
Eyeballs - Ryan Ogawa
Eyeballs - Ryan Ogawa
Eyeballs - Ryan Ogawa
Eyeballs - Ryan Ogawa

Eyeballs - Ryan Ogawa

Fresno Ca, Scene and Done

22 Sep 2016
HaroZona in Photos
HaroZona in Photos
HaroZona in Photos
HaroZona in Photos

HaroZona in Photos

Dennis Enarson, Chad Kerley, Matthias Dandois and Alex Leibrock

3 Aug 2020
Harozona
Play Button

HaroZona

Dennis Enarson, Chad Kerley, Matthias Dandois and Alex Leibrock

3 Aug 2020
http://www.divisionbrand.com/news/

Latest Content

FN Ye Bs3q5 M Yhqdefault
Play Button
NUQF5 WWWI Gghqdefault
Play Button

KING OF BNE x CASH UP JAM 2025

Shutting Down Brisbane

8 Dec 2025
T GRPJF4m L4 Yhqdefault
Play Button

LUKA DAVIES - 'APPRENTICE'

8 YEARS OLD

8 Dec 2025
Ez I0 J5sp Fq4hqdefault
Play Button

Clint Millar - SHF -Raw Cut

BATTLE AFTER BATTLE

7 Dec 2025
L Tc X Lz1g L Tkhqdefault
Play Button

LISMORE ROAD TRIP - ROUGH CUT

ROAD TRIP VIBES

5 Dec 2025
Sbo Ivgi ZND Ahqdefault
Play Button
Hqu KJ Rx Pgm Qhqdefault
Play Button

MAÑANA - MALAGA TRIP 2025

Chasing the heat

5 Dec 2025
05 AR6 Lwu NF Yhqdefault
Play Button

'LOST' // Hannover & Amsterdam

DIG LOCALS

4 Dec 2025
Bvc D4dhup G4hqdefault
Play Button

Dean Florian - Still Having Fun

One With His Bike

3 Dec 2025
Yq7h Fm1 M96chqdefault
Play Button

'JUST ENOUGH'

Five years in the making

3 Dec 2025
49 Bg325 Xmp Ahqdefault
Play Button

YOSHI

Big Teckers

3 Dec 2025
7 Zza AIEKQP Ehqdefault
Play Button

HOLIDAY CUT - TARIQ HAOUCHE & HAYDEN BENNET

1 week, no plans

1 Dec 2025

DIG Partner stores

More Dig This

Khe leader

PRODUCTIVITY - KHE 2026 COMPLETE BIKES

Something for everyone.

5 Dec 2025
25 photo comp web leader

THE 2025 DIG PHOTO COMP IS NOW LIVE!

OVER $1000 WORTH OF PRIZES UP FOR GRABS

10 Nov 2025
Battleinthe Streets 92

REPO: Battle In The Streets Jam - Vancouver

"one rider walked away with the $1000 cash prize"

27 Oct 2025
IMG 2986

Inside KHE Bikes - 44 years of BMX history with Thomas Göring

“I didn’t have a proper cutting machine at the time, so I hand-cut each peg. They all ended up different lengths.”

24 Oct 2025
Dig motobunka collection square Recovered

THE DIG X MOTO-BUNKA COLLECTION

An all new collaboration with Japan's finest

22 Oct 2025
VANS ODYSSEY 2025 COLLECTION FF RAMP 003

"The inspiration was right in front of our eyes" The story behind the Vans X Odyssey 40 Year Collab

An interview with Nuno Oliveira (Odyssey) and Justin Villano (Vans)

25 Sep 2025
07 2025 Huffy Sledgehammer Launch Project 132

Product Drop: HUFFY Sledgehammer frame

Huffy returns to BMX...

22 Sep 2025
Team kevin peraza boh winner 2025

BATTLE OF HASTING 2025 - TEAM PERAZA TAKES THE WIN

Results, Livestream re-runs, DIG Highlights & more

27 Aug 2025
Dig book cover mock better CROP

DIG - THIS BIKE COULD BE YOUR LIFE - "DOCUMENTING OVER 30 YEARS of D.I.Y. BMX CULTURE" PRE-ORDER NOW OPEN

An all new photo book from DIG focusing on our magazine history and the rise of the mid-school

1 Aug 2025
Thumbnail 2

Product Drop - ODYSSEY '85 Splatter kit

Nord, Walsh stems and Hazard lite rims

29 Jul 2025
Shirt swell k0150m back

Product Drop - KINK 2025 APPAREL

For Fall/Winter

23 Jul 2025
Big boyd black

Product Drop - ODYSSEY BIG BOYD RIMS

Boyd Hilder signature BIG BOYD rims in Black and Coffee.

11 Jun 2025